Project 119: Hope in the Upheaval | Jeremiah 7:1–8:3
| Project 119 | Tim Sanderlin
“Fear Fake Faith”
Have you ever been caught in a lie? A lie where, at some point or another, both parties knew the truth had been left behind and falsities had been brought into the light? In this moment, there are two options: come clean and ask for forgiveness or continue to bury the truth under more lies. When you double down on deceit in this way, the only one you are now trying to convince is yourself. This also results in not only hurting the one you have deceived, but also hurting yourself and your reputation. It takes humility—albeit delayed—to realize you have broken someone’s trust and ask for their grace. This was God's word to the people of Judah through his prophet Jeremiah. The people were living in a two-faced reality in which they were only fooling themselves, for God sees the heart of humankind.
Here’s the scenario: God’s people profess that they follow the decrees of Yahweh by sacrificing and worshipping in the Temple regularly. They attend worship out of habit. And while this is pleasing to the Lord, they falsely believe this is all he requires for them to be his image bearers to the rest of the world. In Jeremiah 7, however, God clears his throat and repeats to them the words he spoke to their ancestors on the shore of the Red Sea: “Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you” (Jeremiah 7:23 NIV). In other words, God requires that his people live the way he tells them to so that his presence can reside with them, thus leading to their well-being and blessing. As we know, it is truly impossible to keep every command, and we know there is only One who would be able to do this. The God of Israel knows this and is asking something deeper of his people than just keeping a list of laws: “Treat others the way I treat you.” In Exodus 34:6, God declares himself to be compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. This is how he deals with his children, and this is what it means to obey all of God’s commands.
Judah is guilty. Judah is caught in her own lies. God’s people forsake the widows and orphans, they are unfaithful to their spouses, they oppress the foreigners, and they worship gods that do nothing but distract them from the God who saves. In this chapter, they now have a choice: to double down and continue hurting themselves in these infidelities or repent and ask for forgiveness. Jeremiah brings a sobering word to God’s people: While you might feel safe in the Temple, your misdeeds are actually laid bare before the eyes to whom you must give account. God sees and knows. God forgives. Will you repent?