#DailyDevotion The Ancient Jews Also Thought God’s Word Was Outdated

Jer. 8:4-12 ⁴“Tell them, “the LORD says: If men fall, can’t they get up? If one goes away, can’t he come back? ⁵Why do these people of Jerusalem turn away and desert Me forever? They cling to deception. They refuse to return. ⁶I paid attention and listened, but they don’t say the right thing. No one feels sorry for his wrong saying, “What have I done?” They all run their own course, like horses charging into battle. Even a stork in the sky knows its seasons; a turtledove, a swallow, and a crane migrate at the right time; but My people don’t know what the LORD prescribes. ⁸How can you say: “We are wise, and the LORD’s law is with us.” Surely the scholars with lying pens have made it a lie. ⁹Wise men are ashamed, confused, and caught. You see, they have rejected the LORD’s Word, so what wisdom do they have? ¹⁰So I will give their wives to others and their fields to conquerors because all of them, small and great, are eager for dishonest money; all of them, prophet and priest, cheat. ¹¹They heal My people’s wounds superficially, saying, “All is well, all is well!” when nothing is well. ¹²Are they ashamed when they do detestable things? No, they aren’t ashamed. They don’t even know how to blush. So they will fall with those that fall. When I punish them, they will be brought down, says the LORD.

Now remember, Jeremiah is speaking to God’s people, the Jews. He is speaking to people who go up to the Temple to worship, hear God’s Word, and perform the sacrifices. They are Church people. They are like us. Hopefully, not just like us. Listen to the condemning words the LORD uses against them. What are some of things he accuses them of?

The first thing is desertion of the LORD. How did they desert him? They cling to deception. They refuse to return to him. They are not saying the right thing. They have fallen to false teachings apparently. What was in this false teaching? Well if we look at what he accuses them of in other places in Jeremiah, they think it is ok to worship other gods. Perhaps like many today, they think it’s just different manifestations of the same thing. We know they thought that sexual immorality was ok. They could lie, cheat and steal in business, particularly with foreigners, widows, orphans and the poor. We don’t have on hand how they perverted the Torah to make them think this was ok, but maybe like today, they thought the Torah was old and only parts were applicable to their day. Maybe they thought it was pious myth meant only to draw lessons from. Maybe they just used the Temple gathering to do business with its attendees and do social stuff, but nobody took it seriously. I don’t know, maybe they thought it better to err on the side of grace than do what God’s Word said to do.

The LORD says they thought they were not ashamed of the wrong they were doing. They set their course and stayed with it like lemmings going off the cliff. They claimed the LORD’s Torah was with them but the scholars made it a lie. Those who were wise men were ashamed, confused and caught. What wisdom did they have? No one felt guilty asking like David, “What have I done?!” So the LORD handed them all over to the Babylonians. For all them both small and great were after dishonest money. Their prophets and priests don’t call them to repentance but say all is well. They don’t blush and don’t feel ashamed. Judgment begins with the house of God. How are you going to fare on that day? Turn to the LORD. Turn from your sin. Listen and do His Word. Be fair and just with people. Tear your hearts because of your sins and receive his forgiveness won for you in Christ Jesus.

Heavenly Father, give us teachers who teach your Word, call us to repentance and grant us shame and guilt so we may receive your love and forgiveness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.