The people in Jeremiah’s day lacked a spiritual relationship with the Lord. They had God’s temple… as though a building dedicated to God was enough to please Him. When the Lord urged them to amend their ways by caring for needy people, they did not listen to Him.
“For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.” [2]
The Apostle James wrote, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” [3]
Jeremiah asked the people of his day, “Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations?’”[4]
The people’s self-perception was, “We go to temple. We are good.” God’s reality check for them was, “You are law breakers who need to repent.”
The Lord Jesus revealed this same truth to us in the Book of Revelation when He said of New Jerusalem, “Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.” [5]
Bondages to sin in one’s life is a sign that something’s not right. Suppressing truth is an unrighteous act. Not honoring God or giving Him thanks leads to futile speculations and a darkened heart. Not acknowledging God yields a debased mind. God, in His goodness, forbearance and longsuffering, is willing and able to help us repent of these sins. [6]
Jeremiah’s message was that the temple and the city in which his people trusted would be destroyed. Jesus gave a similar message about the temple when He walked the earth. Jeremiah’s prophecy was fulfilled and so was the prophecy of Jesus. In the Book of Revelation, the Lord Jesus reveals to us that this current world and its great empires will be destroyed because He is creating a new heaven and earth wherein righteousness dwells. [7]
The people of Jeremiah’s day doubted his message. He reminded them that in a similar way their forefathers had doubted God.
“Go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I set My Name at the first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel.” [8]
In Shiloh, God’s people had the Ark of the Covenant. They took it with them into battle against the Philistines but lost the battle. They had a form of religion but lacked a spiritual relationship with the Lord. [9]
High Priest Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phineas, were vile in God’s sight but Eli did not restrain them. God said that there was no atonement for their sins. “The sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord.” They took the meat offerings before the fat which was to be burned to the Lord was offered. When those under their father’s authority tried to stop them, they took the meat by force. They also laid with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle. [10]
Trust in the Ark of the Covenant was insufficient. Trust in the temple was insufficient. A spiritual relationship with the Lord is absolutely necessary to please Him. The Lord wants us to walk with Him in accordance with His Word.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat meat. For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’” [11]
“To love Him [God] with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.” [12]
This something I pray about for me, my loved ones, and for you my friends. “Heavenly Father, please help me and people everywhere to walk in Your ways. To love as You love! To be the good Samaritans to our neighbors as You were when You walked the earth. This I pray in the Name of Jesus Your Son. Amen.”
The Lord says, “O, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!” [13]
[1] Jeremiah 7:4
[2] Jeremiah 7:5-7
[3] James 1:27
[4] Jeremiah 7:9
[5] Revelation 22:15
[6] Romans 1:18, 21, 28; 2:4
[7] Revelation 21:1-3; 2 Peter 3:13
[8] Jeremiah 7:13
[9] 1 Samuel 4:1-22
[10] 1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22
[11] Jeremiah 7:21-23
[12] Mark 12:33
[13] Deuteronomy 5:29
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