Psalm 69:9 for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
Why Jeremiah
Jeremiah 7:1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
Jeremiah 7:2 "Stand at the gate of the LORD's house and there proclaim this message: "'Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the LORD.
Who was Jeremiah? About a year after King Josiah of Judah had turned the nation toward repentance from the widespread idolatrous practices of his father and grandfather, Jeremiah’s sole purpose was to reveal the sins of the people and explain the reason for the impending disaster (destruction by the Babylonian army and captivity), Also called the "Weeping prophet", He was one of the major prophets of the Hebrew Bible. Jeremiah is traditionally credited with authoring the Book of Jeremiah, 1 Kings, 2 Kings and the Book of Lamentations. Judaism considers the Book of Jeremiah part of its canon, and regards Jeremiah as the second of the major prophets.
Q.1 What prompted Jeremiah to write these things to his people?
Q.2 What prompted God to instruct Jeremiah to write these things?
Q.3 Do we still have prophets urging people to “Hear the word of the Lord”?
Why Jeremiah writes
Jeremiah 7:3 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place.
Jeremiah 7:4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!"
No observances, professions, or supposed revelations, will profit, if men do not amend their ways and their doings. None can claim an interest in free salvation, who allow themselves in the practice of known sin, or live in the neglect of known duty. They thought that the temple they profaned would be their protection. But all who continue in sin because grace has abounded, or that grace may abound, make Christ the minister of sin; and the cross of Christ, rightly understood, forms the most effectual remedy to such poisonous sentiments. The Son of God gave himself for our transgressions, to show the excellence of the Divine law, and the evil of sin. Never let us think we may do wickedness without suffering for it.
Q.1 Why did these people continue their practices of sinful conduct?
Q.2 What was the emphasis Jeremiah was making?
Q.3 Are there people today who conduct themselves in the same manner?
Q.4 Do people really think that unjust and unrighteous conduct will not be
punished by God?
What Jeremiah writes Pg.2
Jer 7:5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly,
Jer 7:6 if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm,
Jer 7:7 then I will let you live in this place,in the land I gave your ancestors forever and ever
It is obvious from these pleadings by Jeremiah that the people were profaning the Temple of God by dealing unrighteously and being unjust in their dealings with each other and those they were disposed to lead, and all the while conducting their business just as if there were no wrongs being committed
This implies that there had been much amiss in their ways and doings, many faults and errors. But it is a great instance of the favor of God to them that he gives them liberty to amend, shows them where and how they must amend, and promises to accept them upon their amendment: “I will cause you to dwell quietly and peaceably in this place, and a stop shall be put to that which threatens your expulsion.
Q.1 Why did these people continue their practices of sinful conduct?
Q.2 What was the emphasis Jeremiah was making?
Q.3 Are there people today who conduct themselves in the same manner?
Q.4 Do people really think that unjust and unrighteous conduct will not be
punished by God?
What God will do
Jeremiah 7:8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless
Jeremiah 7:9 "'Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known,
Jeremiah 7:10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, "We are safe"--safe to do all these detestable things?
Jeremiah 7:11 Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD.
Apparently the people who ruled and held court and prospered by their unjust and false deceptions were into the worship of other gods which no doubt had some appeal to them. They were committing all types of heinous crimes and adulterous acts. And in addition they would then come to the temple and claim that they were “safe” to do all these things
They had turned the temple into a den of robbers. Believing that God would continue to favor them with his protection. Little did they know. And Jeremiah was not gaining their favor. No one who is “makin it” with dishonest and corrupt acts likes to be publicly chastised, and that was what Jeremiah’s message was doing. And the affirmation that the temple of the Lord affords protection is a sheer delusion, so long as all God's commandments are being audaciously broken.
Q.1 What are deceptive words that are useless, vs.8 ?
Q.2 What other gods are we speaking of in vs.9?
Q.3 Who could do these things and then take solace in the House of God?
Q.4 What is God’s promise to those who do such things?
Isa 10:1 How horrible it will be for those who make unjust laws and who make oppressive regulations.
Isa 10:2 They deprive the poor of justice. They take away the rights of the needy among my people. They prey on widows and rob orphans.
Isa 10:3 What will you do on the day you are called to account for these things, when the disaster comes from far away? Where will you run for help? Where will you leave your wealth?
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