Our Nation Today--Outline of Jeremiah 7
...sies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings 3) 8–9. Jeremiah complained that God’s people were treating His covenant as license for immoral living. How can they break the commandments (five are mentioned) and rejoice in the power of God at the same time? 4) 10–11. We are delivered. The second religious chant (cf. vs. 4). The people lived in gross sin in everyday life. Then, at the religious hour they came before God in His house and gave lip service to Him. They had turned God’s house into a den of thieves, the same situation that Jesus faced centuries later 5) 12. The tabernacle was located at Shiloh, eighteen miles north of Jerusalem, during the early days of Israel. a) In the days of Eli, probably after the battle of Eben-ezer in 1050 B.C. the city was destroyed by the Philistines and the ark taken. The destruction of Shiloh should have been a lesson to Judah. Because of the people’s sin, God would also destroy the Temple in Jerusalem. i) Psalm 78:56-68 (1) Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: 57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. 58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. 59 When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: 60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; 61 And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand. 62 He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. 63 The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. 64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation. 65 Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. 66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. 67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: 68 But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. 6) 13–15. Rising up early, a favorite expression of Jeremiah showing God’s persistent activity with Judah from morning to night. Ephraim. The leading tribe of the northern kingdom, exiled in 721 B.C. 7) 16–17. Jeremiah was forbidden to intercede for his people. The sin of Judah had been so terrible that the prophet felt a revulsion within himself at interceding for her. Judah was so settled in her sin that she was the cause of great sorrow, not only to our prophet, but also to God. 8) 18–20. Queen of heaven was the fertility goddess, Ashtoreth, (Astarte or Ishtar), worshiped in Assyria and Babylon. Her worship involved sexual immorality. Provoke me to anger, another favorite expression of Jeremiah (8:19; 11:17; 25:6ff.; 32:29ff.; 44:3, ...