Canonical Reading Plan for Aug 14, Jer 7-9

Today's readings are Jer 7-9.

Jer 7 addresses the hypocrisy of God's people who feel safe because they have placed their security in the naïve belief that having the temple means they can take God and His favor for granted. God tells them to go take a look at Shiloh, the first place where they made a home for Him. It was attacked when the Assyrians invaded the Northern Kingdom and now lies desolate.

A key passage is found in the middle of the chapter in Jer 7:8-10, “Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. 9 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations?" God will not allow a double standard to exist among His people, a harsh warning to those who take sin lightly and Him casually, even among those in the church.

In Jer 8-9, Jeremiah begins to lament over the realization that there is no remedy for Judah’s stubborn resistance to God. Destruction and exile (captivity) are coming their way. The only safety found in the coming days will be in loyalty and obedience to the Lord.

God will be neither mocked nor taken for granted. Those who assume His blessing, yet continue to sin without grieving or repenting will endure the consequences. Notice that God continues to call the Hebrews “His children,” “His people,” etc.  They become neither disenfranchised nor abandoned. Still, like a petulant and disobedient child who has to stand in the corner for his rebelliousness, he remains in the family but soon discovers chastisement is a valuable and instructive part of growing up.