Jeremiah stands at the entrance to the Lord’s Temple and preaches a very direct message to Judah. But don’t be fooled by those who promise you safety simply because the Lord’s Temple is here. They chant, “The Lord’s Temple is here! The Lord’s Temple is here!” (Jeremiah 7:4, NLT)
The Temple had Become an Idol
Judah thinks they have pinned God in the corner! They falsely assumed that God would never destroy His Temple and that as long as they had it, they were safe. Judah had become so spiritually bankrupt that they were trusting in the Temple to keep them safe from the judgment of God—the one who put His name on the Temple—so they could continue in their wickedness against Him!
“Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations? (Jeremiah 7:8–10, ESV)
God Will Destroy The Temple
So what does God say to such arrogance, pride, and delusion?
So just as I destroyed Shiloh, I will now destroy this Temple that bears my name, this Temple that you trust in for help, this place that I gave to you and your ancestors. (Jeremiah 7:14, NLT)
What false peace Judah has, thinking it can violate God, and God can do nothing about it because they have the Temple!
A Call to Repent
Yet, for how arrogant and insulting Judah had become before God, what did He say to them?
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. (Jeremiah 7:3, 5–7, KJV)
A Message for Today
The call to repentance reminds me of a similar message for us today. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. As believers, we have experienced God’s mercy, for all, including us, have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Were we not all on the path of destruction? Yet how did He deal with us? He offered forgiveness!
As believers, let us rejoice that our sins are forgiven because Jesus took our judgment. Let us rejoice in the newness of life that Salvation has brought, in loving God, obeying Him, and praising Him for His goodness!
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Jeremiah 7-9.