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A Sermon in the Temple
Introduction:
The prophet Jeremiah was a true preacher
of God’s Word. We find him standing in the gate, at the
entrance of the temple. His message comes directly from the
Lord, “thus says the Lord.” He tries to persuade God’s
people to change their minds, their attitudes. He wants
them to make a decision about their future. (Jeremiah
7:1-15)
Body:
I. Their Need to Correct Their Ways
(Jeremiah 7:1-7)
· The people desperately needed to
listen to God. (Verses 1-2) What Jeremiah was proclaiming
was the message of God. (Jeremiah 1:17)
· Jeremiah’s role was to shake the
people up out of their calm and security. (Verse 3) They
needed to reform their ways; clean up their act. They were
breaking command after command, but still coming to the
temple and making sacrifices. They thought as long as they
did this; they could continue living the same way without
repenting.
· Jeremiah then tells them not to
listen to lies. (Verse 4) Some men in Judah were promising
safety simply because the temple was there. They thought as
long as the temple stood, the whole nation was safe.
“Temple of the Lord” was recited like a magic charm which
would protect them regardless of their evil ways.
· This message was popular, but false.
Error has to be identified. God’s people must be concerned
about the truth. (Matthew 7:15, II Timothy 4:2-4)
· Jeremiah reminds them their dwelling
in the land was conditional. They must prove themselves
worthy, faithful to the covenant. (Verses 5-7) (Jeremiah
18:5-10)
II. Their Trust in Lying Words
(Jeremiah 7:8-11)
· Lying words have no benefit. They
are empty and useless. They just deceive. (Jeremiah 7:28,
Jeremiah 11:13,17)
· God’s people had rejected the Ten
Commandments. (Exodus 20) The Lord is not blind. He sees
everything. (Jeremiah 29:23)
· The people believed they could
knowingly commit these transgressions and then march into
the temple and say, “we’re safe,” thinking that the temple
gave them license to live wicked lives. (Jeremiah 32:32-34)
· “Den of thieves” is a place where
robbers rested after their crimes. Jeremiah says the people
have turned God’s house into a place where wicked people
hang out. Read Matthew 21:12-13. Also read Isaiah 56:7.
III. God’s Judgment Against Them
(Jeremiah 7:12-15)
· After the conquest of Canaan, the
tabernacle was set up in Shiloh [about 18 miles north of
Jerusalem]. (Joshua 18:1) It was here for almost the whole
period of the Judges. The Ark of the Covenant [located in
the tabernacle] didn’t help in the days of Samuel and Eli
because the priests had greatly sinned. (Psalm 78:60-64)
Similarly the temple in Jerusalem would not help the people
because they had sinned greatly and had shown no sign of
repenting.
Conclusion:
Much can be learned from Jeremiah’s
words. Israel thought they could sin willfully and
rebelliously as long as they went to the temple to make
sacrifices. Christians are not acceptable to God merely
reading the Bible and attending services Sunday morning.
Their inward character must correspond with their outward
devotion.
Bobby Stafford
October 27, 2013
Granby church of Christ Sermon Library
granbychurchofChrist.org
granbychurchofChrist.com
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