August 9: Jeremiah 7-9

August 9, Jeremiah 7-9

What is Jeremiah’s continual message? Repent to God. Return to God. be Redeemed by God. Will Judah listen? No. Will you?

Jeremiah 7 Repent! God told Jeremiah to go stand in front of the Temple and say this, “Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.” This is the Temple of the Lord - this is not a game or formality, they are messing with Holy. Jeremiah goes on and continues to warn them with a bunch of cautions. If they amend their ways, be just to each other, take care of the needy, stay away from idols - then God will let them come into the temple and stay in the land God promised to their fathers. But they still chose not to. The biggest deal-killer for them was their love for idols and not God. We are not too far off as a culture either. This is an abomination to the Lord and because of that they will be cast out of God’ sight. They have been warned numerous times and have refused to listen to God. Jeremiah wasn't even allowed to pray for these people - God flat out told Jeremiah the He wouldn't listen to the prayers. God’s anger and wrath is burning because of their disobedience and their love for false gods. The people of Judah did not listen to God. They did not listen to Jeremiah. They have done horrific things for their false gods (like burning and sacrificing their kids). Their covenant disobedience will lead to their judgement and exile. 

Jeremiah 8 Judah had rejected God’s law and had what the Bible called perpetual backsliding. That is a fancy way of saying they continually went the wrong way. From the priests to the scribes, they lied and rejected the Words of God. So, God is going to give their wives to other people - because of their false ways and love of sin, this is only going to be part of their punishment. 

Jeremiah was much grieved over the sins of his people - so much so that he wept over them. His grief was heavy because Judah preferred sin & idols over God. 

Jeremiah 9 Again Jeremiah was overwhelmed by their sins and their refusal to repent. They were so deep in their sin and their refusal to know God, even they were becoming weary in their disobedience - but continued nonetheless. What was God expected to do? A father who loves his children disciplines them to get them on the right track, and that is what God was going to do and did. “ And the Lord says: Because they have forsaken my law that I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice or walked in accord with it, but have stubbornly followed their own hearts and have gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them. Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will feed this people with bitter food, and give them poisonous water to drink. I will scatter them among the nations whom neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them.” Do you think that this would have gotten their attention? Sadly, it did not. 

In its simplest form, “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,  but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

To sum it all up: 

• Remember, God is a jealous God. He has every right to be - He is God! As a husband, I don't want my wife to love other men and serve them. If she did, can she expect me to just be all lovey-dovey and act as if nothing she did was wrong or against what our covenant or agreement was? Would I not have every right to be upset with her? Yes and so does God. 
• God delights in those who practice love, justice and righteousness. Is the life that you are living described by those things? If not, then why? Make it yours today and settle for nothing less.