Jeremiah 7
When Preaching Trumps Praying
God’s admonition to Jeremiah, “Do not pray for this people,†is the result of serious rebellion on their part (v. 16). They are seen worshiping false gods and making sacrifices to them. God commanded that prayer cease, but that preaching continue. If you read through …
The Results of Compromise
Most of his messages from chapters 7-20 were delivered during the reign of Jehoiakim. King Josiah had led the nation in a reformation during which he restored the temple and removed idols from the land. In 609 he was wounded in battle near Megiddo and taken to Jerusalem where he …
Religious Ritual Doesn’t Change a Sinful Life Style
Any theology which said Jerusalem was safe because of the Temple failed to take note of the hypocrisy practiced there. Those who came to the Temple had been guilty of stealing, murder, adultery, and false swearing. They had sacrificed to Baal and walked after other gods. Yet because …
Sacrifices Can be Meaningless
The people of Judah offered all the correct sacrifices, but they failed to obey God and to walk in His ways (vv. 21-29). Verse 22 is not to be understood as a denial that God commanded the sacrifices to be made. Rather it is an argument against substituting sacrifice for obedience …