The Temple Sermon of Jeremiah
A Thought
In Jeremiah 7:1-15 we can read what is known as the Temple Sermon of Jeremiah. Under the Lord God’s command he says to them: “Hear the word of the Lord, all of you of Judah who enter through these gates to worship the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Fix your ways and your acts and I will cause you to dwell in this place. But do not trust in deceitful words saying ‘The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, these are the Temple of the Lord” (v:1-4).
No doubt the prophet’s frustration was high by this point as the crowds in Jerusalem were not convinced of the prophet’s warnings of the coming destruction of Jerusalem. How and why would God destroy God’s own house!? They thought the idea preposterous. Nonetheless, Jeremiah daringly declares that the Temple would be destroyed and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah would be sent into exile if the people of Judah did not repent and live by the Covenant.
Perhaps this is a good story for many of us in the church who have become somewhat immune to the season of Lent. We accept the basic premise and perhaps go through the basic rituals of the season but they seemingly fail to transform us internally. It could be that we don’t take God at his word about the way we live our lives and that God is a gracious so why wouldn’t he be gracious to me especially when you consider how bad others are. Very often we may weigh our depth of faith by virtue of comparing ourselves to others rather than search how God’s claim on our lives is being lived by us. If you heard this sermon from Jeremiah in relation to you and the members of the local parish you are a part of. How would you reflect on these words?
A Prayer
God of grace, rouse up within your people fear of the Lord, and call us to remember this holy season knowing that you will come in the clouds in great power and majesty to judge the living and the dead. May we respond to God’s claim on us with due fear and love so that as often as God disturbs the sky, yet spares us still, we should implore God’s mercy, examining the innermost recesses of our hearts and purging our sins all for the love of you. Amen – – St. Chad