Lying Words: Jeremiah 7-10 (7)

Pray Psalm 12.6, 7.
The words of the LORD are pure words,
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,
Purified seven times.
You shall keep them, O LORD,
You shall preserve them from this generation forever.

Sing Psalm 12.6, 7.
(Hamburg: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross)
Your words are pure and proven true, like silver seven times refined;
You will preserve Your Word ever new, and keep the heart to You inclined.

Review Jeremiah chapters 7-10; meditate on Jeremiah 7.8-11.

Prepare.
1. How had the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem failed the people of God?

2. As the people turned from God, to what did they look for help and deliverance?

Meditate.
In his messages to God’s people in this section, Jeremiah exposed the foolishness of their idolatry and the hypocrisy of their keeping idols and still worshiping God. As long as they continued going to the temple and offering sacrifices, the people considered that they were doing what was required of them from the Law of God (7.8-11). They were trusting in the temple, and their participation in it; but they had left God behind, and devoted themselves to the false, man-made gods of the surrounding pagan nations.

The leaders of Jerusalem and Judah had failed the people. They taught them lies, saying that as long as they kept up temple worship, they could live as they wanted, and embrace whatever idols seemed to meet their needs. This led the people into perpetual backsliding (8.5) and lives of deceit and abomination. No one listened to the true prophets, whom God sent to them. Jeremiah was sent to tell the people that they were not obeying God, and so they could no longer expect to be His people. Judgment was coming, and it would be severe.

Jeremiah overflowed with emotion at the thought of the coming judgment. He pleaded with the people to turn to God in their midst and to put away their idols (8.18, 19). Still, the people continued in their rebellious ways, and the knowledge of God languished (9.23, 24).

The true and living God will not suffer false, dead idols among His people. They may think that they can have it both ways, but God insisted they must repent and return wholly to Him. Since they would not, God would remove them from their land and make them slaves of strange gods in a strange land.

And all this trouble would come upon them because the shepherds of God’s people had become “dull-hearted” and had not sought the Lord (10.21).

Reflect.
1. Why did the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem turn away from the Word of God and teach lies to the people they served? Do you think this happens in our day?

2. How can believers keep from being led astray into lies and disobedience?

3. How would you describe Jeremiah’s attitude toward the coming judgment of God’s people? How does his attitude instruct us?

It is indeed certain that they dealt dishonestly with God, when they attempted to satisfy his judgment by frigid ceremonies. He therefore shews that a reward was prepared for them; for they would at length find, that no fruit would come from their false dealings. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Jeremiah 7.8

Search me, O God, and show me any ways I have begun to drift from You, so that I…

Pray Psalm 12.1-5.
Pray that God will enable you to shelter in His Word, and that He will keep you from falling into the snare of lies and half-truths.

Sing Psalm 12.1-5.
Psalm 12.1-5 (Hamburg: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross)
Help, Lord! The godly cease to be; they who believe in Christ are few.
Falsely the wicked confidently flatter, deceive, and mock Your truth.

Stop, Lord, the lips that utter lies, all those who speak with boasting tongue!
See how Your holy Word they despise, while their own praises they have sung.

Rise up, O Lord, and rescue all Your precious children sore distressed.
Save those who faithfully on You call; grant them deliv’rance, peace, and rest.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).