Jeremiah 7 -- WHY It All Was Happening

God cut to the chase.  He placed Jeremiah at one of the gates to the Temple courtyard in order that he could deliver a shocking message to the Jews coming in to worship not just Jehovah, but also Canaanite idols.  The message rings true for America today as well:

 

“Change your hearts and lives and do what is right.  Then I will let you live in this place … Don’t follow other gods, or they will ruin your lives … But look, you are trusting in LIES … If you [fail to obey Me], do you think you can come before Me and stand in this place where I’ve chosen to be worshiped?  Do you think you can say, ‘We are safe!’ when you do all these hateful things?  This place where I have chosen to be worshiped is nothing more to you than a hide-out for robbers.  I have been watching you, says the Lord … But I am not the one the people of Judah are really hurting.  They are only hurting themselves and brining shame upon themselves.”

 

God went on to remind them that He’d not just given Moses instructions about sacrifices.  He also said, “Obey Me, and I will be your God and you will be My people.”  That’s what they’d failed to do.  “They went backward, not forward,” God said here.  He’d given them everything, yet they had abandoned Him.

 

Father God, how like them we are today.  Our nation has moved so far away from You.  In the name of political correctness, we have tolerated idol worship.  We’ve embraced social justice to care for the poor, yet we have watched as our government has worked full force to prevent Your name from being worshiped or even mentioned!  This change must come about first in the hearts and lives of believers.  It has to start at home.  Lead me to fully obey You – to remove all sin from my life.  Then soften the hearts of my sons to allow me to show them how better to obey You.  Do this all over America, Father.  And do it quickly!

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford