Day 188: Symbols or reality? - Jeremiah 7:1-20
1-3The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Go to the entrance of the Lord’s Temple, and give this message to the people: ‘O Judah, listen to this message from the Lord! Listen to it, all of you who worship here! This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: Even now, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land. 4 But don’t be fooled by those who promise you safety simply because the Lord’s Temple is here. They chant, “The Lord’s Temple is here! The Lord’s Temple is here!” 5-7 But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice; only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; only if you stop your murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols. Then I will let you stay in this land that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever.”
8-10 “‘Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. It’s a lie! Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, “We are safe!” - only to go right back to all those evils again? 11 Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
12-15 “Go now to the place at Shiloh where I once put the Tabernacle that bore my name. See what I did there because of all the wickedness of my people, the Israelites. While you were doing these wicked things” says the Lord “I spoke to you about it repeatedly, but you would not listen. I called out to you, but you refused to answer. So, just as I destroyed Shiloh, I will now destroy this Temple that bears my name, this Temple that you trust in for help, this place that I gave to you and your ancestors. And I will send you out of my sight into exile, just as I did your relatives, the people of Israel.”
16-19 “Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, and don’t beg me to help them, for I will not listen to you. Don’t you see what they are doing throughout the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? No wonder I am so angry! Watch how the children gather wood and the fathers build sacrificial fires. See how the women knead dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven. And they pour out liquid offerings to their other idol gods! Am I the one they are hurting?” asks the Lord. “Most of all, they hurt themselves, to their own shame.” 20 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “I will pour out my terrible fury on this place. Its people, animals, trees, and crops will be consumed by the unquenchable fire of my anger.” Jeremiah 7:1-20 New Living Translation (English Standard Version link)
Can Church be a waste of time? It certainly can if we are living a double life. What were the people of Israel relying on to save them from the coming army of Babylon? vs 4 & vs 8-10.
They thought that having God's temple in Jerusalem would keep them safe. It's like wearing a crucifix or having a St Christopher medallion in the car for 'good luck' and to keep trouble away. But what was God's response in vs 5-7 and vs 8-10?
Clearly, Temples (and religious things like medallions and Church going) in themselves, are only symbols. God would rather see lives that are truly obedient to His word, pure in thought and deeds, honest and compassionate, and putting Him first in our lives. The people of Jerusalem had reached such a point of double standards that God says they were beyond praying for. (vs16-19). In vs 12-15 God reminds them of an earlier time in their history when He even allowed the holy tent tabernacle where the symbol of His covenant was kept, to be captured by an enemy because of their disobedience in those days. The lesson for us is surely that religious symbols, religious jargon, and even religious activities (like Baptism and Communion and Church) can never be a substitute for humble and heartfelt obedience to His word.