Jeremiah: Profile of Courage Chapters 7-10 “False Worship”

Today’s Objectives Review last weeks lesson, including historical setting Examine the false securities of the Judahites, their sinfulness, and God’s vows of destruction Sense the value of clearing sinfulness and hyprocisy out of our own lives Learn about false gods that Judah worshiped Compare the fate of Solomon’s temple with tabernacle in Shiloh

Jeremiah - Spring 2013 WeekTopic Mar 6Dark Prophecies: Introduction and Jeremiah 1-6 Mar 13Dark Prophecies: Jeremiah 1-6 continued Mar 20False Worship: Jeremiah 7-10 Mar 27Broken Promises, Shattered Pride: Jeremiah Apr 3Sin Carved on the Heart: Jeremiah Apr 10The Potter, Pot, and Fire: Jeremiah Apr 17A Scattered Flock: Jeremiah Apr 24God’s Law on the Heart: Jeremiah May 1Broken Covenants: Jeremiah May 8God’s Indestructible Word: Jeremiah May 15Judgment and Justice: Jeremiah May 22God’s Justice Among Nations: Jeremiah May 29Summary of Jeremiah

Review Historical background and timeline Learned about key people in Jeremiah’s time Reviewed historical maps of Israel and the region Learned about Jeremiah’s first two recorded visions Reviewed Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning the Israelites’ spiritual adultery Considered God’s unique role for Judah God’s determination for the Judahites to face their personal sins and repent Introduced to the Old versus New Covenant

Historical Review Prophecy is placed sometime between B.C. Political background –Assyria was the regional power rising to dominance in 911 B.C. until around 612 B.C. –Samaria fell to the Assyrians in 722 B.C. –Babylonia, subject to Assyria, began to become a dominate regional power in 625 B.C. –Nineveh (Assyria) fell in 612 B.C. against a coalition of Medes (Persian precursor), Babylonians, and Scythians –Egypt attempted to regain regional power until 605 B.C., allying with Assyria against Babylonia –Persia captured Babylonia, Greeks captured Persians

Key People Jeremiah –Served the last five kings of Judah –Confidant of King Josiah ( B.C. ), King Jehoiakim ( B.C. ), and King Zedekiah ( B.C. ) –Member of a priestly family and was from Anathoth –May have descended from Abiathar, a distrusted priest –Fled to Egypt with Beruch upon destruction of Jerusalem King Josiah –“Great Reform” (2 Ki 22-23, particularly 2 Ki 23:3) – B.C. –Foremost among all the kings for unswerving loyalty to God –Rebuilding of the temple –Discovery of the law of Moses (Book of Deuteronomy)

Key People King Jehoiakim –King of Judah, B.C., corrupt and wicked –Carried off in first Babylonian captivity (2 Ch 36:6) King Jehoahaz and King Jehoiachin –Two kings of Judah with short reigns before and after Jehoiakim Nebuchadnezzar –Babylonian King from B.C. –Military commander that defeated Egypt in 605 B.C. –Conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Baruch –Jeremiah’s scribe who read Jeremiah’s prophecies in the temple King Zedekiah –Last king of Judah

False Securities (vss. 7:1-10) “Temple Address” (vss. 7:1 to 8:3) –Late 609 B.C. or early in 608 B.C. –God instructs Jeremiah to deliver a warning to the temple worshipers –Their worship was insincere worship God’s warnings through Jeremiah –Reform and I will let you live in this place (vs. 3) –Temple would not keep the worshippers safe (vs. 4) –Simple chants (“the temple of the Lord”) were thought to ward off destruction Deceptive words, violation of commandments –Guilty of theft, murder, adultery, lying, idolatry (vs. 9) –Only obedience would protect Jerusalem (vss. 7:4, 8)

Example of Joshua and Shiloh –Tabernacle remained at Shiloh for 300 years –Archaeologists reveal destruction around 1050 B.C. by the Philistines –God uses it as an example of His power (vs. 7:12) –Belief that physical sign of God’s presence protected them automatically Jeremiah at the temple –God’s use of the prophets (vs. 7:13) –Jerusalem was vulnerable to same fate of “Ephraim” or the Northern Kingdom (vs. 7:15) –God says not to pray for the Judahites (vs. 7:16), why? –Time for the long delayed consequence (vs. 19) Prohibited Prayer (vss. 7:12-20)

Worshiped in every village and in Jerusalem –Queen of Heaven –Title of a Babylonian goddess Ishtar –Canaanites called her Asherah –Moon goddess –Mythical sexual companion of Baal Baal –Babylonian god –Later called Merodach –Sun god –Beneficial (light/warmth) or destructive (fierce heat) “The Queen of Heaven” (vss. 7: 17-18)

Worthless offerings (vss. 7:21-29) –God suggest that people eat their own offerings –Reminder of the covenant at Mount Sinai –“Obey me, and I will be your God…” Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom –Detestable idols brought into the temple (vs. 7:30) –Place of human sacrifices (vs. 7:31) –Valley of Slaughter (vs. 7:32) –Stench of death would replace sounds of joy (vs. 7:34) –Invaders would desecrate the graves of former kings The Valley of Slaughter (vss. 7:21-8:3)

Spiritual Blindness (8:4-10:25) Despite warnings, people did not change –Jeremiah mourned – harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved (vs. 8:20) Weeping because of the wickedness that surrounded him (Ch 9) One more appeal by the Lord for Judah (Ch 10) –Idols were nothing but creation of artisans –Whole universe is the work of God’s hands –Because the people had not repented, they faced inevitable destruction from the north

Review Reviewed last weeks lesson, including historical setting Examined the false securities of the Judahites, their sinfulness, and God’s vows of destruction Sensed the value of clearing sinfulness and hypocrisy out of our own lives Learn about false gods that Judah worshiped Compare the fate of Solomon’s temple with tabernacle in Shiloh Next Week: Broken Promises, Shattered Pride: Jeremiah 11-15