Jeremiah 7  The Lord told Jeremiah to stand at the gate of the temple and to preach repentance.  "Amend your ways and your deeds and I will let you dwell in this place."  the Lord promises.

"Truly amend your ways and your deeds.... truly practice justice... do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow and do not shed innocent blood... nor walk after other gods to your own ruin." 

The priests were lying.. offering superficial words of peace, but not the Word of truth that could bring real healing for their brokenness. The people were "trusting in deceptive words to no avail."  The people were stealing, murdering, committing adultery, swearing falsely, and offering sacrifices to Baal and other gods.  They were even sacrificing their own children and bringing "detestable things" into the sanctuary.  Then they would come and proclaim deliverance before the Lord.

They made His house "a den of robbers".  They made "cakes.. and libations" to the "queen of heaven".  They also presented their offerings to God, but He no longer accepted them.

Obey My voice... walk in My ways.. listen to My Word.  Accept the correction I have given. Stop going backwards.  Stop listening to your own counsel..  the Lord pleads with His people through Jeremiah and other prophets.  But their hearts were stubborn and evil.

".. truth has perished and been cut off from their mouth."  the Lord says, .. "then I will make to cease from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem the voice of joy and the voice of gladness..." 

Like the people in Judah, there are many today who call themselves believers.. who go to church regularly and even pray. But, they do not live in obedience to the Word of the Lord.  Paul wrote this in II Tim. 4:3-4 " For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. "  Unfortunately this is becoming more and more prevalent in the churches of our land.

Father in Heaven,  You are unchanging.  You are perfectly holy and righteous.  You have offered us the way of Truth and salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and You have made that clear to us through Your Word.  May we not listen to superficial sermons or deceptive messages.  May we refuse to have our ears tickled just so we can continue to live according to our own desires and our own sinfulness.  May the True Church of Christ arise and stand firm in the Truth!  We need You, gracious Father, to keep our hearts from being stubborn and our ears from being slow to hear Your voice.
May Your will be done in each of us who call ourselves Your children, and may we obey Your commands.. to the glory of our King, Jesus... for it is in His Name we pray.  amen.