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"A Religion of Lies "
Jeremiah 7:1-8:3

Wednesday AM Bible Study
September 22, 2004

This morning, we begin a new section in the prophecies of Jeremiah; that is, his prophetic ministry at the temple gate (chpts. 7-10). In it, God - through Jeremiah - confronts the idolatry of the people of Judah right at the very place that they thought they were most safe; that is, at the temple.

In this first section, Jeremiah is used by God to confront the false hopes of the people. They thought that their idolatry would not cause them to fall out of God's favor, so long as they were still connected to the temple. Similarly, many people today believe they are safe in living a life of inward rebellion against God, so long as they still keep to the outward forms of religion. Here, God confronts their 'religion of lies'.

I. GOD SPEAKS THROUGH JEREMIAH ABOUT THE PEOPLE'S HOPE IN LIES (7:1-15).

A. Spoken in the hearing of the people as they entered the temple (v. 1-2).

B. God's offer of blessing as a result of repentance (vv. 3-7).

1. They were trusting in a relationship with the temple to earn them God's favor instead of obedience to Him. He calls this a lie. (vv. 3-4).

2. He calls them to live in obedience; and then He would cause them to dwell in the land and the temple in safety (vv. 5-7).

C. He points out the lie that they had believed (vv. 8-11).

1. That they can sin and still come to his temple for safety (vv. 8-10).

2. That the end result was to defile the temple (v. 11).

D. He now warns of the results of their unrepentance (vv. 12-15).

1. He calls them to look at what happened to the people of God in Shilo once before, when they sought to find safety in the outward forms of religion while not repenting of sin (v. 12; see 1 Sam. 4:10-11).

2. He now warns that, because of their unrepentance, He will do the same to them as He did back then (vv. 13-15).

II. GOD SPEAKS TO JEREMIAH DIRECTLY ABOUT THEIR SELF-DECEPTION (7:16-27).

A. He recites before Jeremiah (in their hearing) the list of their sins and the cause of His anger toward them (vv. 16-20).

B. He mocks their failure to do what He really called them to do (vv. 21-26).

C. As a part of their punishment, all these things will be spoken, but they will not hear them (v. 27).

III. GOD PUBLICLY DECLARES THE FRUITS OF THE RELIGION OF LIES (7:28-8:3).

A. God calls Jeremiah to exhibit how they have rejected the truth and embraced lies 7:28-31).

B. He reveals the dreadful punishment that will now fall upon them (7:32-8:3).

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