Chronological Bible Study – Aug 9

What I Noticed Today (Jeremiah 7-9)

Jeremiah 7

In verses 1-8, God directed Jeremiah to stand at the temple gate and exhort the people to mend their ways and deeds, and He would allow them to continue to live there. The people believed that nothing bad would happen to them because this was the temple of the Lord.

To mend their ways, they were to execute justice; not oppress the sojourners, fatherless, or the widows; not to shed innocent blood, or go after others Gods.

In verses 9-15, Jeremiah lists their sins: they steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, and have other gods. They had violated the first, second, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth commandments. After all these sins, they came into the temple, saying they were delivered.

The reference to Shiloh is given as an example to the people. The Ark of the Lord had stopped there, yet it was destroyed by the Philistines (Joshua 18:1, 1 Samuel 4:1-11).

In verses 16-20, God told Jeremiah not to attempt to pray for the people of Judah because God would not listen because of their idol worship.

In verses 21-29, God says that to obey is better than sacrifice. The people described in Exodus offered sacrifices, but God’s command at Mt. Sinai was to obey Him. God warned Jeremiah that he should not expect these people of Judah to be any different.

In verses 30-34, God continues with His charges against the people describing how they had brought foreign idols into the temple of God, they had built high places to worship other gods, and they had even burned their own children in the fire (to the god Baal or Molech).

Jeremiah 8

Verses 1-3 continue from Jeremiah 7. God says that even the dead will face God’s judgment. They will be removed from their graves, and their bones spread out in the sun because of their sin against God. They would remain there like dung.

In verses 4-7, Jeremiah asks three questions: When someone falls down, don’t they try to get up again? If someone turns away, don’t they try to return? Why do they not learn from their mistakes? Every man follows his own path. They don’t have as much sense as a bird that at least knows to return to its nest (migration).

In verses 8-13, the people believe they are wise because they have the law of the Lord, but the scribes have made it into a lie, and the wise men put it to shame. Prophets and priests had dealt falsely with God’s law claiming peace when there was no peace.

In verses 14-17, Jeremiah describes what will happen when God’s judgment begins. The people will flee to the cities thinking they are safe, but the army (Babylonians) will devour the land.

In verses 18-22, Jeremiah grieves for the people of Judah. The people think God is no longer there, but the judgment came because they had provoked God to anger with their sin and rebellion.

Jeremiah 9

Verses 1-3 continue Jeremiah’s statement of grief from Jeremiah 8. Jeremiah cries out for the people of Judah and longs for a place of rest, but there is no rest because the people refuse to repent and do not know the Lord.

In verses 4-6, Jeremiah warns the people not to trust their neighbors or brothers because everyone is a deceiver, they all speak lies, and the all oppress one another because they refuse to repent and do not know the Lord.

In verses 7-9, Jeremiah says because of the people’s deceit the Lord will refine them (a refiner places metal into a crucible and heats until it melts to separate the impurities from the pure metal).

In verses 10-16, Jeremiah again weeps for the land of Judah that will be laid waste because of God’s judgment. Jeremiah asks the wise men why this will happen, but God answers that it is because the people had rejected Him, and stubbornly refused to repent and return to Him.

In verses 17-24, the Lord gives Jeremiah three pronouncements for the people: 1) wailing women are to lament for Jerusalem (vv. 17-21), 2) the bodies of the slain would be like cut grain in the field with no one left to gather them (v. 22), and 3) the wise man will not boast in his own wisdom but will boast in what he knows of the Lord: steadfast love, justice, and righteousness (vv. 23-24).

In verses 25-26, God declares that there will come a day when He will bring judgment on those who are only circumcised outwardly and not in their hearts.

Tomorrow: Jeremiah 10-13

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.