Here is Part 498 of our series of studying and understanding the Bible, titled:
God Keeps Speaking But Are You Listening?
Jeremiah Chapters 7, 8 and 9 provide us with a common premise and description of how Judah and Israel kept on rejecting God’s instructions again and again.
What has God been dropping in your mind before now? Ideas, solutions, steps to take, journey to make, people to help or a cause to follow? Or is there any bad habit you have been warned to break? What is that thing still delaying you and why are you hesitating?
In Chapter 7, God instructed Prophet Jeremiah to stand at the gate of the temple to prophesy to the people, reminding them of the need for them to change from their evil ways and hypocritical living.
This was very necessary to be able to reach out to a bigger audience of people trooping into the temple for their religious activities and festivals.
Jeremiah obeyed and stood at the gate of the temple, despite how dangerous the mission looked like. Remember, they never liked him and his message.
Let’s read some of his messages Jer. 7:1-6
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.
We will also find in Chapter 7:11-12 how Jeremiah prophesied that if they refused to listen to the Word of the Lord, there would be consequences for their evil behaviours. In fact, he said that they would end up being destroyed by the enemies just like it happened to Shiloh.
We all remembered the story of Eli’s children and how corrupt they were and what happened to them? That’s the same warning Jeremiah is giving here in verse 12.
Also, remember after the death of King Josiah (the King who feared and served God wholeheartedly), the people went back into idolatry because of Jehoiakim’s bad behaviour rebelling against God 2Chro 36:1-8. They were pretending to be serving God and at the same time worshipping idols. You will see more of Jeremiah’s prophecies to him in Chapter 25.
From the time of their exodus from Egypt, God kept on sending His servants to them (both Israel and Judah), yet no one listened or paid any attention. Instead, they became more stubborn and rebellious than their ancestors. Read verse 25 of Chapter 7.
It got so bad towards the end of chapter 7 that they started using human beings (their sons and daughters) as sacrifices and yet still claiming they were observing the Mosaic Laws to serve God.
Therefore, in Chapter 8, Prophet Jeremiah announced judgement against them to serve as a consequence of their actions. Still, they refused to listen. None of them felt sorry for what they did.
Let’s read Jeremiah Chapter 8:5-6 and 8-11 (GNT)
5 Why then, my people, do you turn away from me without ever turning back? You cling to your idols and refuse to return to me.
6 I listened carefully, but you did not speak the truth. Not one of you has been sorry for your wickedness; not one of you has asked, ‘What have I done wrong?’ Each of you keep on going your own way, like a horse rushing into battle.
7 Even storks know when it is time to return; doves, swallows, and thrushes know when it is time to migrate. But, my people, you do not know the laws by which I rule you.
They even went as far as changing the laws that Moses gave them to suit their selfish ambitions. All these are still happening nowadays.
Corruptions everywhere, even so-called men of God manipulating the Bible to subject their followers into more and more bondage that Christ came to rescue them from.
8 How can you say that you are wise and that you know my laws? Look, the laws have been changed by dishonest scribes.
9 Your wise men are put to shame; they are confused and trapped. They have rejected my words; what wisdom do they have now?
10 So I will give their fields to new owners and their wives to other men. Everyone, great and small, tries to make money dishonestly. Even prophets and priests cheat the people.
11 They act as if my people’s wounds were only scratches. ‘All is well,’ they say, when all is not well.
Then in Chapter 9, Jeremiah advised them to humble themselves and not to be proud, because if they were not humble, they would continue to think what they were doing were right.
23 The Lord says, “The wise should not boast of their wisdom, nor the strong of their strength, nor the rich of their wealth.
24 If any want to boast, they should boast that they know and understand me, because my love is constant, and I do what is just and right. These are the things that please me. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
If at all anyone wants to boast, he should boast that he knows the Lord and that’s exactly what Apostle Paul taught in one of his Epistles.
1Cor. 1: 31
So then, as the scripture says, “Whoever wants to boast must boast of what the Lord has done.”
To be continued…stay blessed in Christ now and always.
Let us pray:
- I don’t know what God has been instructing you to do before now and probably you have been hesitating, while the idea keeps dropping in your mind, but hear this: I pray with you this moment that you receive the supernatural power to obey and swing into actions immediately, in Jesus name.
- God will coordinate all needed resources in your favour for you to accomplish this assignment, in Jesus name.
- I declare concerning you and your family, the name of the Lord will continue to reign supreme in your home. No room for idolatry of any kind. No power of darkness can compete with the power of God in your lives and no amount of threat from the enemies can harm you, in Jesus name.
To be continued…praise God.
Bible Readings For Today: 2Chronicles Chapters 16, 17 & 18 with Psalm 105
I call you blessed now and always.
Saturday August 8, 2020 (DDMI)
