Post by John on Jul 3, 2019 21:41:02 GMT -5
I am not going to try to go through this entire Chapter of Jeremiah in one post, but I did find it important enough to want to examine it. I will start with the first 7 verses of Jeremiah chapter 7.
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these. For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor; If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.
How many times have you heard someone claim that Christianity is about relationship and not performance? They will live like the devil all week long, and show up at church on Sunday, speaking in tongues, dancing, jumping, raising their hands and shouting, singing songs of praise and worship for 45 minutes, and think that these works of the flesh will get them into heaven and God will overlook their evil deeds. Not so fast.
The children of Israel were doing much the same thing. Well, they were doing things somewhat different. They were not like charismatics today, but they would live like the devil all week, and show up to worship God once a week and trust in that to save them. God is telling them that what he desires is repentance. True repentance means turning from your sins and following God in truth. He is telling them to "Amend your ways and your doings." What kind of reforms does he desire from them? They are all centered around behavior.
1. Execute judgment between a man and his neighbor.
2. Oppress not the stranger, the fatherless and widow.
3. Don't shed innocent blood in this place.
4. Don't walk after other gods to your hurt.
These must have been sins they were guilty of. God is telling them that religious activity is not his primary desire. What he wants from them is repentance, and God is calling people to repent today. If you repent of your sins, you will be blessed and under the protection of God.
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these. For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor; If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.
How many times have you heard someone claim that Christianity is about relationship and not performance? They will live like the devil all week long, and show up at church on Sunday, speaking in tongues, dancing, jumping, raising their hands and shouting, singing songs of praise and worship for 45 minutes, and think that these works of the flesh will get them into heaven and God will overlook their evil deeds. Not so fast.
The children of Israel were doing much the same thing. Well, they were doing things somewhat different. They were not like charismatics today, but they would live like the devil all week, and show up to worship God once a week and trust in that to save them. God is telling them that what he desires is repentance. True repentance means turning from your sins and following God in truth. He is telling them to "Amend your ways and your doings." What kind of reforms does he desire from them? They are all centered around behavior.
1. Execute judgment between a man and his neighbor.
2. Oppress not the stranger, the fatherless and widow.
3. Don't shed innocent blood in this place.
4. Don't walk after other gods to your hurt.
These must have been sins they were guilty of. God is telling them that religious activity is not his primary desire. What he wants from them is repentance, and God is calling people to repent today. If you repent of your sins, you will be blessed and under the protection of God.