85 FALSE SECURITY F O O T ================================

• H O L D

READING

85 FALSE SECURITY

PRAY Reveal yourself to me, through the Scripture today, holy Lord.

READ Jeremiah 7:1-15.

THINK What were the sins of the people of Judah (6,8,9)?

FOCUS The kingdom of Judah was threatened by the larger nations around her and, in particular, by the Babylonians. But her people had a false sense of security because they believed that, if they were in Jerusalem where the Temple was, they would be safe (4). Almost a hundred years earlier God had miraculously delivered Jerusalem and its Temple from the invading army of Sennacherib, the emperor of Assyria (2 Kings 18:13-19:37). Therefore the people of Judah had come to believe that the Temple was invincible. Jeremiah was just the sort of man to see through this false trust. His pulpit: one of the gates of the temple (2). His message: if you repent – all right (5-7). If you don’t – God will throw you out (15). Jeremiah turned the people’s attention to the ancient sanctuary of Shiloh, which had been destroyed (12). He prophesied that the same judgement was about to fall upon them (14,15). The people of Judah had every opportunity to know God at work in their nation. They were God’s chosen people and he had spoken to them ‘over and over again’ (13). What opportunities to learn about God have you had? It is worth taking a moment to review those opportunities. ‘Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given’ (Luke 12:48, GNB). —————————————————————- PRAY Look again at the list you wrote of the sins of Judah. Compare it with Micah 6:6-8. Ask God to help you live as he requires.