Religious Ritual Doesn’t Change a Sinful Life Style
January 11, 2021
Commentary
Any theology which said Jerusalem was safe because of the Temple failed to take note of the hypocrisy practiced there. Those who came to the Temple had been guilty of stealing, murder, adultery, and false swearing. They had sacrificed to Baal and walked after other gods. Yet because they went through the motions of rendering homage to God, they thought they were safe. What was worse, they thought this hypocritical lifestyle could continue unabated. They had turned the Temple into a refuge for those who had committed criminal acts. That sacred place was nothing but “a den of robbers!” Their spiritual hypocrisy had not gone unnoticed by God. (vv. 8-11).
The people did not believe judgment would come to them because the temple was located in Jerusalem. They looked at the temple as a good luck charm that could ward off any attack. Jeremiah reminded them that the temple once resided in Shiloh but because of Israel’s wickedness this place was abandoned as their central worship center and later destroyed (vv. 12-14). The point of Jeremiah’s message was; if God did not preserve Shiloh because the tabernacle was there, why would He preserve Jerusalem because of the temple (vv. 14-15)?
Application
The people in Jeremiah’s day followed a ritual of worship but maintained a sinful life style. I never want to let ritual replace my heart for the Lord as it happens to many in our churches today.
Jeremiah 7:8– 15 (NET)
8 “‘But just look at you! You are putting your confidence in a false belief that will not deliver you. 9 You steal. You murder. You commit adultery. You lie when you swear on oath. You sacrifice to the god Baal. You pay allegiance to other gods whom you have not previously known. 10 Then you come and stand in my presence in this temple I have claimed as my own and say, “We are safe!” You think you are so safe that you go on doing all those hateful sins! 11 Do you think this temple I have claimed as my own is to be a hideout for robbers? You had better take note! I have seen for myself what you have done! says the Lord. 12 So, go to the place in Shiloh where I allowed myself to be worshiped in the early days. See what I did to it because of the wicked things my people Israel did. 13 You also have done all these things, says the Lord, and I have spoken to you over and over again. But you have not listened! You have refused to respond when I called you to repent! 14 So I will destroy this temple that I have claimed as my own, this temple that you are trusting to protect you. I will destroy this place that I gave to you and your ancestors, just like I destroyed Shiloh. 15 And I will drive you out of my sight just like I drove out your relatives, the people of Israel.’