REVIEW OF CHAPTER SEVEN I. Facts to Master. 1. The place where the sermon on worship was de livered (Jeremiah 7:2). 2. The lying words which were being repeated (Jeremiah 7:4). 3. The conditions necessary if they were to continue to dwell in the land (Jeremiah 7:5-6). 4. Five of the Ten Com... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER SEVEN SERMONS ON WORSHIP Jeremiah 7:1 to Jeremiah 8:3 The dating of the materials in this section is a vexing problem. Laetsch assigns this section to the days of king Josiah early in the ministry of Jeremiah. However most commentators, on the basis of what they believe is a parallel pass... [ Continue Reading ]
I. PRESUMPTUOUS WORSHIP Jeremiah 7:3-15 The men of Judah, like the majority of all ages, took worship for granted. They were content simply to show up at the Temple and participate in the prescribed ritual. They assumed that God was pleased with their conduct. In the opening paragraph of his Temple... [ Continue Reading ]
B. A Fallacious Assumption Jeremiah 7:8-11 TRANSLATION (8) Behold, you are trusting in the words of the worthless lie. (9) Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, sware falsely, offer incense to Baal, walk after other gods which you do not know (10) and then come and stand before Me in this house... [ Continue Reading ]
C. A Forceful Threat Jeremiah 7:12-15 TRANSLATION (12) For go now to My place which was in Shiloh where I caused my Name to dwell at the first and observe what I did to it because of the evil of My people Israel. (13) And now because you have done all these things (oracle of the LORD) and I spoke... [ Continue Reading ]
II. PAGAN WORSHIP Jeremiah 7:16-20 The worship in Jerusalem was so corrupt that God instructs Jeremiah to cease interceding for the apostates (Jeremiah 7:16). The depravity of the nation is further described (Jeremiah 7:17-19) and again the prophet announces that judgment will be poured out on the... [ Continue Reading ]
III. PRIORITIES IN WORSHIP Jeremiah 7:21-28 As Jeremiah looks at the current religious observances he sees only perfunctory compliance with outward ritual (Jeremiah 7:21). He reminds his listeners that there are obligations which take priority over such outward acts (Jeremiah 7:22-23). He then poin... [ Continue Reading ]
B. Persistent Obstinacy Jeremiah 7:24-28 TRANSLATION (24) But they would not hearken and they did not stretch out the ear but walked in the counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart and they went backwards and not forwards. (25) Even from the day when your fathers went out from the land... [ Continue Reading ]
IV. POLLUTED WORSHIP Jeremiah 7:29 to Jeremiah 8:3 Again Jeremiah takes up the subject of paganized worship. He speaks of the present defilement of the population of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 7:29), of the Temple (Jeremiah 7:30) and of the land of Judah (Jeremiah 7:31). Then Jeremiah describes the destruc... [ Continue Reading ]
B. The Future Destruction Jeremiah 7:32 to Jeremiah 8:3 TRANSLATION (32) Therefore behold, days are coming (oracle of the LORD) when it shall no longer be called the Topheth or the valley of the son of Hinnom but the valley of Slaughter; for they shall bury in Topheth for lack of place to bury. (33... [ Continue Reading ]