JEREMIAH
page 3.

The Voice in the Temple

Jeremiah 7-10

Read 2 Chronicles 35:20-27.
Though King Josiah had tried to bring the people back to God he now chose to get involved with in a war between Egypt, Assyria and Babylon. During the battle he is wounded and later died of his wounds in Jerusalem. The people still did not appreciate that this was also a warning by God.

Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah now reigns for three months but was removed by the king of Egypt and replace by his brother Jehoiakim, (also known as Eliakim).
Because of the failed war, Judah was now under Egyptian control. The people still thought that evil could not come upon them.
God commands Jeremiah to go to the Temple and give a message from Him, the message was showing how God felt with their behaviour.

• Their false worship, Jeremiah 7:1 to 8:3;
• Their false faith in and obedience of the covenant, Jeremiah 9:1-26.
• Their worship of false gods, Jeremiah 10:1-25.

The temple was probably full of people but the message indicated that few were really worshipping God. Jeremiah gave the message from one of the entrance gates as the people entered, Jeremiah 7:2.
The people only believed the false prophets, they felt that they could do wrong things as long as they attended the temple worship,Jeremiah 7:1-15. The people were breaking the 10 commandments, verse 6,9, but thought it did not matter as God was still in the Temple and He was giving them protection. Compare verse 11 with Matthew 21:13. Jesus was saying that the temple was the home of robbers. Think about Ephesians 5:1-7; and Philippians 3:17-21.
If the people do no change then the messages from God warns of the consequences, "I will cast you out of my sight," verse 15, as far as God was concerned the temple was not now holy and He could not be there anymore.

Jeremiah is forbidden to pray for the people, "for I will not hear thee." verse 16. No sacrifice would be accepted, their hearts were not in it, verses 21-26. Compare Matthew 22:37-40.
The people were not responding to the correction or discipline of God, Jeremiah 7:27 - 8:3. For them - only judgement remained, Jeremiah 7:20.

Jeremiah 7:30-33, Topheth, was a place in the valley of the son of Hinnom where the people offered their children to the idols, this name was to became associated with ‘Gehenna,’ meaning "hell", see Matthew 25:41. The Valley of Hinnom was to become a cemetary, to put the bodies in following the Babylonian invasion, however, it would not be big enough, Jeremiah 7:32-8:3

The False Prophets

Jeremiah 8:1ff

Jeremiah now turns to expose the false prophets, saying that their teaching has mislead the people, how?

• Jeremiah 8:8-12, By deception, they claimed to know the law, and to be writing and speaking in the name of God.
• Jeremiah 8:13-22, Their teaching was leading the people into the judgement of God.

Confidence in the Covenant

Jeremiah 9:1-26.

Jeremiah 9:1-6. The Jews are unique, they are the only nation which has a special relationship with God, Genesis 12:1-3.
Abraham was chosen as the father source of this special nation, marked by the act of circumcision, Genesis 17:1ff. Unfortunately they have failed to satisfy the conditions of the covenant. They thought they did not need to obey the laws of God, their ‘special relationship’ with God dealt with this situation. This situation still existed when John the Baptist was preaching, Matthew 3:7-10, and later Jesus, John 8:33-59.

Jeremiah 9:7-16. The people had become so proud that they could not see their evil, the covenant does not permit sin, yet they thought they could sin because they were Abraham’s children. In fact, as the chosen people of God, they should live to please and glorify Him. Roman 6:1,2.
In addition the covenant does not, and never has, protect the people from any sort of judgement and punishment for their sins, in addition, their punishment will be greater, verse 7 as they knew the standards, the Laws, set by God. Compare Luke 12:41-48.

Jeremiah 9:17-26 Spiritual understanding does not come from the covenant, no amount of education, religion ceremonies or finance, by any method, will ensure and guarantee the presence and blessings of God, only those who seek to please Him. Consider Paul’s example in Philippians 3:1-11.
Punishment and death was rapidly approaching, no false prophet or leader would be able to stop it.

The True God and the False gods.

Jeremiah 10:1-25

For many generations, the Jewish nation had been in contact with idols and false gods, Abraham originally worshiped idols, Joshua 24:2,3. While the Jews lived in Egypt they saw idol worship in extreme, the Egyptians leaders felt they were gods. After they left Egypt they soon were worshipping a gold calf, Exodus 32:1ff, even after seeing the power and glory of God. Ignoring God and worshipping idols was part of their nature. They preferred to worship a man made idol made of carved wood or stone, which cannot walk or speak and had to be carried around by the people. What a foolish act, to be trusting in these man made idols figures instead of the living God.

Do you today have "idols" which replace your worship of the true God. 1 John 5:21

Jeremiah 10:17-25 Jeremiah can see the coming judgement, he continues to urge the people to return to God, finally offering prayer to God for mercy, to punish the Babylonians, but God had chosen to use these Babylonians as His tool of punishment for the Jews and the surrounding nations.