[:en]Our Daily Verse (7/31/21)[:]

[:en]SCRIPTURE:  JEREMIAH 7

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says:  Reform your ways an your actions, and I will let you live in this place.  Do not trust in deceptive words and say, ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the lord, the temple of the Lord!’ (Jeremiah 7:3-4)

“But I gave them this command:  Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.  Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you” (Jeremiah 7:23)

“I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, for the land will become desolate” (Jeremiah 7:34)

FALSE RELIGION WORTHLESS

God instructed Jeremiah to stand at the gate of the Lord’s house to proclaim the following messages:

  1.  Reform your ways and actions
  2. Do not trust in deceptive words
  3. Do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow
  4. Do not shed innocent blood
  5. Do not follow their gods
  6. Do not steal, murder, commit adultery and perjury
  7. Do not burn incense to Baal and follow other gods

WHAT DID THE PEOPLE DO?

  1.  The children gather woods, the father lights the fires and the women knead the dough to make cakes of bread for the Queen of Heaven (v. 18a)
  2. They pour out drink offering to other gods (v. 18b)
  3. They have set up detestable idols in the house of the Lord and defiled it (v. 30)
  4. They have built high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire (v. 31)

CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT THEY DID:

  1.  God’s anger and wrath bill be poured out on them (v. 20)
  2. Topheth will be called the Valley of Slaughter to bury their death (v. 32)
  3. The Lord has rejected and abandoned them (v. 29)
  4. The carcases of the people will become food for the birds of the air and the beast of the earth (v. 33)
  5. The sounds of joy and gladness will end and the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem will become desolate (v. 34)

Surface religion is dangerous.  Revival must come from a willing heart to obey Him.  The true source of confidence does not come from riches, fame, reputation, experiences or expertise but on the true and living God.[:]