CHAPTER VII _Here begins another section of prophecy, ending with the ninth_ _chapter. It opens with exhorting to amendment of life, without_ _which the confidence of the Jews in their temple is declared_ _vain_, 1-11. _God bids them take warning from the fate of their brethren the_ _Israelite... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:2. _STAND IN THE GATE OF THE LORD'S HOUSE_] There was a show of public worship kept up. The temple was considered God's residence; the usual ceremonies of religion restored by Josiah were still observed; and the people were led to consider the temple and its services as _sacred thin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:4. _THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD_] In the _Chaldee_ the passage stands thus:-"Do not trust in the words of lying prophets, which say, Before the temple of the Lord ye shall worship; Before the temple of the Lord ye shall sacrifice; Before the temple of the Lord ye shall adore; thrice in t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:5. _IF YE THROUGHLY AMEND YOUR WAYS_] Literally, _If in_ _making good ye fully make good your ways_. God will no longer admit of _half-hearted_ work. _Semblances_ of piety cannot deceive him; he will not accept _partial_ reformation; there must be a _thorough_ _amendment_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:9. _WILL YE STEAL, MURDER_] Will you continue to commit such abominations, and pretend to worship _me_; and thus defile the place that is called by my name; and so make my house a _den of robbers_? _I have seen this_,-and can you expect to escape condign punishment? Ye shall not esc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:12. _BUT GO YE NOW UNTO MY PLACE WHICH_ WAS _IN SHILOH_] See what I did to my tabernacle and ark formerly: after a long residence at Shiloh, for the iniquity of the priests and the people, I suffered it to fall into the hands of the Philistines, and to be carried captive into their... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:15. _THE WHOLE SEED OF EPHRAIM._] Taken here for all the _ten_ tribes, that of Ephraim being the principal.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:16. _THEREFORE PRAY NOT THOU FOR THIS PEOPLE_] They have filled up the measure of their iniquity, and they must become examples of my justice. How terrible must the state of that place be, where God refuses to pour out the spirit of supplication on his ministers and people in its be... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:18. _THE CHILDREN GATHER WOOD_] Here is a description of a _whole family_ gathered together, and acting unitedly in idolatrous worship. 1. The _children_ go and collect wood, and bring it to the place of sacrifice. 2. The _fathers_ lay it in order, and kindle a fire. 3. The _moth... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:21. _PUT YOUR BURNT-OFFERINGS UNTO YOUR SACRIFICES, AND EAT_ _FLESH._] I will receive neither sacrifice nor oblation from you; therefore you may take the beasts intended for sacrifice, and slay and eat them for your _common nourishment_. Jeremiah 7:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:23. _THIS THING COMMANDED I THEM - OBEY MY VOICE_] It was not _sacrifices_ and _oblations_ which I required of your fathers in the wilderness, but _obedience_; it was to _walk in that way_ of righteousness which I have commanded; then I should have acknowledged them for _my people_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:28. _NOR RECEIVETH CORRECTION_] They have profited neither by _mercies_ nor by _judgments_: blessings and corrections have been equally lost upon them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:29. _CUT OFF THINE HAIR_] גזי נזרך _gozzi nizrech, shear thy_ _nazarite_. The Nazarite was one who took upon him a particular vow, and separated himself from all worldly connexions for a certain time, that he might devote himself without interruption to the service of God; and duri... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:31. _TOPHET - IN THE VALLEY OF THE SON OF HINNOM_] Tophet was the place in that valley where the continual fires were kept up, in and through which they consecrated their children to Moloch.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:32. _THE VALLEY OF SLAUGHTER_] The place where the slaughtered thousands of this rebellious people shall be cast, in order to their being burnt, or becoming food for the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, Jeremiah 7:33. These words are repeated, and their meaning more par... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 7:34. _THEN WILL I CAUSE TO CEASE - THE VOICE OF MIRTH_] There shall no longer be in Jerusalem any _cause of joy_; they shall neither marry nor be given in marriage, for the land shall be totally desolated. Such horrible sins required such a horrible punishment. And they must be _horr... [ Continue Reading ]