Bible 365 - Aug 5th (print-friendly version)

Jeremiah 7-8
(Empty Sacrifices)
August 5th

Produced by The Listening for God Ministry
Copyright 2016

Please refer to one or more Bible versions of your choice to read this section. We recommend that you read at least two versions for added understanding. For your convenience, we have provided six links below, each of which takes you directly to today's chapters in a specific version:

Bible Gateway
Jeremiah 7-8 (King James Version - KJV)
Jeremiah 7-8 (New Revised Standard Version - NRSV)
Jeremiah 7-8 (New International Version - NIV)
Jeremiah 7-8 (The Message - MSG)

US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Jeremiah 7 (New American Bible - NAB) (click the "next chapter" link on the site for chapter 8)

British Bible Society
Jeremiah 7 (Good News Bible - GNB) (click "Next" for chapter 8)

Key Verse

"Here you are, trusting in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, 'We are safe!'—only to go on doing all these abominations?"

- Jeremiah 7:8-10 (NRSV)

Summary of Chapters

Jeremiah was a prophet during the era of the last four kings of Judah, which was the southern half of the divided kingdom of Israel. We had read in earlier chapters how God had called Jeremiah to speak to the people, so he began to warn of forthcoming danger from the north during the time of King Josiah, who brought reform to the people.

Today's reading begins a section of oracles during the reign of Jehoiakim, a successor to Josiah who had reverted back to the evil ways of Josiah's predecessors. In chapter 7, Jeremiah tells the people to go to the Temple and clean up their act. They had desecrated the temple, but still could have been forgiven if they changed their ways. The LORD told Jeremiah to stand at the gate and warn the people that they need to repent soon or would lose the temple:

"Clean up your act—the way you live, the things you do—so I can make my home with you in this place. Don't for a minute believe the lies being spoken here—"This is God's Temple, God's Temple, God's Temple!" Total nonsense! Only if you clean up your act (the way you live, the things you do), only if you do a total spring cleaning on the way you live and treat your neighbors, only if you quit exploiting the street people and orphans and widows, no longer taking advantage of innocent people on this very site and no longer destroying your souls by using this Temple as a front for other gods—only then will I move into your neighborhood. Only then will this country I gave your ancestors be my permanent home, my Temple."

- Jeremiah 7:3-7 (MSG)

The LORD says that people have turned the temple into a “den of robbers (Jer 7:11 - NIV)," a statement that was quoted by Jesus when he overturned the tables of the moneychangers (Matthew 21:12-14 NIV ). The LORD also reminds the people of how he had rejected Shiloh as the place of worship and can also reject Jerusalem.

"And now, because you have done all these things, says the Lord, and when I spoke to you persistently, you did not listen, and when I called you, you did not answer, therefore I will do to the house that is called by my name, in which you trust, and to the place that I gave to you and to your ancestors, just what I did to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, just as I cast out all your kinsfolk, all the offspring of Ephraim.

- Jeremiah 7:13-15 (NRSV)

The LORD addresses the horrific act of child worship that was taking place in Ben Hinnom and warns that the consequential destruction will be so devastating that one of the local valleys will be called the “Valley of Slaughter.” The bodies will remain exposed because there will be too many to bury and no one to bury them.

In chapter 8, the LORD compares the instinctive migration of birds to the Israeli people in order to make a point. He explains that the birds know when and where to migrate, but the people don't: "Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord (Jer 8:7 - KJV).”

God puts some of the blame on the scribes, whom he accuses of false interpretation of the law. Thus he will give their wives and possessions to others. At the end of the chapter, Jeremiah laments with his people, “Since my people are crushed, I am crushed (Jer 8:21 - NIV).”

Reflection and Application

There are several common themes here. One is the wrath of God. The Jewish scholar, Abraham Heschel observed that that, "Utterances denoting the wrath of God, the intent and threat of destruction, are found more frequently and expressed more strongly than in any other prophet. For this reason, Jeremiah has often been called a prophet of wrath (1)."

Yet, another theme in this group of chapters is the persistent pattern of opportunities for grace. The casual reader of the Old Testament concludes that these books are all about fire, brimstone, and destruction. But the careful readers observe again and again that the LORD was patient and continuously guided the people towards a reformed path, even when they have been stubbornly resisting him, as depicted in chapter 7. Many of the people chose not to accept this invitation, so God allowed them to be defeated by their adversary, and Jerusalem was reduced to a heap of ruins, but they had the chance, even after long-term records of transgressions.

We also have the opportunity to receive forgiveness, at any time, no matter what we have done. If anyone ever tells you they (or you) are too far gone for God’s help, please gently correct them, and give them the good news that nobody is ever beyond God’s help or forgiveness. I once missed my chance to give this response when a man told me he was too far gone for God. I was speechless, knowing in my heart that it can't be true, but not sure what to say. I plan to be prepared for the next time someone makes this claim.

The theme of empty sacrifices also occurs again and again in the Old Testament. How can we apply this instruction when we live in an era where animal sacrifices are a thing of the past? Perhaps when we give up time to serve or give up money as a tithe or donation we should first make sure that our hearts are in the right place. This concept may seem too abstract for many of us to apply, so Jesus addresses this point on at least one occasion, including the one quoted below:

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."

- Matthew 5:23-24 (NIV)

Questions and Prayers for Further Reflection