Warning on Worthless Worship
Idolatry & hypocrisy have permeated
every fiber of Judah’s national life.
People and priests alike practice worthless worship in haughty indifference. But through Jeremiah, God delivers a ringing indictment.
Their nation with all its outward splendour will be reduced to a heap
of ruins because of the people’s
arrogance & idolatry. At the thought
of Judah’s imminent divine surgery, Jeremiah weeps unashamedly
for his hardhearted countrymen.
Judah was threatened by powerful
Babylonians. However, Jeremiah’s
message was that the greatest
threat came not from outside
enemies but from their own sin
and rebellion against their God.
Unless they were willing to change
their ways, disaster awaited them.
Lord, we acknowledge Your holiness
and warning of worthless worship.
Lord, we Repent Our Mistakes;
we want to Know You More; and
we Praise Your Greatness. Amen.
Lord, we Repent Our Mistakes:
Why does this people go backward
and just keep on going backward!
They stubbornly hold on to their
illusions, refuse to change direction.
I listened carefully but heard not
so much as a whisper. No one
expressed one word of regret.
Not a single “I’m sorry” did I hear.
They just kept at it, blindly and
stupidly banging their heads
against a brick wall (Jer 8:5-6).
Lord, I am so sorry that I have
continued to bang my head against
a brick wall, blindly and stupidly.
Save me Lord, O save me from the
self hate I feel for my past regrets
and change my trajectory. Amen.
Lord, we want to Know You More:
This is what the Lord says:
Let not the wise man boast of
his wisdom… or the rich man
boast of his riches, but let him
who boasts boast about this: that
he knows the Lord, who exercises
kindness, justice & righteousness
for in these I delight (Jer 9:23-24)
Lord, I confess that all the good
things have come from You.
Help me to never even appear
to boast about anything other
than the fact that I know You.
And the reason I’ve the potential
to do something good is because
the Holy Spirit dwells in me. Amen.
Lord, we Praise Your Greatness:
No one is like You O Lord; You are
great and Your name is mighty in
power. Who should not revere You,
O King of nations? This is Your due…
You O Lord are the True God; You are
the living God and everlasting King…
God, You made the earth by
Your power… When You thunder,
the waters in the heavens roar…
You send lightning with the rain
and bring out the wind from Your
storehouses (Jeremiah 10:6-13).
Lord, You are great and greatly
to be praised. Great is Your power.
You have stirred our hearts so that
we take pleasure in praising You.
You have created us and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.
Lord, we affirm Your power over
the circumstances of our life. And since You are powerful & wise, we’ll
give You all praise and glory. Amen.