Let us begin our study of Jeremiah 7:1-20 with the understanding that the prophet was writing to the ancient Jews of the Promised Land as well as their modern day Israelite brethren–the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh who populate the Britain and the United States respecively. The young prophet was among his Jewish brethren when they were defeated and enslaved. His words to them were also to be delivered to modern day Israelites (Americans and Brit0ns). His warnings had to be written in a “book” in order to preserve them for God’s people in the end times.  The Lord promised both Daniel and Jeremiah that His end time ministers would understand what was written in their respective books and would warn those with eyes to see and ears to hear what He had/has to say to them. Let us now begin our study of God’s Words to His end time church whom He calls His “Very Elect,” His “Little Flock,” His tiny “remnant,” His “few” who have entered His church through His “strait gate” and are walking His “narrow way” toward His kingdom where eternal life awaits those who “… endure (in obedience) to the end” (Mat. 10:20).

Verse one is of utmost importance. Notice that “THE” Word that came to the Jews (and us) through Jeremiah was from “THE” Lord. We must always be certain that what we are hearing and reading is from the Biblical God and Him alone. There are many voices coming from many sources. Only the Holy Bible contains God’s voice. Though Satan has tried desperately to destroy God’s love letter to mankind, He has preserved it to this day. Today Satan’s church system (Catholicism/Protestantism) proclaims to the world repeatedly and loudly that what is written in God’s love letter is not to be taken at face value. Those within the various contending, conflicting, contradicting religious organizations deny the Biblical Truths (Jn. 17:17) being preached by His ministers. In so doing they are announcing to the world that they “despise” God and His Son (Lk. 10:16).

In verse two the Almighty tells Jeremiah to go and stand in the Temple gate and there proclaim “THIS” gospel to the people who were going in. He was to command the people to listen only to God’s Words, which means that not everything they would hear inside would be His Word. Everything seems okay at this point in that the people were entering the Temple “… to worship the Lord.”  But hear what the Lord says to them in the next verse.

“Amend your ways and your doings.” God was commanding them to stop sinning. The Lord was telling these super-religious, sin-ladened people who were entering His presence in order to “worship Him” that He rejected their  congregating together and their worship of Him because they continued to sin. His was telling the people that they must remove sin from their lives totally and permanently. Then, and only then, would He accept their worship. Now notice God’s reference to a promise He had made to their forefather Abraham. He tells them that IF they amended their ways and their doings “… I will cause (allow) you to dwell (continue living) in this place (the Promised Land).” In verses five through seven He tells them that in order to stay in the land He had promised their forefathers–Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel)–they must obey Him as had those holy men of old. Then, and only then, would He acknowledge their presence and receive their worship. Many years later this same God, who would then be known as Jesus of Nazareth, addressed the descendants of those ancient Jews, telling them that, though they called Him their Lord and worshipped Him, their religious efforts were all in vain because they rejected His doctrines and obeyed the commandments of men. Though He had promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land because of his obedience to Him, He (God) would allow them to remain in the Promised Land only IF THEY OBEYED HIM. Being Abraham’s descendants would have no effect on the covenant. Then, as now, there were conditions (caveats) that had to be met in order to receive the promises of God. Merely believing them was not enough. As God tells us in James 2:14,17,18,20, faith (belief) without works (obedience to God’s Word) is dead. We are commanded to live by faith (Rom. 1:17). Faith comes from the Word of God (Rom. 10:19). ONLY THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND OBEY GOD’S WORD–PROVE THEIR FAITH–CAN BE SAVED. L.J.