2021-4-22

Jeremiah 7:1-34

　　Key verse: (Jer 7:28) Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord it’s God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.

　　In tears, Jeremiah delivered this part of the Lord’s message (chapter 7-10) at the gate of the temple in Jerusalem to the people who came for worship. From Chapter 7, we learned that Israelites were accused of having a hypocritical attitude toward practicing their faith. They went backwards and not forward. As a matter of fact, they’re sinning against men and God. As a result, the people, which were supposed to be God’s people, would be scattered and slaughtered, and the promise land, which was given to them by their fathers’ God, would become desolate.

　　A few places were called out with their significance and the (upcoming) results:
Jerusalem – the temple – a den of robbers – destroyed and abandoned
Shiloh – the tent of meeting – the object lesson during the time of Judges (1 Sam 4:11, Psalms 78: 59-64)
Topheth/ the Valley of Ben Hinnom – the firing pit to seek evil counsel – the Valley of Slaughter

　　The prophet urged his people to correct and reform – going back to the basic – trust and obey His words (v5, v23). Hosea also echoed with the essence of true worship that pleases God:
(Hosea 6:6)
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

　　In Jesus time, Jerusalem was already under foreign regime and the people were scattered long time ago. The spiritual reality was nothing better. Jesus, cited the same message of Hosea and Jeremiah, casted the merchants in the temple, scolded the religious hypocrites, calling them ‘the decorated tombs’ (Mathew 23:27). Out of compassion, He wept for Jerusalem and what would happen to the people and was determined to obey the Father to accomplish the plan of salvation.

　　Even with the ultimate price paid and the eternal solution provided, history of men’s rebellion repeats. When we look around ourselves and our society, we cannot come up any excuses for the wrath that’s upcoming. Truth is no longer exclusive and all becomes ‘relatively speaking’. Humanism, with its evolving disguises, gains popularity generations after generations. The message from Jeremiah and the life of Jesus taught us to be alerted and compassionate. As worshippers of the True God, do we fall into the trap of false sense of security and superiority? When we see the tears of the prophets/disciples and the agony of Jesus, do we have the love of God to the people around us all the way to the unlovable? How do we practice our faith in quiet and in front of men and God?

　　Lord, help us. You’re merciful and full of grace. Help us to make the best us of our lives to acknowledge You and enjoy your presence forever. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.　　　— Ivy Lin