The People Refuse to Worship The Lord
October 13, 2019
Commentary
Jews from both Northern and Southern Egypt listened to what the Lord had to say through Jeremiah (v. 15). The men knew that their wives burned incense to other gods. It was an act of open defiance, when they shouted, “We don’t care what you say or what God says. We’re going to do what we want” (v. 16). We have promised to worship the goddess Astare, the queen of heaven, just as we, our ancestors, our kings and our leaders did when we lived in Jerusalem (v. 17). We had plenty of food back then and nothing bad ever happened to us, but since then we have been dying from war and hunger (v. 18). The women said that when we lived in Judah we worshiped the Queen of Heaven and offered sacrifices to her and our husbands approved of it (v. 19). Then Jeremiah told the crowd that the Lord knew what they had been doing and when He could no longer put up with these disgusting sins He pronounced a curse on them (vv. 20-22)
Isn’t it strange how quickly the mind of the flesh can forget? Because they did have trouble in Judah – plenty of It (v. 23). And the extent to which they did have less trouble and more prosperity there was due not to their actions but to the grace of God, withholding judgment. Now you are dong the same things here in Egypt (vv. 24-25). If you keep this up I can assure you that I will never again accept any promises you make (v. 26). Instead of watching over you, I will watch for chances to harm you (v. 27). Only a few will escape and return to Judah (v. 28). I will keep my threats to punish you in Egypt and will hand over King Hophra of Egypt to those who want to kill him (vv. 29-30).
Application
One thing that God really hates is the worship of false gods. The place where we now live has many false gods. My heart breaks for the thousands who live here who have never heard about Jesus.
Jeremiah 44:15– 30 (NET)
15 Then all the men who were aware that their wives were sacrificing to other gods, as well as all their wives, answered Jeremiah—there was a great crowd of them representing all the people who lived in northern and southern Egypt — 16 “We will not listen to what you claim the Lord has spoken to us! 17 Instead we will do everything we vowed we would do. We will sacrifice and pour out drink offerings to the goddess called the Queen of Heaven just as we and our ancestors, our kings, and our leaders previously did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, were well off, and had no troubles. 18 But ever since we stopped sacrificing and pouring out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven, we have been in great need. Our people have died in wars or of starvation.” 19 The women added, “We did indeed sacrifice and pour out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven. But it was with the full knowledge and approval of our husbands that we made cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her.”
20 Then Jeremiah replied to all the people, both men and women, who responded to him in this way: 21 “The Lord did indeed remember and call to mind what you did! He remembered the incense you and your ancestors, your kings, your leaders, and all the rest of the people of the land offered to other gods in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. 22 Finally the Lord could no longer endure your wicked deeds and the disgusting things you did. That is why your land has become the desolate, uninhabited ruin that it is today. That is why it has become a proverbial example used in curses. 23 You have sacrificed to other gods. You have sinned against the Lord! You have not obeyed the Lord! You have not followed his laws, his statutes, and his decrees. That is why this disaster that is evident to this day has happened to you.”
24 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the people, particularly to all the women, “Listen to the Lord’s message, all you people of Judah who are in Egypt. 25 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, has said, ‘You women have confirmed by your actions what you vowed with your lips! You said, “We will certainly carry out our vows to sacrifice and pour out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven.” Well, then fulfill your vows! Carry them out!’ 26 But listen to the Lord’s message, all you people of Judah who are living in the land of Egypt: The Lord says, ‘I hereby swear by my own great name that none of the people of Judah who are living anywhere in Egypt will ever again invoke my name in their oaths! Never again will any of them use it in an oath saying, “As surely as the Sovereign Lord lives.” 27 I will indeed see to it that disaster, not prosperity, happens to them. All the people of Judah who are in the land of Egypt will die in war or from starvation until not one of them is left. 28 Some who survive the battle will return to the land of Judah from the land of Egypt. But they will be very few indeed! Then the Judean remnant who have come to live in the land of Egypt will know whose word proves true, mine or theirs.’ 29 Moreover the Lord says, ‘I will make something happen to prove that I will punish you in this place. I will do it so that you will know that my threats to bring disaster on you will prove true. 30 I, the Lord, promise that I will hand Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt over to his enemies who are seeking to kill him. I will do that just as surely as I handed King Zedekiah of Judah over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, his enemy who was seeking to kill him.’”
Illustration: People Fall Asleep in The Worship Service
Jim Dunn was serving as the pastor of the First Baptist Church, and his wife, Gladys, was very friendly and welcoming to people. One particular Sunday when the sermon seemed to go on forever, many in the congregation fell asleep. After the service, to be sociable, she walked up to a very sleepy looking gentleman. In an attempt to revive him from his stupor, she extended her hand in greeting, and said, “Hello, I’m Gladys Dunn." To which the gentleman replied, “You’re not the only one!” (Paul Decker – Sermon Central)