Hearing and Hearing

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 7

Scripture Focus: Walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you. (Jeremiah 7.23)

Devotional Thought: It was not an easy job that God gave Jeremiah—to confront people who were set in their ways and placed trust in the externals of their faith … whose religion was made up largely of perfunctory rituals and superficial observances.  The temple, and participating in its various ceremonies, had become a charm for averting evil—a rabbit’s foot they could keep in their pocket that would help them ward off life’s unfortunate events.

Jeremiah warned them that their trust was both unfounded and dangerous … that God would hold back on promised judgment, but only if they’d repent.  He said their external piety and empty religiosity would be of no value if they didn’t amend their actions.  And, he explained what real repentance looked like—justice, honesty, care for the weak and defenseless, and genuine fidelity.

In many ways, the prophet’s challenge can be summarized in v. 23—“Walk in the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.”  Jeremiah’s audience was like a strong-willed toddler.  They heard his words but didn’t truly hear him, for they followed the naïve dictates of their heart.  They thought doing the ceremonial stuff was enough … that God shouldn’t, or didn’t, care about their personal character or the way they related to the people and world around them.  They shortsightedly let Jeremiah’s words fall on deaf ears and paid a tremendous price.

The point of application for us is to always remain open and teachable … to never believe we’ve got God so figured out that we can’t engage in appropriate self-assessment and self-evaluation … to continually hear his voice so we can steer clear of anything that smacks of skin-deep spirituality and live the principled, holy, and virtuous lives he calls us to live.

John Whitsett

Prayer: Heavenly Father—quite often I get so busy and wrapped up in my stuff that I hear you, but don’t truly hear you.  Help me to slow down and be responsive so I can walk in obedience and experience the fullness of your blessing.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 106.32-39

32 They angered him at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account,

33 for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke rashly with his lips.

34 They did not destroy the peoples, as the Lord commanded them,

35 but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did.

36 They served their idols, which became a snare to them.

37 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons;

38 they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.

39 Thus they became unclean by their acts, and played the whore in their deeds.