WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.639 I need you to listen to me. 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:10.500 I heard, overheard, a mom say that one day to her son. 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:17.699 And the tone of her voice told me that what she wanted from her son 00:00:17.699 --> 00:00:21.379 was not merely for him to hear her, what she is saying, 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:24.339 but to listen in the sense of obey. 00:00:25.640 --> 00:00:28.580 That her patience running thin, hearing wasn't enough, 00:00:28.579 --> 00:00:33.060 and it was time for him now to do what the mom was telling him to do. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:38.439 And in Hebrew, the word listen, in a similar way, has two senses. 00:00:38.700 --> 00:00:41.359 It can mean hearing something, an auditory function, 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:45.299 but it also means to obey, to listen. 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:52.820 And Jeremiah here plays on that word skillfully to drive home the point 00:00:52.820 --> 00:00:56.500 that God wants his people to listen to him 00:00:56.500 --> 00:00:58.859 rather than paying lip service to him. 00:00:59.060 --> 00:01:01.640 That's really the main point of this passage, 00:01:01.719 --> 00:01:04.859 that God wants us to listen to him rather than pay lip service to him. 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:09.180 And the word listen, hear, obey throughout this passage 00:01:09.180 --> 00:01:12.079 are all the same word in the original language. 00:01:12.219 --> 00:01:14.460 And so using that, there's this kind of flow. 00:01:14.659 --> 00:01:17.620 First, God calls disobedient Judah to listen, 00:01:18.180 --> 00:01:19.900 verse 15 verses of chapter 7. 00:01:19.900 --> 00:01:23.840 Then God says, I will not listen to disobedient Judah, 00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:25.940 chapter 7, verse 16 to 26. 00:01:26.320 --> 00:01:29.380 And at the end, it says that disobedient Judah will not listen. 00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:31.140 They will continue to not listen to the Lord. 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:34.940 That's kind of the outline that I will follow here. 00:01:35.380 --> 00:01:38.180 And so we see here that it's the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah, 00:01:38.320 --> 00:01:39.580 which means it's God's word. 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:41.260 It's the authoritative word that came to him 00:01:41.260 --> 00:01:45.620 that he is calling God's people of Judah to listen to and to hear. 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:49.920 And then we see whom the word of God came to, 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:51.620 whom it's directed toward at verse 2. 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:57.219 It says, all you men of Judah who entered these gates to worship the Lord. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:01.659 So this is referring to men and women who worship the Lord in the temple. 00:02:02.460 --> 00:02:06.140 And it's using, it's referring to the worshiper. 00:02:06.219 --> 00:02:09.360 So at this point of the chapter, it kind of reads like a psalm, right, 00:02:09.379 --> 00:02:11.159 that invites people to come and worship him. 00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:16.799 And it sounds good so far because maybe these are the ones that are faithful 00:02:16.799 --> 00:02:18.939 who still remain in the land because up to this point, 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:20.120 we've only heard of God's judgment. 00:02:20.519 --> 00:02:22.359 But these are people who are coming to worship the Lord. 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:23.819 So so far, it sounds good. 00:02:24.359 --> 00:02:28.039 And the worship, the word literally means to prostrate yourself before God, 00:02:28.099 --> 00:02:29.859 to bow down to him. 00:02:30.099 --> 00:02:32.759 It's an acknowledgment of his superiority, 00:02:33.219 --> 00:02:37.560 and it's an act of, it's an expression of total submission to him. 00:02:37.879 --> 00:02:39.579 So it's a deeply humbling gesture. 00:02:39.580 --> 00:02:42.920 And for that reason, kings of the ancient world, 00:02:43.020 --> 00:02:47.500 when they conquered a kingdom, would subject the kings to that treatment. 00:02:47.600 --> 00:02:49.840 They would make them bow down and worship, 00:02:49.980 --> 00:02:52.420 or bow down and prostrate themselves to them. 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:56.640 And so surely the people who are coming to the temple to do that, 00:02:57.340 --> 00:03:00.580 to prostrate themselves in an expression, a gesture of submission to God, 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:02.540 are ones that are faithful to him. 00:03:02.580 --> 00:03:03.960 That's what you'd be led to think. 00:03:04.640 --> 00:03:06.640 Until we get to verses 3 to 4. 00:03:07.420 --> 00:03:08.720 Read verses 3 to 4 with me. 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:08.979 He says, 00:03:09.159 --> 00:03:13.020 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:17.860 amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:20.539 Do not trust in these deceptive words. 00:03:20.919 --> 00:03:22.520 This is the temple of the Lord. 00:03:22.860 --> 00:03:23.960 The temple of the Lord. 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:25.939 The temple of the Lord. 00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:29.079 Far from commending these worshipers, 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:32.539 God commands them to amend their ways and deeds. 00:03:32.539 --> 00:03:36.079 Only then, God says, I will let you dwell in this place. 00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:39.219 The designation this place is a little bit unclear. 00:03:39.419 --> 00:03:39.739 It's ambiguous. 00:03:39.900 --> 00:03:45.959 But later in verse 7, it tells us that this place refers to the land that God gave of old to their fathers forever. 00:03:46.299 --> 00:03:51.759 So it's a reference to the promised land of Canaan that stands and represents God's dwelling among them, 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:53.799 his presence with them, his favor toward them. 00:03:53.800 --> 00:04:00.719 And apparently there was an often mentioned saying among the people of Judah that fostered this sense of false assurance. 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:06.300 Because when prophets like Jeremiah warned of impending judgment and doom due to their unfaithfulness and sin, 00:04:06.660 --> 00:04:07.760 they would say to themselves, 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:10.780 this is the temple of the Lord. 00:04:11.899 --> 00:04:13.659 This is the temple of the Lord. 00:04:13.780 --> 00:04:15.819 This is the temple of the Lord. 00:04:15.939 --> 00:04:18.219 You see that building right there at the heart of Jerusalem? 00:04:19.599 --> 00:04:21.579 That's the temple of the Lord. 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:23.860 The very dwelling place of God. 00:04:24.019 --> 00:04:28.159 God promised to David and his descendants that they would rule over this kingdom forever. 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:30.240 God lives here with us. 00:04:30.620 --> 00:04:32.099 What can possibly go wrong? 00:04:34.459 --> 00:04:36.620 What can possibly happen to this place? 00:04:36.620 --> 00:04:39.560 Who can possibly harm us? 00:04:40.040 --> 00:04:40.980 Stop being paranoid. 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:43.819 This is the temple of the Lord. 00:04:44.340 --> 00:04:45.040 Leave us alone. 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:46.959 But God warns them, 00:04:47.620 --> 00:04:50.780 do not trust in these deceptive words. 00:04:51.060 --> 00:04:56.180 The existence of the temple is no guarantee of the presence of God. 00:04:57.840 --> 00:05:02.480 It's not like God was somehow bound physically to Judah because of this temple. 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:06.980 God's dwelling among his people was an act of pure grace on his part. 00:05:07.700 --> 00:05:13.480 So for that reason, people were wrong to think that the land was somehow above reproach, 00:05:14.300 --> 00:05:20.700 that it's inviolable, that it's their birthright, that they didn't have to be true to God or just toward their neighbors. 00:05:20.699 --> 00:05:25.099 All they needed to do was dwell in the land where the temple existed and everything would be fine. 00:05:26.120 --> 00:05:29.860 But God challenges that false belief in verses 5 to 7. 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:31.319 Read with me. 00:05:31.579 --> 00:05:31.719 It says, 00:05:31.720 --> 00:05:57.140 As we saw last week in Jeremiah 5, 1, 00:05:57.139 --> 00:06:02.939 the covenant requirements, the requirements that God had for his people entailed being true and faithful to God 00:06:02.939 --> 00:06:05.060 and being just toward their neighbors. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:09.459 And we see here both the horizontal obligation that we have toward one another 00:06:09.459 --> 00:06:14.120 and the vertical obligation to God in this requirement that God's laying out again here. 00:06:14.419 --> 00:06:16.459 They're to execute justice one with another. 00:06:16.939 --> 00:06:21.620 And it's common for sinful people to seek justice only for themselves. 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:27.500 But when God speaks of justice, his mind goes immediately to the weakest and most vulnerable members of a society. 00:06:27.780 --> 00:06:28.139 So he says, 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:33.379 If you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place. 00:06:33.819 --> 00:06:40.800 The true moral fiber of a society is not tested and seen in the way it treats its strongest members, 00:06:41.259 --> 00:06:43.199 in the way it treats its most powerful members, 00:06:43.280 --> 00:06:47.500 but in the way it treats its weakest and most disempowered members. 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:52.160 So do the sojourners who have no home find a home among us? 00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:59.100 Do the fatherless who have no family find a family among us? 00:07:00.459 --> 00:07:03.939 Do the widows who have no one to advocate for them, 00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:06.300 who have no champion for them, 00:07:06.420 --> 00:07:08.639 find advocates and champions among us? 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:18.399 Have you been careful and fair in your execution of justice so that no innocent blood is shed in this place? 00:07:18.860 --> 00:07:25.459 To claim to love God while hating people who are created in the image of God and loved by God is hypocritical. 00:07:25.539 --> 00:07:27.240 And that's what God is pointing out here. 00:07:28.039 --> 00:07:31.620 Nor can we be just toward our neighbors without being true to God. 00:07:31.979 --> 00:07:34.519 Because if we're not spiritually right with God, 00:07:34.599 --> 00:07:36.959 we cannot have a reliable moral compass. 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:41.279 Because God is the north point to which our moral compass is supposed to point. 00:07:41.779 --> 00:07:46.239 And God is the one for whom we were created and to whom we should be directed. 00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:48.479 Without being true and faithful to God, 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:52.379 we will be misled by our blind spots and prejudices 00:07:52.379 --> 00:07:55.099 and inevitably will be unjust toward our neighbors. 00:07:56.740 --> 00:07:58.799 So God has another conditional statement to that. 00:07:58.899 --> 00:08:01.259 And if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, 00:08:01.659 --> 00:08:03.439 then I will let you dwell in this place, 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:05.439 in the land that I gave of all to your fathers forever. 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:10.879 Then in verses 8 to 10, God continues to expose the hypocrisy of his people. 00:08:11.259 --> 00:08:11.579 He says, 00:08:11.579 --> 00:08:41.039 The offenses mentioned in verse 9 are taken directly from the Ten Commandments. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:44.819 The first half of the Ten Commandments deal with loving God, 00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:48.120 and second half of the Ten Commandments deal with loving our neighbors. 00:08:48.579 --> 00:08:52.639 And so people of Judah have kept neither of the halves of the Ten Commandments. 00:08:52.980 --> 00:08:54.860 They steal from their neighbors. 00:08:54.939 --> 00:08:56.379 They murder their neighbors. 00:08:56.500 --> 00:08:59.319 They commit adultery with and against their neighbors. 00:08:59.860 --> 00:09:02.620 They also swear falsely using the name of God in vain. 00:09:02.860 --> 00:09:06.339 They make offerings to Baal instead of bowing down and making offerings to God alone. 00:09:06.340 --> 00:09:08.899 They go after other gods that they have not known, 00:09:09.100 --> 00:09:11.139 instead of following the very first commandment, 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:11.660 which says, 00:09:11.920 --> 00:09:14.519 You shall have no other gods before you. 00:09:15.860 --> 00:09:20.980 And the verb to know in Hebrew has covenantal overtones. 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:27.780 It deals with God's enduring and loving and intimate personal relationship that we have with God. 00:09:27.779 --> 00:09:29.620 That's why in Amos 3.2, 00:09:29.720 --> 00:09:31.199 God says to Israel, his people, 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:35.980 You only have I known of all the families of the earth. 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:38.659 That knowledge refers to covenantal knowledge. 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:40.379 It means that we have a connection to God. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:41.519 We're committed to him. 00:09:41.779 --> 00:09:43.879 That we are supposed to be loyal to him. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:46.000 Have this binding, enduring relationship with him. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:48.559 Yet, these people of Judah, 00:09:49.779 --> 00:09:51.679 instead of going to the God whom they have known, 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:53.120 the God who knows them, 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:56.519 they have gone after gods that they have not known. 00:09:57.700 --> 00:09:59.360 Gods who are no gods at all. 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:02.019 Gods who have done nothing for them. 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:06.379 Gods who have no relationship with them. 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:09.620 Gods to whom they have no obligation. 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:12.159 And yet, they have forsaken the Lord, 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:13.319 their God, 00:10:13.819 --> 00:10:17.860 and have gone after gods that they have not known. 00:10:20.219 --> 00:10:23.579 The Ten Commandments are represented of the entire Old Testament law. 00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:27.100 And so, by specifically charging Judah of breaking the Ten Commandments, 00:10:27.199 --> 00:10:29.539 God's charging them really of breaking all the laws. 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:33.919 There isn't a single commandment that they're keeping satisfactorily. 00:10:34.679 --> 00:10:35.980 Yet, in spite of all of this, 00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:39.740 they have the audacity to enter the house of God, 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:41.720 which is called by his name and say, 00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:42.660 we are delivered. 00:10:43.800 --> 00:10:44.820 Only then, afterwards, 00:10:44.940 --> 00:10:46.860 resume doing all their abominable deeds. 00:10:47.680 --> 00:10:50.100 And so, God asks a biting question in verse 11. 00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:50.879 Read with me. 00:10:51.139 --> 00:10:54.080 Has this house, which is called by my name, 00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:56.180 become a den of robbers in your eyes? 00:10:56.779 --> 00:11:00.519 Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord. 00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:02.759 You could hear God's indignation 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:05.660 in his repeated description of the temple as the house, 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:08.100 which is called by my name. 00:11:08.500 --> 00:11:10.240 This is not any temple. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:11.420 This is not any house. 00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:15.120 It's a temple that is known by the name of the Lord God, 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:16.279 the one true God. 00:11:16.500 --> 00:11:18.320 Yet, these so-called worshippers of Judah 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:21.279 are sinning in every imaginable way. 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:24.660 And they are brazen enough to stand before God 00:11:24.660 --> 00:11:27.100 at the temple and take him for a fool. 00:11:28.580 --> 00:11:29.779 By doing that, God says, 00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:33.759 they are treating the temple like a den of robbers. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:35.699 That's a really apt metaphor, right? 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:39.019 Because in the ancient world, robbers would commit robberies, 00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:42.539 and then they would retreat to a hideout or a safe house, 00:11:42.579 --> 00:11:43.299 a cave somewhere, 00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:45.220 where they can stay under the radar 00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:48.000 until they are no longer being sat out by the authorities 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:48.939 and hunted by the authorities. 00:11:49.159 --> 00:11:50.379 And then they would come back, 00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:51.659 rear their heads again, 00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:54.019 and go back to commit more robberies. 00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:58.299 So the people of Judah then are treating the temple like a den of robbers. 00:11:58.699 --> 00:12:00.419 They're treating it like a hideout. 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:01.659 When they're out there, 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:03.419 they do all kinds of evil deeds, 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:05.019 and then they come to the temple thinking, 00:12:05.139 --> 00:12:06.079 oh, we'll be safe here. 00:12:07.340 --> 00:12:08.759 No one will get us here. 00:12:09.179 --> 00:12:09.939 This is the temple. 00:12:09.940 --> 00:12:13.560 They're saying to themselves, 00:12:13.760 --> 00:12:16.120 we're in God's temple performing the required rituals. 00:12:16.300 --> 00:12:18.560 What evil can possibly befall us? 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:21.740 But God has a stern warning for them in verse 12. 00:12:22.220 --> 00:12:24.740 Go now to my place that was in Shiloh, 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:27.220 where I made my name dwell at first, 00:12:27.400 --> 00:12:32.100 and see what I did to it because of the evil of my people Israel. 00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:36.260 So Shiloh was a city in the territory of the tribe of Ephraim. 00:12:36.259 --> 00:12:38.360 It was the place where the tabernacle, 00:12:38.620 --> 00:12:43.360 the dwelling place of God then was set up after the conquest of Canaan in Joshua 18. 00:12:43.460 --> 00:12:48.279 And even though Shiloh was a dwelling place of God at that point in Israel's history, 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:49.700 due to Israel's sin, 00:12:49.779 --> 00:12:51.419 they were defeated by the Philistines. 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:52.860 The ark of God was captured, 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:54.439 and Shiloh was destroyed, 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:56.840 and it was abandoned and left the heap of ruins. 00:12:57.419 --> 00:13:01.939 And God uses that vivid memory that these people still have to tell them, 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:03.379 to use it as a cautionary tale. 00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:03.840 He tells them, 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:06.159 go take a look at my old sanctuary, 00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:06.960 in Shiloh, 00:13:07.319 --> 00:13:11.860 and see for yourself what has happened to it because of Israel's sin. 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:16.600 The fact that God established a dwelling place among them as a place for his name to dwell 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:20.319 did not guarantee their safety and prosperity. 00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:23.960 If they want to enjoy the covenant blessings, 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:27.480 they have to keep their end of the covenant obligations 00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:29.360 by being faithful to God. 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:35.360 Isn't that an accurate description of our demeanor, 00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:36.659 sometimes toward God? 00:13:38.300 --> 00:13:41.759 How many times do we presume upon God's grace? 00:13:43.700 --> 00:13:46.379 When faced with recurring temptations, 00:13:46.700 --> 00:13:48.560 how often do we think to ourselves, 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:50.639 I really shouldn't do this, 00:13:51.340 --> 00:13:52.300 but I'm a Christian, 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:53.220 God will forgive me anyway. 00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:58.820 And then go on sinning. 00:14:01.560 --> 00:14:05.139 After describing a list of sins that God condemns, 00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:07.940 Paul says in Romans 2, 2-5, 00:14:07.940 --> 00:14:13.080 we know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:14.340 Do you suppose, 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:14.800 O man, 00:14:14.900 --> 00:14:17.240 you who judge those who practice such things 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:18.780 and yet do them yourself, 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:21.880 that you will escape the judgment of God? 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:27.080 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, 00:14:27.300 --> 00:14:31.360 not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance, 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:34.539 but because of your heart and impenitent heart, 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:38.419 you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath 00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:41.879 when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. 00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:48.560 God's grace and forbearance are meant to lead us to repent of our sins, 00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:50.080 not to persist in them. 00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:54.899 The fact that we acknowledge that we are sinners 00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:56.700 and we admit that sin is sin 00:14:56.700 --> 00:14:59.039 doesn't make it okay for us to go on sinning. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:02.860 As people who know that God's righteous judgment will fall upon sinners, 00:15:02.959 --> 00:15:04.360 we should take all the more care 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:07.959 to avoid sin rather than presuming on the grace of God. 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:12.759 I'm not saying that God's not going to preserve his saints to the end. 00:15:12.819 --> 00:15:13.199 He will. 00:15:13.659 --> 00:15:16.559 God will preserve all of his saints to the end 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:20.079 and all the saints will persevere to the end. 00:15:20.339 --> 00:15:23.039 But this does not mean that you will be saved 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:24.639 whether you persevere or not. 00:15:26.079 --> 00:15:28.659 Every true saint perseveres to the end. 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:30.980 You cannot take that perseverance for granted. 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:34.939 Our perseverance in good works until the end is proof 00:15:34.939 --> 00:15:37.120 that we are truly in Christ, 00:15:37.319 --> 00:15:39.620 that we really took hold of him in faith 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:41.059 and therefore belong to him. 00:15:41.459 --> 00:15:43.919 So our assurance of salvation can't be severed 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:45.240 from our perseverance of faith. 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:48.000 The more you persevere, the more you will be assured. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:50.019 And the more you're assured in God's grace, 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:53.219 the more you will have the strength to persevere in faith and good works. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:54.500 Those two things go hand in hand. 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:58.320 And Judah presumed upon the grace of God 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:00.179 and believed that they were beyond judgment. 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:04.200 They believed that the temple guaranteed God's perpetual favor. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:07.460 And God says to them in verses 13 to 15, 00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:08.179 read with me, 00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:22.399 Verse 2, remember, 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:36.419 Verse 2, remember, 00:16:36.419 --> 00:16:41.860 But now at the end of this section, 00:16:41.979 --> 00:16:42.459 first section, 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:42.979 God says, 00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:45.399 Though he spoke to them persistently, 00:16:45.819 --> 00:16:47.399 they did not listen. 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:48.219 The same word. 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:51.379 God has repeatedly called out to Judah to listen, 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:52.779 but they have not listened. 00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:53.799 And for that reason, 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:54.899 in the same way, 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:56.459 the sanctuary in Shiloh, 00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:57.759 of the northern kingdom of Israel, 00:16:57.819 --> 00:16:58.480 was destroyed, 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:00.980 and Israel was exiled from the promised land, 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:01.779 in the same way, 00:17:01.819 --> 00:17:03.019 God will destroy the sanctuary, 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.899 the temple in Jerusalem, 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:06.680 and the southern kingdom of Judah 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:08.720 will be exiled from the promised land. 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:12.220 God wants them to listen to him 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:13.899 rather than pay lip service to him. 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:18.480 Jeremiah then transitions to his next point, 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:19.480 that God calls, 00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:20.619 that from, 00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:23.259 he said that God called disobedient Judah to listen, 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:24.919 but they have refused up to this point. 00:17:24.979 --> 00:17:25.859 And the second point is that 00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:28.219 God will not listen to disobedient Judah. 00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:31.119 God says to Jeremiah in verse 16, 00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.359 As for you, 00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:35.279 do not pray for this people, 00:17:35.719 --> 00:17:38.059 or lift up a cry or prayer for them, 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:40.079 and do not intercede with me, 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:42.619 for I will not hear you. 00:17:45.659 --> 00:17:47.319 Judah has refused to listen. 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:50.379 They have now gone past the point of no return, 00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:51.020 and God says, 00:17:51.320 --> 00:17:53.100 I will not listen to you. 00:17:53.600 --> 00:17:55.920 I will not hear your intercessory prayers 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.540 on their behalf. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:58.680 That's a fearful thing to hear from God. 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:02.700 You know it's a bad sign, right? 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:04.860 When you're in the middle of a relational conflict, 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:06.820 and you've been going back and forth, 00:18:07.100 --> 00:18:08.100 and then all of a sudden, 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:09.640 you don't get anything back. 00:18:10.820 --> 00:18:12.020 There's no return texts. 00:18:12.280 --> 00:18:13.140 There's no phone calls. 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.520 They've cut off communication. 00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:19.200 When God says, 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:19.839 I will not hear you, 00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:21.339 that means the line of communication 00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:22.440 is being cut. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:26.139 Because Judah has been so stubborn 00:18:26.139 --> 00:18:27.559 and unrepentant in their sins, 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:29.319 they've gone past the point of no return. 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:30.099 And of course, 00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:31.619 God's assessment of this is perfect, 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.579 and he's correct. 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:34.859 Because if we find out later that 00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:36.900 even after God's discipline, 00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:38.799 even after his judgment falls on them, 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:40.899 and they are exiled out of the promised land, 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:43.639 and after fleeing the Babylonian Empire, 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.299 some of them are, 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:44.819 you know, 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:47.519 a remnant is kind of trying to survive in Egypt. 00:18:47.899 --> 00:18:49.019 Guess what they're doing? 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:50.599 In Egypt, 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:53.379 they are worshiping the same queen of heaven 00:18:53.379 --> 00:18:56.720 that could do nothing to save them. 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:59.059 That's how stubborn 00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:02.119 they were in their sin. 00:19:02.379 --> 00:19:03.079 Unrepentant they were. 00:19:03.159 --> 00:19:04.599 That's what we find in chapter 44. 00:19:05.159 --> 00:19:05.879 So God was right. 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:07.539 They were past the point of return, 00:19:07.639 --> 00:19:08.059 and God says, 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:09.460 therefore I will not listen to you. 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:10.799 Look at verse 18. 00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:13.099 God brings another accusation against him. 00:19:13.159 --> 00:19:13.259 He says, 00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:14.519 The children gather wood, 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:16.019 the fathers kindle fire, 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:17.559 and the woman ned dough. 00:19:18.379 --> 00:19:20.200 Doesn't that sound like such a beautiful portrayal 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.179 of a harmonious family? 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:21.599 Right? 00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:22.619 They're all working together. 00:19:23.179 --> 00:19:26.500 And the Jewish vision for the family 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:29.519 that's basically rooted in the Old Testament 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:32.279 was to see the family as a real mini sanctuary. 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:34.319 See the home as a mini sanctuary 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:36.559 where the father served as a priest-like figure, 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:38.759 and the dinner table was the altar. 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:40.879 And they were supposed to teach their children, 00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:41.779 the father and mother, 00:19:41.879 --> 00:19:42.159 together. 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:45.480 And so there's this picture of a family 00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:46.339 as a sacred unit 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:47.679 that's supposed to preserve 00:19:47.679 --> 00:19:49.519 and protect 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:52.179 and pass on the worship of the Lord God. 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:54.340 And so that's kind of what it looks like. 00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:55.240 They're harmonious family. 00:19:55.320 --> 00:19:56.160 The children gather wood, 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.320 the fathers kindle fire, 00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.779 and the woman ned dough. 00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:00.120 But then for what? 00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:01.519 That's the kicker at the end. 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:04.759 To make cakes for the queen of heaven. 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:09.359 And they pour drink offerings to other gods 00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:11.079 to provoke me to anger. 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:13.220 The queen of heaven is a reference 00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:16.359 to the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess 00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:19.059 of Astarte or Ishtar, 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:21.259 which may be another name 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:23.220 for the Canaanite goddess Asherah. 00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:23.920 Right? 00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:26.319 It was an astral deity, 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.779 a god associated with the stars, 00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:28.359 the heavens, 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:30.480 and hosts of heaven mentioned 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:32.160 in 2 Kings 21 and 23. 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.519 And so this, 00:20:34.120 --> 00:20:37.460 and during the days of King Manasseh of Judah, 00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.660 the cult of the queen of heaven 00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:39.540 was quite popular, 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.920 as we find in 2 Kings. 00:20:41.540 --> 00:20:43.580 And archaeologists have actually found 00:20:43.580 --> 00:20:46.860 47 molds of cakes 00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:48.220 representing a goddess 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:50.100 shaped in the form of a female goddess 00:20:50.100 --> 00:20:52.480 from the early 2nd millennium BC. 00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:54.279 It's probably the same thing 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:55.120 that's going on here. 00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:57.480 There, it's a whole family 00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:58.540 working together 00:20:58.540 --> 00:21:00.300 to bake these cakes 00:21:00.300 --> 00:21:02.140 in the shape of the queen of heaven. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:03.700 For the queen of heaven. 00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:07.180 The worship of Yahweh, 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:08.900 the Lord God, 00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:09.880 was meant to be 00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:11.060 a whole family affair, 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:13.000 yet instead of maintaining 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:13.800 the worship of the Lord, 00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:14.660 the whole households 00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:15.620 have sold themselves 00:21:15.620 --> 00:21:16.360 to the worship 00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:18.380 of the so-called queen of heaven. 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.560 And they did this seemingly 00:21:20.560 --> 00:21:22.120 to provoke God's anger, 00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:23.140 according to verse 18. 00:21:23.540 --> 00:21:24.920 But more than provoking God, 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:26.420 it says in verses 19 to 20 00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:27.779 that they were provoking themselves. 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.240 It is I, 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:30.880 is it I whom they provoke, 00:21:31.040 --> 00:21:31.720 declares the Lord. 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:33.180 Is it not themselves 00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:34.600 to their own shame? 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:36.240 Therefore thus says the Lord God, 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:36.600 behold, 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:37.839 my anger and my wrath 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:38.880 will be poured out 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:39.740 on this place 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:41.180 upon man and beast, 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:42.600 upon the trees of the field 00:21:42.600 --> 00:21:43.579 and the fruit of the ground. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.460 It will burn 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.759 and not be quenched. 00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:47.759 It says earlier in verse 6, 00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:48.400 God said that 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.740 going after other gods 00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:51.039 was to their own harm. 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:52.500 The worship of the queen of heaven 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.940 is to their own shame. 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.440 Though God alone 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.600 is worthy of worship 00:21:56.600 --> 00:21:58.220 and he calls us, 00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:58.720 all of us, 00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.120 all people, 00:21:59.119 --> 00:21:59.799 to worship him, 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:01.019 it's not like God 00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:02.299 needs us to worship him 00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:04.619 so that, 00:22:04.959 --> 00:22:05.159 you know, 00:22:05.199 --> 00:22:06.659 we can boost his fragile ego. 00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:09.500 That's not what's going on, 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:09.659 right? 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:11.239 God's glory itself 00:22:11.239 --> 00:22:11.779 in and of itself 00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.979 is not damaged. 00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:14.639 He incurs no loss 00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:15.959 or damage to his own glory 00:22:15.959 --> 00:22:18.119 because we rebel against him, 00:22:18.159 --> 00:22:19.000 refuse to worship him. 00:22:19.159 --> 00:22:20.279 He doesn't need us. 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:22.399 It's not to his shame. 00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:23.099 Rather, 00:22:23.199 --> 00:22:23.719 God says, 00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:25.199 it's to Judah's shame. 00:22:25.459 --> 00:22:26.139 They're the ones 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:27.600 that will incur tragic loss. 00:22:27.820 --> 00:22:28.400 They're the ones 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:29.340 that are doing great injury 00:22:29.340 --> 00:22:29.960 to themselves 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:31.480 by not worshiping the Lord 00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.980 but turning to idols. 00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:37.220 And because God created human beings 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:38.780 to represent and rule, 00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:39.980 represent God, 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:40.820 represent him 00:22:40.820 --> 00:22:42.520 and to rule over the rest of the creation 00:22:42.520 --> 00:22:43.340 as his representative, 00:22:44.060 --> 00:22:45.460 the sin of humanity 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:47.560 affects all of the created orders. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.620 So God's judgment falls 00:22:48.620 --> 00:22:49.600 not just on man 00:22:49.600 --> 00:22:50.900 but man and beast. 00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:53.160 And it falls on the trees of the field 00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:54.120 and the fruit of the ground. 00:22:56.140 --> 00:22:58.640 Because God is already determined 00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:00.680 to pour out his judgment upon Judah 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:01.259 and it's declared 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.580 that he will not listen to them, 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:04.360 he goes on also to negate 00:23:04.360 --> 00:23:05.160 the sacrifices 00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:06.620 that they were bringing to him. 00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.740 Read verse 21 with me. 00:23:08.820 --> 00:23:08.920 It says, 00:23:09.280 --> 00:23:10.360 add your burnt offerings 00:23:10.360 --> 00:23:11.660 to your sacrifices 00:23:11.660 --> 00:23:13.700 and eat the flesh. 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:16.080 The burnt offerings 00:23:16.080 --> 00:23:17.520 were sacrifices 00:23:17.520 --> 00:23:20.180 that were entirely devoted to God. 00:23:20.540 --> 00:23:21.220 And as such, 00:23:21.340 --> 00:23:22.740 they burned the whole thing up. 00:23:23.020 --> 00:23:23.820 Nothing remaining. 00:23:24.060 --> 00:23:24.940 So there's nothing left 00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.540 for people to eat. 00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:26.240 That's the nature 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.039 of a burnt offering 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:28.579 according to Leviticus 1. 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:30.500 Other sacrifices, however, 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.859 were to be eaten 00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:33.119 by the worshipers afterward. 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:33.940 You don't burn it, 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.480 consume it, 00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:34.920 all of it. 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:36.099 It was not devoted wholly 00:23:36.099 --> 00:23:36.559 to the Lord. 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:38.019 So when God says, 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.220 add your burnt offerings 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:40.139 to your sacrifices 00:23:40.139 --> 00:23:41.079 and eat the flesh, 00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:42.759 God's essentially telling them 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:44.639 that it makes no difference to him. 00:23:45.639 --> 00:23:46.599 Your sacrifices 00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:47.579 are all the same. 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.379 They are altogether worthless. 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:51.480 So keep the burnt offerings 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:52.019 for yourselves. 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:52.839 Eat the flesh. 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:56.079 And he gives his reason 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:57.039 why this is the case 00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:58.399 in verses 22 to 23. 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:00.399 For in the day 00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:01.399 that I brought them out 00:24:01.399 --> 00:24:02.220 of the land of Egypt, 00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:04.079 I did not speak to your fathers 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:04.839 or commend them 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:06.099 concerning burnt offerings 00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:06.919 and sacrifices. 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.559 But this command 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.299 I gave them, 00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:11.179 obey my voice 00:24:11.179 --> 00:24:12.639 and I will be your God 00:24:12.639 --> 00:24:14.459 and you shall be my people 00:24:14.459 --> 00:24:16.199 and walk in all the way 00:24:16.199 --> 00:24:17.099 that I commend you, 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:18.939 that it may be well with you. 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:21.320 But they did not obey 00:24:21.320 --> 00:24:23.320 or incline their ear 00:24:23.320 --> 00:24:25.620 but walked in their own counsels 00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:26.420 and the stubbornness 00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:27.580 of their evil hearts 00:24:27.580 --> 00:24:28.820 and went backward, 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.600 not forward. 00:24:31.360 --> 00:24:32.100 As I mentioned 00:24:32.100 --> 00:24:32.799 in the beginning, 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:33.740 the word obey, 00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:35.279 here is the same Hebrew word 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:35.880 that's been repeated 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:36.559 up to this point. 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:38.200 Hear, listen. 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.559 God has repeatedly commanded them 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:41.980 to listen to his voice 00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:43.920 but they have stubbornly refused 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:45.820 and now God rejects 00:24:45.820 --> 00:24:46.960 their sacrifices. 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:49.819 What God is referring to 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:50.079 is this. 00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:51.420 After rescuing Israel 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:52.680 out of their slavery in Egypt 00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:54.900 and when he came to Mount Sinai 00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:56.779 and gave the Ten Commandments 00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.259 from Mount Sinai 00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:58.039 in Exodus 20, 00:24:58.340 --> 00:24:59.039 at that point, 00:24:59.140 --> 00:25:00.900 God didn't give any requirements 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:03.259 and commands about sacrifices. 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:05.700 All he was requiring of them 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.400 was to obey him, 00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.519 to follow the Ten Commandments. 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:08.059 That's what he did 00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:08.700 in Exodus 20. 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.819 It was only later 00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:10.579 after that covenant 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:11.600 was already established, 00:25:11.860 --> 00:25:12.900 later in Exodus 24, 00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:15.220 that God gave detailed provisions 00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:16.559 for how to maintain 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.299 the tabernacle 00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:19.140 and to perform sacrifices 00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:20.319 and he gave instructions 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:21.100 for the priesthood. 00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:23.460 And what Jeremiah 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.140 is referring to 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:25.100 is that that order 00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:26.400 of God's revelation 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:29.539 reflects the divine priority. 00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:33.880 As 1 Samuel 15, 22 says, 00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:35.279 Has the Lord 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:36.339 as great delight 00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:37.380 in burnt offerings 00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:38.299 and sacrifices 00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:39.740 as in obeying 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.940 the voice of the Lord? 00:25:41.620 --> 00:25:42.759 Behold, to obey 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:44.920 is better than sacrifice 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:46.140 and to listen 00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:48.900 than the fat of rams. 00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:50.660 Sacrifice was to be 00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:52.119 an expression of obedience 00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:53.259 that stemmed from 00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:54.599 their heartfelt commitment 00:25:54.599 --> 00:25:55.259 to God, 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:56.099 but instead, 00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:57.819 sacrifices had been reduced 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.339 in Judah 00:25:58.339 --> 00:25:59.500 to a formality, 00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:01.000 an empty ritual 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:02.279 devoid of love 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.180 and devotion. 00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:04.759 So God reiterates 00:26:05.379 --> 00:26:06.460 the proper priority 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.079 of obedience 00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:08.079 over sacrifice. 00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:09.740 Sacrifice apart 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.420 from obedience, 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.180 he says, 00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:12.379 is useless. 00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.640 But just like 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:16.400 their rebellious descendants now, 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.160 the forefathers 00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:18.379 whom that Jeremiah 00:26:18.379 --> 00:26:18.980 is talking about here 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.180 also did not listen 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:21.400 or incline their ear, 00:26:21.619 --> 00:26:23.359 but walked in their own counsels 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:24.000 and the stubbornness 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:25.480 of their evil hearts. 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:26.799 And in doing so, 00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:27.500 they thought that 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.279 they were progressing 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:30.200 beyond this primitive religion 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.379 of the Lord God 00:26:31.379 --> 00:26:32.259 and they thought 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:33.019 they were evolving 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.519 and growing 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:35.220 into this cosmopolitan religion 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:36.180 of Canaan, 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:37.160 but in reality, 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:38.039 they were regressing. 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.940 They went backward, 00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:41.579 not forward. 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:44.480 So God continues 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:46.000 in verses 25 to 26, 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:46.599 from the day 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:47.359 that your fathers 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:48.339 came out of the land 00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:48.879 of Egypt 00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:50.359 to this day, 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.779 I persistently 00:26:51.779 --> 00:26:52.960 sent all my servants, 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:53.420 the prophets, 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:53.879 to them 00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:56.039 day after day. 00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:57.440 Yet they did not 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.460 listen to me 00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.799 or incline their ear, 00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:01.220 but stiffened their neck. 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.379 They did worse 00:27:02.379 --> 00:27:03.799 than their fathers. 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:05.900 It's generation 00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:07.140 after generation 00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:08.000 of disobedience. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.779 It seems they're getting 00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.480 worse and worse 00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.019 as they go. 00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:11.420 And the stiffening 00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:11.759 of the neck 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:15.140 is such a helpful metaphor. 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:16.740 It's a farming metaphor. 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:18.579 It's when a farmer 00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:19.500 is trying to control 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:20.700 an ox to plow the ground, 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.140 for example, 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.359 and they try to direct them 00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:23.000 using a yoke 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:25.140 or what's around their neck, 00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:25.940 the binding. 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:27.140 A yoke, 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.920 an ox that is rebellious 00:27:28.920 --> 00:27:29.680 and does not want 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:31.460 to do its owner's will, 00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:32.940 will stiffen its neck 00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:33.619 and not move, 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.839 like a dog 00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:35.440 that's on a leash 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:36.400 that's trying not to go 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:36.860 the direction you're 00:27:36.860 --> 00:27:37.540 trying to take it to go, 00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:37.780 right? 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.880 That's the image here. 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:39.440 These people 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:41.120 are stiffening their necks. 00:27:41.300 --> 00:27:42.300 They refuse to 00:27:42.300 --> 00:27:43.600 heed God's direction. 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.480 They stiffen their necks 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:44.900 and refuse 00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:45.900 and want to stay 00:27:45.900 --> 00:27:46.920 in the course 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:48.019 of their sinful ways. 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.720 So it's no wonder 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.660 then that their descendants 00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:51.300 now are following 00:27:51.300 --> 00:27:52.519 exactly in their footsteps. 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:56.240 God wants them 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.220 and God wants us 00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:58.320 to listen to Him 00:27:58.320 --> 00:27:59.720 rather than pay 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:01.600 lip service to Him. 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.460 So let me ask you, 00:28:02.560 --> 00:28:04.220 what are some sacrifices 00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:05.040 that you offer? 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.820 In an attempt 00:28:07.820 --> 00:28:09.259 to appease God, 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:10.759 all the while 00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:12.120 persisting in sin. 00:28:15.820 --> 00:28:16.960 God cannot be 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:17.860 hoodwinked in that way. 00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:19.100 Are you maintaining 00:28:19.100 --> 00:28:19.900 a superficial 00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:21.100 semblance 00:28:21.100 --> 00:28:21.980 of being a Christian 00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:23.060 but is your life 00:28:23.060 --> 00:28:23.860 not wholly given 00:28:23.860 --> 00:28:24.340 to the Lord? 00:28:26.340 --> 00:28:27.680 With the same tongue 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.300 you bless 00:28:28.300 --> 00:28:29.360 our Lord and Father, 00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:30.500 do you turn around 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.360 and curse people 00:28:31.360 --> 00:28:32.140 who are made 00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:33.100 in the likeness of God? 00:28:33.099 --> 00:28:36.339 Do you sing 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:37.219 words of praise 00:28:37.219 --> 00:28:37.599 to God 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:38.399 on Sunday morning 00:28:38.399 --> 00:28:39.439 and then utter 00:28:39.439 --> 00:28:40.639 profanities to your friends 00:28:40.639 --> 00:28:41.480 and say hateful 00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.339 and hurtful things 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:42.959 to your spouse? 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:46.719 Do you act 00:28:46.719 --> 00:28:47.539 like you are filled 00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:48.139 with the Spirit 00:28:48.139 --> 00:28:48.539 when you're at 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.319 the church service 00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:50.579 and then fill yourself 00:28:50.579 --> 00:28:51.240 with drugs 00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:52.019 or get drunk 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.899 elsewhere? 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:54.980 Do you put on 00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:56.079 an air of humility 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:57.299 on Sunday morning 00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:57.959 but at work 00:28:57.959 --> 00:28:58.719 on Monday morning 00:28:58.719 --> 00:28:59.379 turn into an 00:28:59.379 --> 00:29:00.699 insufferably prideful 00:29:00.699 --> 00:29:01.639 boss or employee? 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:05.660 Do you think 00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.660 that you can make up 00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.680 for your disobedience 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:08.200 to God 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:09.140 by doing some 00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:10.280 community service 00:29:10.280 --> 00:29:11.220 or by going 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:12.500 to church services 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.320 and act 00:29:13.320 --> 00:29:14.920 an act of worship 00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:15.940 without the heart 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:16.380 of obedience 00:29:16.380 --> 00:29:17.000 is meaningless 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.580 to God? 00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:21.300 God wants us 00:29:21.300 --> 00:29:22.320 to listen to Him 00:29:22.320 --> 00:29:23.060 rather than pay 00:29:23.060 --> 00:29:23.900 lip service 00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:24.400 to Him. 00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.660 Imagine this 00:29:25.660 --> 00:29:26.020 with me, 00:29:26.060 --> 00:29:26.720 maybe this analogy 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.120 will be helpful. 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:28.020 Imagine a husband 00:29:28.020 --> 00:29:30.300 who brings 00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:31.700 His wife flowers. 00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:36.399 Not out of His love 00:29:36.399 --> 00:29:37.259 for her, 00:29:37.419 --> 00:29:38.720 not out of His delight 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.740 in her 00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:41.460 but as a calculated 00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:42.039 maneuver 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:43.819 to score a favor 00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:44.680 of some kind. 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.759 I can bring her favor, 00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:48.879 put her in a good mood 00:29:48.879 --> 00:29:50.460 and then I can float 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:51.299 this idea of making 00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:52.139 this big purchase 00:29:52.139 --> 00:29:53.519 that I want for myself 00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:53.980 that I know 00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:55.119 she will not approve of. 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:58.979 Is that romantic? 00:30:02.239 --> 00:30:03.659 That's paying lip service 00:30:03.659 --> 00:30:05.899 without really listening 00:30:05.899 --> 00:30:07.139 to the heart 00:30:07.139 --> 00:30:09.839 of the wife's desire. 00:30:09.979 --> 00:30:10.339 We are not, 00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:11.919 and we do this to God, 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.759 we're not submitting 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.659 to God 00:30:13.659 --> 00:30:14.319 but instead 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:15.939 we're manipulating Him. 00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:19.819 We seek to control Him, 00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:20.559 keep Him 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.579 at our arm's length 00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:23.719 but God's not looking 00:30:23.719 --> 00:30:24.799 for such sacrifices. 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:28.319 He wants our obedience. 00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:31.239 He wants to listen 00:30:31.239 --> 00:30:31.739 to Him 00:30:31.739 --> 00:30:33.099 rather than pay 00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:34.199 lip service to Him. 00:30:34.979 --> 00:30:35.779 So, so far 00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:38.139 as we saw 00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:38.979 how God calls 00:30:38.979 --> 00:30:39.500 disobedient Judah 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:39.939 to listen 00:30:39.939 --> 00:30:40.979 but then they don't listen 00:30:40.979 --> 00:30:41.459 so God says 00:30:41.459 --> 00:30:42.199 God will not listen 00:30:42.199 --> 00:30:42.579 to Him 00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:43.259 and then now 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.000 in the final section 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.759 in chapter 7 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.439 verse 27 00:30:45.439 --> 00:30:46.500 to chapter 8 00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:47.000 verse 3 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.979 we see that 00:30:47.979 --> 00:30:48.919 disobedient Judah 00:30:48.919 --> 00:30:49.759 will continue 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.679 to not listen 00:30:50.679 --> 00:30:51.839 in the future. 00:30:52.639 --> 00:30:53.500 God says to Jeremiah 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:55.000 in verses 27 to 28, 00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:56.359 so you shall speak 00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:57.479 all these words to them 00:30:57.479 --> 00:30:58.359 but they will not 00:30:58.359 --> 00:30:59.259 listen to you. 00:30:59.979 --> 00:31:01.059 You shall call to them 00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:01.979 but they will not 00:31:01.979 --> 00:31:02.819 answer you 00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:03.899 and you shall say 00:31:03.899 --> 00:31:04.299 to them 00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.419 this is the nation 00:31:05.419 --> 00:31:06.479 that did not obey 00:31:06.479 --> 00:31:07.359 the voice of the Lord 00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:07.819 their God 00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:08.899 and did not accept 00:31:08.899 --> 00:31:09.479 discipline. 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:10.839 Truth has perished 00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:11.539 it is cut off 00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.179 from their lips. 00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:12.659 Once again 00:31:12.659 --> 00:31:13.219 the word obey 00:31:13.219 --> 00:31:13.799 is the same 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.219 as the word 00:31:14.219 --> 00:31:15.039 that means listen. 00:31:15.659 --> 00:31:16.599 So as God's 00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:17.679 appointed mouthpiece 00:31:17.679 --> 00:31:18.659 Jeremiah will declare 00:31:18.659 --> 00:31:19.479 the word of the Lord 00:31:19.479 --> 00:31:20.519 but as the Lord 00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.279 has experienced 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.359 this stubborn refusal 00:31:22.359 --> 00:31:22.879 and rejection 00:31:22.879 --> 00:31:23.699 from His people 00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:25.340 Jeremiah will experience 00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:26.160 the same rejection. 00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:27.200 They will not listen 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:27.660 to Him 00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:29.100 and Judah will become 00:31:29.100 --> 00:31:30.319 known as the nation 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.279 that did not listen 00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:32.000 to the voice 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:32.559 of the Lord 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:34.039 their God. 00:31:34.340 --> 00:31:34.860 There's a warning 00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:35.539 for us here. 00:31:36.340 --> 00:31:37.319 When we repeatedly 00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:38.700 refuse to heed 00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:39.559 the voice of God 00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:41.360 we become desensitized 00:31:41.360 --> 00:31:42.380 and our ability 00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:43.220 to hear God 00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:43.720 decreases. 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:47.259 to illustrate 00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.140 my family and I 00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:48.880 live in a condo 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:49.519 that's right next 00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:50.660 to the train tracks 00:31:50.660 --> 00:31:52.960 and shortly 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:53.839 after moving there 00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:54.539 we were amazed 00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:55.460 by how quickly 00:31:55.460 --> 00:31:56.240 our brains 00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:57.360 were able to adjust 00:31:57.360 --> 00:31:58.839 because we got so used 00:31:58.839 --> 00:31:59.480 to tuning out 00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:00.460 the sound of the train 00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:02.420 not long after we moved 00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:03.360 we stopped hearing 00:32:03.360 --> 00:32:04.079 it all together. 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.980 Our consciences 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:09.759 and our hearts 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.779 work in a similar way. 00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:12.139 If you keep tuning 00:32:12.139 --> 00:32:13.740 God out 00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:15.759 if you keep 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:17.319 ignoring His voice 00:32:17.319 --> 00:32:18.160 when He's speaking 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:18.700 to you 00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.920 His warnings 00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:22.099 His consolations 00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:22.779 His proddings 00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:24.539 your ability 00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.359 to hear Him 00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:26.420 will diminish. 00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:28.899 Are you listening 00:32:28.899 --> 00:32:29.299 to Him? 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:31.899 Or are you merely 00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:32.859 paying lip service 00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:33.259 to Him? 00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.940 Because of Judah's 00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.700 failure to listen 00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:38.599 God commands 00:32:38.599 --> 00:32:39.599 Jeremiah to announce 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:40.439 in verse 29 00:32:40.439 --> 00:32:41.819 Cut off your hair 00:32:41.819 --> 00:32:42.579 and cast it away 00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:43.659 raise the lamentation 00:32:43.659 --> 00:32:44.359 on the bare heights 00:32:44.359 --> 00:32:45.019 for the Lord 00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:45.719 has rejected 00:32:45.719 --> 00:32:46.359 and forsaken 00:32:46.359 --> 00:32:47.079 the generation 00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:49.000 of His wrath. 00:32:49.419 --> 00:32:50.339 Cutting off the hair 00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:50.959 was a sign 00:32:50.959 --> 00:32:51.480 of mourning 00:32:51.480 --> 00:32:52.339 and grieving 00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:54.079 and there may be 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.919 also a deeper meaning 00:32:54.919 --> 00:32:55.599 here in the sense 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.899 that Nazarites 00:32:56.899 --> 00:32:58.219 who were to give 00:32:58.219 --> 00:32:58.639 their lives 00:32:58.639 --> 00:32:59.299 as wholly devoted 00:32:59.299 --> 00:32:59.759 to God 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.459 were commanded 00:33:00.459 --> 00:33:01.059 to grow out 00:33:01.059 --> 00:33:01.519 their hair 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.199 and to never cut 00:33:02.199 --> 00:33:02.619 their hair. 00:33:03.139 --> 00:33:03.939 And Israel 00:33:03.939 --> 00:33:04.839 in a similar sense 00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:05.480 were a people 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.079 a nation 00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:07.240 that were consecrated 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:07.759 to God 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:09.139 sanctified for Him 00:33:09.140 --> 00:33:10.420 for a special purpose 00:33:10.420 --> 00:33:12.660 yet God's saying 00:33:12.660 --> 00:33:13.840 you are no longer 00:33:13.840 --> 00:33:17.120 fulfilling that obligation 00:33:17.120 --> 00:33:18.480 and you have been rejected 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:19.280 and now cut off 00:33:19.280 --> 00:33:19.640 your hair. 00:33:21.560 --> 00:33:22.500 Raise the lamentation. 00:33:23.840 --> 00:33:24.340 And once more 00:33:24.340 --> 00:33:25.280 God gives His reason 00:33:25.280 --> 00:33:26.080 for this judgment 00:33:26.080 --> 00:33:28.000 in verses 30 to 31 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:29.839 for the sons of Judah 00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:30.539 have done evil 00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:31.200 in my sight 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:31.960 declares the Lord. 00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:32.779 They have set 00:33:32.779 --> 00:33:33.819 their detestable things 00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:34.299 in the house 00:33:34.299 --> 00:33:34.819 that is called 00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:35.380 by my name 00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:36.119 to defile it 00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:37.000 and they have built 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.759 the high places 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.380 of Topheth 00:33:38.380 --> 00:33:39.299 which is in the valley 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:40.220 of the son of Hinnom 00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:41.680 to burn their sons 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:42.759 and their daughters 00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:43.400 in the fire 00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:44.839 which I did not command 00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:46.299 nor did it come 00:33:46.299 --> 00:33:47.019 into my mind. 00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:49.900 The word detestable things 00:33:49.900 --> 00:33:51.700 occurs about 28 times 00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:52.359 in the Old Testament 00:33:52.359 --> 00:33:53.519 and most of the time 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:54.660 it refers to some kind 00:33:54.660 --> 00:33:56.039 of pagan ritual object 00:33:56.039 --> 00:33:57.160 a cult object 00:33:57.160 --> 00:33:57.920 that represents 00:33:57.920 --> 00:33:58.700 a pagan god 00:33:58.700 --> 00:33:59.220 an idol 00:33:59.220 --> 00:34:00.660 and they had 00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:02.500 they were bold enough 00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:03.160 brazen enough 00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:04.639 to bring this item 00:34:04.639 --> 00:34:05.720 into the temple 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:06.559 of the Lord God 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:07.940 that is called 00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:08.539 by His name 00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:10.400 to the house 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:10.840 that is known 00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:11.539 by His name 00:34:11.539 --> 00:34:12.920 to His house 00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:14.259 with His name on it 00:34:14.259 --> 00:34:14.639 they brought 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:15.420 a pagan god 00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:16.780 they defiled the temple 00:34:16.780 --> 00:34:17.659 and by doing so 00:34:17.659 --> 00:34:18.480 they rejected 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:19.400 the sovereign reign 00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:20.159 of God over them 00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:21.519 and if that weren't enough 00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:22.559 they built the high place 00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.340 for idolatry 00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.320 and burned their sons 00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:24.740 and daughters 00:34:24.740 --> 00:34:25.280 in the fire 00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:26.220 this is a reference 00:34:26.220 --> 00:34:27.619 to worship of Molech 00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:30.019 in 2 Kings 23 10 00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:30.760 Molech is mentioned 00:34:30.760 --> 00:34:31.360 and even though 00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:31.920 Old Testament 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:32.720 explicitly 00:34:32.720 --> 00:34:33.780 and repeatedly 00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:35.380 forbade human sacrifice 00:34:35.380 --> 00:34:36.740 these people engaged 00:34:36.740 --> 00:34:38.300 in that abominable practice 00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:39.720 and not only that 00:34:39.720 --> 00:34:40.740 as they were doing it 00:34:40.740 --> 00:34:41.180 it seems 00:34:41.180 --> 00:34:42.300 at the end of verse 31 00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:42.860 it suggests 00:34:42.860 --> 00:34:43.639 that perhaps 00:34:43.639 --> 00:34:44.579 they even imagined 00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:45.400 that human sacrifice 00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:46.860 were acceptable to God 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:48.559 because God says to them 00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:49.960 no I did not command it 00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:52.360 nor did it come to my mind 00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:53.900 not only did I not tell you 00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:54.840 to do such things 00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:55.820 yet I also never 00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:56.900 even thought of it 00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:58.539 it is far 00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:59.820 it was far from my mind 00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:00.599 as it could have been 00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:01.519 and yet you 00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:02.820 were so ingenious 00:35:02.820 --> 00:35:03.400 and creative 00:35:03.400 --> 00:35:05.820 in your sinful abominations 00:35:05.820 --> 00:35:06.440 that's what God's 00:35:06.440 --> 00:35:07.220 trying to tell them 00:35:07.220 --> 00:35:08.860 for this 00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:09.480 they will receive 00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:10.260 a fitting 00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:11.200 just punishment 00:35:11.200 --> 00:35:13.039 verse 32 34 00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:14.039 therefore behold 00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:15.099 the days are coming 00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:15.900 declares the Lord 00:35:15.900 --> 00:35:16.980 when it will no more 00:35:16.980 --> 00:35:18.079 be called Topheth 00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:19.300 or the valley of the son 00:35:19.300 --> 00:35:19.699 of Hinnom 00:35:19.699 --> 00:35:21.219 but the valley of slaughter 00:35:21.219 --> 00:35:22.619 for they will bury in Topheth 00:35:22.619 --> 00:35:23.820 because there is no room 00:35:23.820 --> 00:35:24.340 elsewhere 00:35:24.340 --> 00:35:25.759 and the dead bodies 00:35:25.759 --> 00:35:26.380 of this people 00:35:26.380 --> 00:35:27.039 will be food 00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:28.099 for the birds of the air 00:35:28.099 --> 00:35:29.059 and for the beasts 00:35:29.059 --> 00:35:29.559 of the earth 00:35:29.559 --> 00:35:31.420 and none will frighten them away 00:35:31.420 --> 00:35:32.679 and I will silence 00:35:32.679 --> 00:35:33.619 in the cities of Judah 00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:34.880 and in the streets of Jerusalem 00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:36.279 the voice of mirth 00:35:36.279 --> 00:35:37.480 and the voice of gladness 00:35:37.480 --> 00:35:38.880 the voice of the bridegroom 00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:39.980 and the voice of the bride 00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:41.139 for the land 00:35:41.139 --> 00:35:41.980 shall become 00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:42.800 a waste 00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:45.320 the people of Judah 00:35:45.320 --> 00:35:46.320 sacrificed 00:35:46.320 --> 00:35:47.559 their children 00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:48.760 whom they should have 00:35:48.760 --> 00:35:49.340 protected 00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:52.400 in a vain attempt 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:53.260 to please 00:35:53.260 --> 00:35:54.280 the so-called gods 00:35:54.280 --> 00:35:55.179 to secure 00:35:55.179 --> 00:35:56.420 their own welfare 00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:57.659 it was an extremely 00:35:57.659 --> 00:35:59.019 self-serving atrocity 00:35:59.019 --> 00:36:00.880 and God decrees 00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:02.300 that now they themselves 00:36:02.300 --> 00:36:03.980 will be slaughtered 00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:05.139 by the invading army 00:36:05.139 --> 00:36:07.380 and the valley 00:36:07.380 --> 00:36:08.219 of the son of Hinnom 00:36:08.219 --> 00:36:09.199 which they had 00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:10.379 wrongfully consecrated 00:36:10.379 --> 00:36:11.980 for the worship of Molech 00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:12.819 will instead become 00:36:12.819 --> 00:36:13.980 the valley of slaughter 00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:15.739 and those people 00:36:15.739 --> 00:36:16.739 who repeatedly 00:36:16.739 --> 00:36:18.079 refuse to listen 00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:19.119 to the voice of the Lord 00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:20.960 will find their own voices 00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:21.879 of mirth 00:36:21.879 --> 00:36:23.460 silenced 00:36:23.460 --> 00:36:26.299 and then God continues 00:36:26.299 --> 00:36:26.859 his announcement 00:36:26.859 --> 00:36:27.359 of judgment 00:36:27.359 --> 00:36:28.000 chapter 8 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:28.899 verses 1 to 3 00:36:28.899 --> 00:36:29.659 the final part 00:36:29.659 --> 00:36:31.119 at that time declares 00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:31.419 the Lord 00:36:31.419 --> 00:36:32.699 the bones of the kings 00:36:32.699 --> 00:36:33.199 of Judah 00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:34.659 the bones of its officials 00:36:34.659 --> 00:36:35.599 the bones of the priests 00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:36.539 and the bones of the prophets 00:36:36.539 --> 00:36:37.539 and the bones of the inhabitants 00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:38.119 of Jerusalem 00:36:38.119 --> 00:36:38.880 shall be brought out 00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:39.519 of their tombs 00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:41.159 and they shall be spread 00:36:41.159 --> 00:36:41.960 before the sun 00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:42.460 and the moon 00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:43.859 and all the hosts of heaven 00:36:43.859 --> 00:36:44.900 which they have loved 00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:45.559 and served 00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:47.000 which they have gone after 00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:48.179 and sought 00:36:48.179 --> 00:36:48.960 and worshipped 00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:50.359 and they shall not be 00:36:50.359 --> 00:36:51.699 gathered or buried 00:36:51.699 --> 00:36:53.440 they shall be as dung 00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:54.279 on the surface 00:36:54.279 --> 00:36:54.920 of the ground 00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:56.319 that shall be preferred 00:36:56.319 --> 00:36:56.900 to life 00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:58.119 by all the remnant 00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:58.679 that remains 00:36:58.679 --> 00:36:59.779 of this evil family 00:36:59.779 --> 00:37:00.859 in all the places 00:37:00.859 --> 00:37:01.779 where I have driven them 00:37:01.779 --> 00:37:03.159 declares the Lord of hosts 00:37:03.159 --> 00:37:04.379 can you hear 00:37:04.379 --> 00:37:06.759 that growing sense 00:37:06.759 --> 00:37:07.799 of indignation 00:37:07.799 --> 00:37:08.379 and passion 00:37:08.379 --> 00:37:08.980 that God has 00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:09.519 as he's 00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:10.239 as he's indicting 00:37:10.239 --> 00:37:10.539 his people 00:37:10.539 --> 00:37:11.219 he's charging 00:37:11.219 --> 00:37:12.719 his people of these sins 00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:13.679 they're worshipping 00:37:13.679 --> 00:37:14.259 the sun, moon 00:37:14.259 --> 00:37:14.699 and all the hosts 00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:15.659 they have loved 00:37:15.659 --> 00:37:16.379 these idols 00:37:16.379 --> 00:37:17.399 and served them 00:37:17.399 --> 00:37:18.759 they have gone after them 00:37:18.759 --> 00:37:19.359 they have sat 00:37:19.359 --> 00:37:20.319 and worshipped them 00:37:20.319 --> 00:37:23.519 yet in 00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:24.679 right underneath 00:37:24.679 --> 00:37:25.119 the nose 00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:25.619 of these 00:37:25.619 --> 00:37:26.799 so-called planets 00:37:26.799 --> 00:37:27.420 and gods 00:37:27.420 --> 00:37:29.460 your dead bodies 00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:30.079 will be displayed 00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:32.579 and those gods 00:37:32.579 --> 00:37:33.380 whom you loved 00:37:33.380 --> 00:37:34.340 and served 00:37:34.340 --> 00:37:35.239 and went after 00:37:35.239 --> 00:37:35.840 and sought 00:37:35.840 --> 00:37:36.579 and worshipped 00:37:36.579 --> 00:37:37.639 will look on your 00:37:37.639 --> 00:37:38.639 corpses 00:37:38.639 --> 00:37:40.900 in cruel indifference 00:37:40.900 --> 00:37:43.139 powerless 00:37:43.139 --> 00:37:44.739 before the Lord God Almighty 00:37:44.739 --> 00:37:45.539 to do anything 00:37:45.539 --> 00:37:46.579 for their devotees 00:37:46.579 --> 00:37:52.059 what are 00:37:52.059 --> 00:37:53.519 the sins 00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:54.920 the idols 00:37:54.920 --> 00:37:56.739 in your life 00:37:56.739 --> 00:37:57.599 that you love 00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:59.380 that you serve 00:37:59.380 --> 00:38:01.000 that you are going after 00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:02.059 that you seek 00:38:02.059 --> 00:38:03.099 and worship 00:38:03.099 --> 00:38:07.800 because 00:38:07.800 --> 00:38:08.940 the picture 00:38:08.940 --> 00:38:09.700 that 00:38:09.700 --> 00:38:11.559 scripture paints 00:38:11.559 --> 00:38:12.039 of us 00:38:12.039 --> 00:38:12.340 today 00:38:12.340 --> 00:38:13.599 is not far so different 00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:14.260 from the picture 00:38:14.260 --> 00:38:14.780 that is painted 00:38:14.780 --> 00:38:15.220 of here 00:38:15.220 --> 00:38:16.420 of people of Judah 00:38:16.420 --> 00:38:17.900 in the gospel 00:38:17.900 --> 00:38:18.460 of Mark 00:38:18.460 --> 00:38:19.140 Jesus 00:38:19.140 --> 00:38:21.460 makes use 00:38:21.460 --> 00:38:22.860 of this passage 00:38:22.860 --> 00:38:23.460 of Jeremiah 00:38:23.460 --> 00:38:24.539 to describe 00:38:24.539 --> 00:38:25.019 the sins 00:38:25.019 --> 00:38:25.539 of his people 00:38:25.539 --> 00:38:26.320 and actually 00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:27.260 throughout the gospel 00:38:27.260 --> 00:38:27.840 of Mark 00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:31.680 the Pharisees 00:38:31.680 --> 00:38:32.380 and the Jewish leaders 00:38:32.380 --> 00:38:33.039 in particular 00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:34.200 are portrayed 00:38:34.200 --> 00:38:34.700 as people 00:38:34.700 --> 00:38:35.380 who are breaking 00:38:35.380 --> 00:38:36.460 specific commandments 00:38:36.460 --> 00:38:37.740 of the Ten Commandments 00:38:37.740 --> 00:38:38.500 and remember 00:38:38.500 --> 00:38:39.360 that Ten Commandments 00:38:39.360 --> 00:38:40.360 were specifically cited 00:38:40.360 --> 00:38:41.140 here in chapter 7 00:38:41.140 --> 00:38:41.900 verses 8 to 10 00:38:41.900 --> 00:38:43.400 so these Jewish leaders 00:38:43.400 --> 00:38:44.000 are seen 00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:45.059 as stealing 00:38:45.059 --> 00:38:45.980 from their parents 00:38:45.980 --> 00:38:46.780 they are seen 00:38:46.780 --> 00:38:47.680 as conspiring 00:38:47.680 --> 00:38:48.680 to share innocent blood 00:38:48.680 --> 00:38:50.240 they are swearing falsely 00:38:50.240 --> 00:38:51.120 by professing love 00:38:51.120 --> 00:38:51.620 for God 00:38:51.620 --> 00:38:53.000 yet they avoid 00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:54.240 the most important commandments 00:38:54.239 --> 00:38:55.319 they have committed 00:38:55.319 --> 00:38:56.479 idolatries of the heart 00:38:56.479 --> 00:38:57.159 and have been blind 00:38:57.159 --> 00:38:57.699 and deaf 00:38:57.699 --> 00:38:58.939 toward God's voice 00:38:58.939 --> 00:39:00.099 and especially 00:39:00.099 --> 00:39:01.179 in Mark 7 00:39:01.179 --> 00:39:02.379 1 to 23 00:39:02.379 --> 00:39:03.599 Jesus goes on 00:39:03.599 --> 00:39:04.199 to describe 00:39:04.199 --> 00:39:04.639 the sins 00:39:04.639 --> 00:39:05.179 of these people 00:39:05.179 --> 00:39:06.199 in very similar ways 00:39:06.199 --> 00:39:07.419 as is described here 00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:27.820 people in Jeremiah's day 00:39:27.820 --> 00:39:29.059 as well as people 00:39:29.059 --> 00:39:30.059 in Jesus' day 00:39:30.059 --> 00:39:31.559 as well as people 00:39:31.559 --> 00:39:32.880 in our day 00:39:32.880 --> 00:39:33.659 are guilty 00:39:33.659 --> 00:39:34.780 of paying lip service 00:39:34.780 --> 00:39:35.240 to God 00:39:35.240 --> 00:39:35.960 rather than 00:39:35.960 --> 00:39:37.320 truly listening to Him 00:39:37.320 --> 00:39:38.659 and it's these 00:39:38.659 --> 00:39:39.360 stubborn 00:39:39.360 --> 00:39:40.599 and incorrigible people 00:39:40.599 --> 00:39:41.220 that God 00:39:41.220 --> 00:39:42.760 sent Jesus Christ 00:39:42.760 --> 00:39:43.220 to save 00:39:43.220 --> 00:39:44.960 and in Mark 00:39:44.960 --> 00:39:46.360 11-17 00:39:46.360 --> 00:39:47.000 after 00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:47.880 you know 00:39:47.880 --> 00:39:48.940 cleansing the temple 00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:49.880 of money changers 00:39:49.880 --> 00:39:50.199 and people 00:39:50.199 --> 00:39:50.699 who are trying 00:39:50.699 --> 00:39:51.240 to profit 00:39:51.240 --> 00:39:51.980 from the worship 00:39:51.980 --> 00:39:52.519 of the Lord 00:39:52.519 --> 00:39:54.599 Jesus quotes 00:39:54.599 --> 00:39:55.400 this expression 00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:56.940 from Jeremiah 7-11 00:39:56.940 --> 00:39:58.380 he said 00:39:58.380 --> 00:39:59.360 has this house 00:39:59.360 --> 00:40:00.000 which is called 00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:00.760 by my name 00:40:00.760 --> 00:40:01.800 become a den 00:40:01.800 --> 00:40:02.519 of robbers 00:40:02.519 --> 00:40:03.220 in your eyes 00:40:03.220 --> 00:40:04.099 behold 00:40:04.099 --> 00:40:05.119 I myself 00:40:05.119 --> 00:40:05.920 have seen it 00:40:05.920 --> 00:40:06.740 declares the Lord 00:40:06.740 --> 00:40:07.440 so what God 00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:08.220 was saying in Jeremiah 00:40:08.220 --> 00:40:09.680 was this is my house 00:40:09.680 --> 00:40:11.039 and you think 00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:11.920 you see this 00:40:11.920 --> 00:40:12.840 as a den of robbers 00:40:12.840 --> 00:40:13.579 you see the temple 00:40:13.579 --> 00:40:14.420 as a den of robbers 00:40:14.420 --> 00:40:15.420 but I myself 00:40:15.420 --> 00:40:16.039 as the owner 00:40:16.039 --> 00:40:16.559 and the Lord 00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:17.039 of this house 00:40:17.039 --> 00:40:18.200 have seen the house too 00:40:18.200 --> 00:40:19.659 and that's what Jesus 00:40:19.659 --> 00:40:20.460 does when he uses 00:40:20.460 --> 00:40:21.380 this word 00:40:21.380 --> 00:40:22.360 when he comes out 00:40:22.360 --> 00:40:22.800 in Mark 00:40:22.800 --> 00:40:23.420 he says 00:40:23.420 --> 00:40:24.519 when people ask him 00:40:24.519 --> 00:40:25.440 by what authority 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:26.280 he says 00:40:26.280 --> 00:40:27.000 it is not written 00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:27.780 is it not written 00:40:27.780 --> 00:40:28.940 my house shall be called 00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:30.300 a house of prayer 00:40:30.300 --> 00:40:31.760 for all the nations 00:40:31.760 --> 00:40:33.079 but you have made it 00:40:33.079 --> 00:40:34.820 a den of robbers 00:40:34.820 --> 00:40:35.920 and Jesus 00:40:35.920 --> 00:40:36.920 when people ask him 00:40:36.920 --> 00:40:37.460 after Jesus 00:40:37.460 --> 00:40:38.260 says this 00:40:38.260 --> 00:40:39.400 by what authority 00:40:39.400 --> 00:40:39.920 are you doing 00:40:39.920 --> 00:40:40.380 these things 00:40:40.380 --> 00:40:41.240 who gave you 00:40:41.240 --> 00:40:41.640 the authority 00:40:41.640 --> 00:40:42.460 to do these things 00:40:42.460 --> 00:40:43.460 and Jesus 00:40:43.460 --> 00:40:44.300 tells them 00:40:44.300 --> 00:40:45.120 he implies to them 00:40:45.120 --> 00:40:46.000 that it's because 00:40:46.000 --> 00:40:46.780 he is the one 00:40:46.780 --> 00:40:47.260 who has come 00:40:47.260 --> 00:40:47.780 from heaven 00:40:47.780 --> 00:40:49.980 he is the one 00:40:49.980 --> 00:40:50.680 to whom this house 00:40:50.680 --> 00:40:51.300 belongs 00:40:51.300 --> 00:40:53.380 his name is the one 00:40:53.380 --> 00:40:54.340 that is on this house 00:40:54.340 --> 00:40:55.320 it is his house 00:40:55.320 --> 00:40:57.240 he is the Lord 00:40:57.240 --> 00:40:58.900 the son of God 00:40:58.900 --> 00:40:59.539 who has come 00:40:59.539 --> 00:41:03.380 and he has come 00:41:03.380 --> 00:41:04.980 to save us 00:41:04.980 --> 00:41:05.940 because he recognizes 00:41:05.940 --> 00:41:07.079 and that's 00:41:07.079 --> 00:41:07.980 the truth 00:41:07.980 --> 00:41:08.619 is that we 00:41:08.619 --> 00:41:09.639 as people 00:41:09.639 --> 00:41:10.759 it's easy to judge 00:41:10.759 --> 00:41:11.079 the people 00:41:11.079 --> 00:41:12.199 who are described 00:41:12.199 --> 00:41:12.699 in this way 00:41:12.699 --> 00:41:13.900 as the stubborn people 00:41:13.900 --> 00:41:14.860 rebellious sinners 00:41:14.860 --> 00:41:17.340 yet as Jesus describes 00:41:17.340 --> 00:41:18.159 we too 00:41:18.159 --> 00:41:19.759 create dens 00:41:19.759 --> 00:41:21.099 of robberies 00:41:21.099 --> 00:41:23.980 we too pay lip service 00:41:23.980 --> 00:41:24.420 to God 00:41:24.420 --> 00:41:25.340 rather than listening 00:41:25.340 --> 00:41:26.099 to him 00:41:26.099 --> 00:41:27.059 and Jesus 00:41:27.059 --> 00:41:28.480 that's why he had to come 00:41:28.480 --> 00:41:29.860 to save a people 00:41:29.860 --> 00:41:30.860 who do not listen 00:41:30.860 --> 00:41:31.219 to him 00:41:31.219 --> 00:41:32.179 because that judgment 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:33.699 that is prophesied here 00:41:33.699 --> 00:41:34.380 in Jeremiah 00:41:34.380 --> 00:41:35.260 of the people of Judah 00:41:35.260 --> 00:41:36.480 is the same judgment 00:41:36.480 --> 00:41:37.340 that we would face 00:41:37.340 --> 00:41:38.099 of being separated 00:41:38.099 --> 00:41:38.719 from God 00:41:38.719 --> 00:41:39.679 and being rejected 00:41:39.679 --> 00:41:40.519 by him 00:41:40.519 --> 00:41:41.500 and Jesus came 00:41:41.500 --> 00:41:42.099 to restore 00:41:42.099 --> 00:41:42.900 the true worship 00:41:42.900 --> 00:41:43.699 of the Lord God 00:41:43.699 --> 00:41:45.280 and to raise up people 00:41:45.280 --> 00:41:46.960 who will obey him 00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:47.760 and follow him 00:41:47.760 --> 00:41:51.380 Jesus is the only one 00:41:51.380 --> 00:41:51.980 who can save us 00:41:51.980 --> 00:41:52.639 because repeatedly 00:41:52.639 --> 00:41:53.579 in this passage 00:41:53.579 --> 00:41:54.780 we're told 00:41:54.780 --> 00:41:55.699 that they were believing 00:41:55.699 --> 00:41:56.460 and spreading 00:41:56.460 --> 00:41:57.719 deceitful words 00:41:57.719 --> 00:41:59.039 yet Jesus 00:41:59.039 --> 00:42:00.059 is described 00:42:00.059 --> 00:42:02.859 in 1 Peter 2 00:42:02.859 --> 00:42:03.359 22 00:42:03.359 --> 00:42:03.899 this way 00:42:03.899 --> 00:42:04.459 he committed 00:42:04.459 --> 00:42:05.779 no sin 00:42:05.779 --> 00:42:07.539 neither was deceit 00:42:07.539 --> 00:42:08.319 found 00:42:08.319 --> 00:42:09.679 in his mouth 00:42:09.679 --> 00:42:10.559 Jesus is the one 00:42:10.559 --> 00:42:11.239 who faithfully 00:42:11.239 --> 00:42:12.519 proclaims the word of God 00:42:12.519 --> 00:42:13.199 in fact 00:42:13.199 --> 00:42:14.259 he's the embodiment 00:42:14.259 --> 00:42:15.199 of the word 00:42:15.199 --> 00:42:16.259 and Jesus 00:42:16.259 --> 00:42:17.259 is the only person 00:42:17.259 --> 00:42:18.679 who has faithfully 00:42:18.679 --> 00:42:19.599 listened to God 00:42:19.599 --> 00:42:20.480 and yet 00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:22.039 according to 2 Corinthians 00:42:22.039 --> 00:42:22.899 5 21 00:42:22.899 --> 00:42:24.279 for our sake 00:42:24.279 --> 00:42:25.019 he made him 00:42:25.019 --> 00:42:25.639 to be sin 00:42:25.639 --> 00:42:26.839 who knew no sin 00:42:26.839 --> 00:42:27.980 so that in him 00:42:27.980 --> 00:42:28.940 we might become 00:42:28.940 --> 00:42:30.000 the righteousness 00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:30.739 of God 00:42:30.739 --> 00:42:32.879 this is how we get 00:42:32.879 --> 00:42:33.679 out of this judgment 00:42:33.679 --> 00:42:34.460 that's prophesied 00:42:34.460 --> 00:42:34.859 in Jeremiah 00:42:34.859 --> 00:42:37.900 we have 00:42:37.900 --> 00:42:38.900 not listened to him 00:42:38.900 --> 00:42:40.059 but Jesus 00:42:40.059 --> 00:42:41.279 who knew no sin 00:42:41.279 --> 00:42:42.739 Jesus who listened 00:42:42.739 --> 00:42:43.819 to God perfectly 00:42:43.819 --> 00:42:45.599 took on our sin 00:42:45.599 --> 00:42:47.719 and when we 00:42:47.719 --> 00:42:48.400 entrust ourselves 00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:49.019 to him in faith 00:42:49.019 --> 00:42:49.739 he gives us 00:42:49.739 --> 00:42:50.500 his righteousness 00:42:50.500 --> 00:42:51.279 and counts it 00:42:51.279 --> 00:42:51.819 as our own 00:42:51.819 --> 00:42:53.339 so that we can be 00:42:53.339 --> 00:42:54.319 restored to right 00:42:54.320 --> 00:42:55.360 relationship with God 00:42:55.360 --> 00:42:57.059 and that great 00:42:57.059 --> 00:42:58.440 exchange of salvation 00:42:58.440 --> 00:42:59.820 is what we call 00:42:59.820 --> 00:43:00.680 the gospel 00:43:00.680 --> 00:43:02.059 of Jesus Christ 00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:04.480 there's still a lot 00:43:04.480 --> 00:43:05.340 of deceptive words 00:43:05.340 --> 00:43:05.680 nowadays 00:43:05.680 --> 00:43:08.000 as there were 00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:08.940 in Jeremiah's days 00:43:08.940 --> 00:43:10.800 you don't need 00:43:10.800 --> 00:43:11.539 to listen to God 00:43:11.539 --> 00:43:12.220 all you need 00:43:12.220 --> 00:43:12.820 is this temple 00:43:12.820 --> 00:43:14.800 you don't need 00:43:14.800 --> 00:43:15.440 to listen to God 00:43:15.440 --> 00:43:15.880 you just need 00:43:15.880 --> 00:43:16.800 to bring sacrifices 00:43:16.800 --> 00:43:18.280 you don't need 00:43:18.280 --> 00:43:19.160 to listen to God 00:43:19.160 --> 00:43:19.980 know him 00:43:19.980 --> 00:43:20.380 you just need 00:43:20.380 --> 00:43:21.480 to do good deeds 00:43:21.480 --> 00:43:22.200 and try to be 00:43:22.200 --> 00:43:22.820 a good person 00:43:22.820 --> 00:43:25.260 you don't need 00:43:25.260 --> 00:43:26.160 to listen to God 00:43:26.160 --> 00:43:26.760 you just need 00:43:26.760 --> 00:43:27.400 to follow your 00:43:27.400 --> 00:43:28.120 own religion 00:43:28.120 --> 00:43:28.840 faithfully 00:43:28.840 --> 00:43:31.860 these are 00:43:31.860 --> 00:43:32.780 deceptive words 00:43:32.780 --> 00:43:35.960 they are terrible 00:43:35.960 --> 00:43:36.400 words 00:43:36.400 --> 00:43:37.900 that lies 00:43:37.900 --> 00:43:38.880 that lead you 00:43:38.880 --> 00:43:39.900 to the awful 00:43:39.900 --> 00:43:40.640 judgment 00:43:40.640 --> 00:43:41.620 of being rejected 00:43:41.620 --> 00:43:42.240 by God 00:43:42.240 --> 00:43:43.200 as described 00:43:43.200 --> 00:43:43.920 here in Jeremiah 00:43:43.920 --> 00:43:45.700 your only hope 00:43:45.700 --> 00:43:47.400 is in Jesus Christ 00:43:47.400 --> 00:43:47.880 who committed 00:43:47.880 --> 00:43:48.480 no sin 00:43:48.480 --> 00:43:49.420 your only hope 00:43:49.420 --> 00:43:50.660 is in Jesus Christ 00:43:50.660 --> 00:43:51.039 in whom 00:43:51.039 --> 00:43:52.019 no deceit 00:43:52.019 --> 00:43:52.780 was fined 00:43:52.780 --> 00:43:53.300 because 00:43:53.300 --> 00:43:54.280 there is no 00:43:54.280 --> 00:43:54.820 other name 00:43:54.820 --> 00:43:55.400 under heaven 00:43:55.400 --> 00:43:56.159 given to mankind 00:43:56.159 --> 00:43:57.239 by which you 00:43:57.239 --> 00:43:58.519 must be saved 00:43:58.519 --> 00:43:59.619 there is salvation 00:43:59.619 --> 00:44:00.420 in no one else 00:44:00.420 --> 00:44:01.639 except in Jesus 00:44:01.639 --> 00:44:04.960 so 00:44:04.960 --> 00:44:06.579 I ask you 00:44:06.579 --> 00:44:08.280 stop paying lip service 00:44:08.280 --> 00:44:08.619 to him 00:44:08.619 --> 00:44:10.300 turn to him 00:44:10.300 --> 00:44:11.000 listen to him 00:44:11.000 --> 00:44:11.780 obey him 00:44:11.780 --> 00:44:13.099 and cling to Jesus Christ 00:44:13.099 --> 00:44:13.860 for your salvation 00:44:13.860 --> 00:44:17.780 let's reflect on that truth 00:44:17.780 --> 00:44:20.039 take a moment 00:44:20.039 --> 00:44:20.699 of silence 00:44:20.699 --> 00:44:21.519 think about 00:44:21.519 --> 00:44:22.219 what ways 00:44:22.219 --> 00:44:22.900 in which you 00:44:22.900 --> 00:44:23.559 may be paying 00:44:23.559 --> 00:44:24.059 lip service 00:44:24.059 --> 00:44:24.400 to him 00:44:24.400 --> 00:44:25.019 instead of truly 00:44:25.019 --> 00:44:25.900 listening to God 00:44:25.900 --> 00:44:27.800 and then after you've 00:44:27.800 --> 00:44:28.559 reflected for a moment 00:44:28.559 --> 00:44:29.179 we'll respond 00:44:29.179 --> 00:44:30.179 by praying 00:44:30.179 --> 00:44:31.179 out loud together 00:44:31.179 --> 00:44:31.739 as a church 00:44:31.739 --> 00:44:35.899 and see you 00:44:35.899 --> 00:44:36.519 seated 00:44:36.519 --> 00:45:01.719 in