Jeremiah 7:1–15

Introduction

Jeremiah 7:1–15: Today’s reading is often called the “Temple Sermon.” Jeremiah is instructed to warn the people to change their ways to be spared God’s punishment. The reading concludes with a reference to Shiloh, a place of priestly power and a shrine to the LORD in the Northern Kingdom where the LORD no longer dwells (see Joshua 21:1–2; 1 Samuel 1:3, 9) since its fall to the Assyrians in 721 B.C. due to the people’s disobedience.

Today’s Key Verse: Jeremiah 7:5 GNT

“Change the way you are living and stop doing the things you are doing. Be fair in your treatment of one another.”

Read

7 ^1-3 The Lord sent me to the gate of the Temple where the people of Judah went in to worship. He told me to stand there and announce what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, had to say to them: “Change the way you are living and the things you are doing, and I will let you go on living here. ⁴ Stop believing those deceitful words, ‘We are safe! This is the Lord’s Temple, this is the Lord’s Temple, this is the Lord’s Temple!’

⁵ “Change the way you are living and stop doing the things you are doing. Be fair in your treatment of one another. ⁶ Stop taking advantage of aliens, orphans, and widows. Stop killing innocent people in this land. Stop worshiping other gods, for that will destroy you. ⁷ If you change, I will let you go on living here in the land which I gave your ancestors as a permanent possession.

⁸ “Look, you put your trust in deceitful words. ⁹ You steal, murder, commit adultery, tell lies under oath, offer sacrifices to Baal, and worship gods that you had not known before. ¹⁰ You do these things I hate, and then you come and stand in my presence, in my own Temple, and say, ‘We are safe!’ ¹¹ Do you think that my Temple is a hiding place for robbers? I have seen what you are doing. ¹² Go to Shiloh, the first place where I chose to be worshiped, and see what I did to it because of the sins of my people Israel. ¹³ You have committed all these sins, and even though I spoke to you over and over again, you refused to listen. You would not answer when I called you. ¹⁴ And so, what I did to Shiloh I will do to this Temple of mine, in which you trust. Here in this place that I gave to your ancestors and you, I will do the same thing that I did to Shiloh. ¹⁵ I will drive you out of my sight as I drove out your relatives, the people of Israel. I, the Lord, have spoken.”

Reflect

Today’s reading warns about believing deceitful words. The people claim the LORD’s Temple will keep them safe, but the LORD says they have made the Temple “a hiding place for robbers” (verse 11). According to verses 6–7, how must the people change to be spared God’s punishment? The LORD had spoken to the people “over and over again” (verse 13). What does this say about God’s concern for the people? When might God be speaking to us “over and over again” today?

Pray

Lord God, teach me to listen for your voice and heed what you say. You are truly patient, slow to anger and abounding in love. Whenever I stray from your teachings, thank you for drawing me back to you. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

Nehemiah 1:1–11: Nehemiah prays for the people of Israel.