Reading: Jeremiah 7-10
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord (Jer. 7:1-2).
Many of us today are guilty of reading the Book of Jeremiah as if it were simply a history book detailing the misadventures of people that lived long ago. We shake our heads at their stubborn worldly behavior and wonder how they could have been so blind to the Lord’s warnings. This is not how God intends for us to read His Word. The Bible consists of the living Word (Heb. 4:12), and it is as active and applicable to modern life as it was on the day it was first uttered and recorded. With that fact in mind, let’s re-read Jeremiah's message as he stood in the gate of the Lord’s house.
It was in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah (26:1), during one of three major Feasts (Festivals) to which all Jewish males were required to come to Jerusalem, that God instructed Jeremiah to stand in the Temple’s entrance and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord. On what was usually a day of joyful celebration, Jeremiah pronounced a most severe and harsh accusation from the Lord: Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord (7:9-11).
These words infuriated all those that heard them. They believed they were worshiping God in full accord with His directives. Jeremiah had publicly called them out for sins that they felt had nothing to do with their worship in the Temple, and they’d had enough. As one, the priests, prophets, and laypeople rejected the condemnation of the ‘narrow-minded’ Jeremiah.
What would happen if Jeremiah stood in the entranceway of our churches on Easter Sunday? Could we face God’s truth as we passed by him? As he ran through the list of sins, including adultery, lying, greed, and idol worship (remember, an idol is anything you hold in higher esteem than God), would we react with conviction or discomfort? Would we examine our hearts before approaching God, or would we angrily push past Jeremiah and accuse him of trying to ruin our Easter Celebration with his vile and vicious accusations?
Through God’s living Word, Jeremiah is standing at the doorway of every church. Although to the unrepentant sinner, his presence presents an unwelcome accusation, to the child of God, it should serve as a reminder that we are accountable to God for everything we do, whether it ‘officially’ pertains to worship or not. He has been placed there to convict us of our sins, not out of malice, but out of a sincere desire to turn our hearts back to God.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (II Cor. 13:5)?
Thought For TodayThe foolish read God’s Word and believe themselves better than their ancestors; the wise read it and reflect on our similarities in the eyes of God.
Christ Revealed: As the One who demanded a cleansed Temple (Jer. 7:1- 11). Jesus cleansed the Temple and said: My House shall be called of all nations the House of Prayer (Mark 11:17).
Word Studies: 7:15 the whole seed of Ephraim = all the people of the Northern Kingdom; 7:33 fray = frighten; 9:7 melt them, and try them = refine them by testing with affliction; 10:22 noise of the bruit = sound of a rumor.
Pray For Government Officials: Gov. Phil Murphy (NJ), Sen.Pete Ricketts (NE), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR), Rep. Don Bacon (NE) • Country: Albania (3,020,209) Southeastern Europe • Major Language: Albanian • Religious Freedom • 56.7% Muslim; 10% Roman Catholic; 6.8% Orthodox; 2.5% Atheist; 2.1% Bektashi; 5.7% Other; 16.2% Unspecified • Prayer Suggestion: Pray and the Lord will free you from your fears (Ps. 34:4).
Optional Reading: II Peter 1