Jeremiah 7 :1-15 This message.. that Jeremiah was to speak at the gates of the Temple.. is a powerful, clear, direct indictment of Judah.. God is giving them one chance to make the right choice that they might be saved from the enemy that was coming: 

"Amend your ways and your deeds and I will let you dwell in this place." (v3)  They were trusting in "deceptive words".  They were trusting in the temple building. They were trusting in their ritual sacrifices. But, they were not trusting in God. 

 "Amend your ways and deeds.. "  the Lord commands. ".. truly practice justice.. do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow.. do not shed innocent blood.. nor walk after other gods to your own ruin."  What does the Lord require?  As Micah wrote, "But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.." (Micah 6:8)  God makes His commands clear.. 

But, Judah would not listen.. "Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal, and walk after other gods that you have not known, then come and stand before Me in this house and say, 'We are delivered!' - that you may do all these abominations? 'Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I even I, have seen it,' declares the Lord."

We recognize these words from the New Testament.. Jesus, on the last week before the cross, cleansed the temple of those who were doing the same thing that Judah did in Jeremiah's time.. They were deceiving the people.. they were not being just, kind, or honest.  They weren't sacrificing to Baal, but they were taking the sacrifices that were meant for the Lord and using them for their own gain. They were counting on the Temple to benefit them.. but they missed out on the True Temple.. the One that would never be torn down or destroyed.. Jesus Christ, the solid Rock. 

The Lord  told Judah  to go look at Shiloh. A city  that had been a place to worship Him.. yet the corruption of Israel made it an abomination and God destroyed it.  ".. see what I did.. " He tells them.."And now, because you have done all these things, declares the Lord , and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you but you did not answer, therefore, I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to the place which I gave you and your fathers, as I did to Shiloh."   God was about to cast them out like He did Israel.  Judah would be taken in to exile and the Temple would be destroyed. 

God is calling us.. each of us.. to choose.. to listen to His Word and obey.  He is speaking. He is making His way clear.  We cannot trust in a religion or a government or any other thing.  Only He can deliver us. Only Jesus can save us from sin and death and destruction. 

Father in heaven, we are so thankful that Jesus Christ came to save the lost.. to open the eyes of the blind and to set the prisoner free!  Thank You for giving us a solid Rock on which to stand.. to trust in You and to walk in Your ways that lead us to an eternal dwelling place. Too many are trusting in "deceptive words".  Trusting in rituals or false teachings. May Your voice cry out once again across the earth.. that ears would hear and hearts would be turned back to You. Send forth workers into the harvest Lord.  We pray this with sincere and earnest hearts.. in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.