Why are the “faithless sons” called on to “return”?

Jeremiah continues to describe the ideal scene that began in Jeremiah 3:19. Again, Jeremiah is not describing an actual event that took place, but in Jeremiah 3:22–4:2 he uses the device of a liturgy for repentance to urge Judah to return to the Lord. The liturgy begins with the Lord (possibly in the form of a priest) calling faithless sons (Judah) to return, which is followed by the promise that the Lord will heal your faithlessness ( Jeremiah 3:22a). Jeremiah then has the people responding by praying a psalm of repentance that expresses true contrition (Jeremiah 3:22–25). The final part of the liturgy is a response from the Lord (Jeremiah 4:1–2).¹