Question 1

What does it mean when God says, "Amend your ways and your doings" in this passage?

Accepted Answer

When God says, "Amend your ways and your doings," He is telling the people to make a real change in how they live, not just in their outward worship. He names具体 things: judge fairly between people, stop oppressing the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, stop shedding innocent blood, and stop following other gods. So this is not a vague call to try harder. It is a call to turn from specific sins and walk in obedience so that their lives match their worship.

Question 2

Why is repeating "The temple of the LORD" called trusting in lying words?

Accepted Answer

The people kept repeating, "The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD," as if the building itself guaranteed that God would protect them, no matter how they lived. God calls this "lying words" because they used religious language to cover unrepentant sin. They thought, “We have the temple, so we are safe,” while they were stealing, murdering, committing adultery, and serving other gods. God is clear that His presence is tied to obedience and justice, not to a building or empty rituals.

Question 3

Why does God call His house a "den of robbers" in this passage?

Accepted Answer

God asks if His house has become a "den of robbers" because the people do evil outside, then run to the temple as if it were a hiding place. A den is where thieves feel safe after their crimes. The people were doing things like stealing, murder, adultery, and idol worship, then standing in the temple saying, "We are delivered" while planning to keep sinning. God says He sees this hypocrisy. Worship that tries to use God as a cover for sin turns His house into a refuge for wrongdoers, not a place of true devotion.

Question 4

What is the warning from Shiloh, and why does God mention it here?

Accepted Answer

Shiloh was an earlier place where God had set His name and where the ark once stayed. Because of the wickedness of the people there, that place was judged and laid waste. God tells Judah to go and look at what happened to Shiloh to show that He will not spare a place just because it was once holy. If He judged Shiloh, He can judge Jerusalem and its temple too. The lesson is that no city, building, or tradition can protect people who refuse to repent and listen to God’s voice.

Question 5

Why does God tell Jeremiah not to pray for this people in this passage?

Accepted Answer

God tells Jeremiah not to pray, cry, or make intercession for the people because they have stubbornly refused His calls for a long time. He had spoken to them again and again, sent prophets daily, and warned them early, but they would not hear or answer. Their worship now includes whole families serving other gods. God is showing that prayer cannot be used as a shield while people cling to open rebellion. This does not mean God never hears prayer, but here He has firmly decided to bring judgment on a hardened generation.

Question 6

Who is the "queen of heaven" and what were the people doing for her?

Accepted Answer

In this passage, the "queen of heaven" refers to a false deity connected with the sun, moon, or stars. The whole family was involved in worshiping her: children gathered wood, fathers lit the fire, and women kneaded dough to make special cakes. They also poured out drink offerings to other gods. God says they are doing this to provoke Him to anger, but in the end they are harming themselves, bringing shame and confusion on their own faces by turning from the true God to idols.

Question 7

What does God mean when He says He did not speak about burnt offerings and sacrifices when He brought them from Egypt?

Accepted Answer

When God says He did not speak to their fathers about burnt offerings and sacrifices when He brought them out of Egypt, He is not denying that He later gave laws about sacrifices. He is stressing what came first and what He really wanted: "Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people." Sacrifices were never meant to replace obedience. The people had twisted things, thinking offerings alone could please God while they ignored His commands. God reminds them that listening and walking in His ways is at the heart of the covenant.

Question 8

What was happening in Judah when God warned that the land would become desolate?

Accepted Answer

At this time, Judah was deeply involved in both injustice and shocking idol worship. They oppressed the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, shed innocent blood, and followed other gods. They even built high places in Tophet, in the valley of the son of Hinnom, where they burned their sons and daughters in the fire. All this was done while they still came to the temple as if everything was fine. Because they refused to listen to repeated warnings, God said the land would become desolate, with joy and wedding celebrations cut off.

Question 9

How does this passage show what God cares about more than religious rituals?

Accepted Answer

This passage makes it clear that God cares more about obedience, justice, and faithfulness than about sacrifices and temple visits by themselves. He ties His promise to let them dwell in the land to things like judging fairly, not oppressing the weak, avoiding innocent bloodshed, and turning from other gods. He even tells them to go ahead and eat their offerings because, without obedience, their worship means nothing. God desires a people who listen to His voice and walk in His ways, not people who use rituals to cover ongoing sin.

Jeremiah 7:1

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

Jeremiah’s Message at the Temple Gate

Judah’s Idolatry Persists

The Valley of Slaughter

Jeremiah’s Message at the Temple Gate

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Jeremiah 7:1

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

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Jeremiah’s Message at the Temple Gate

Judah’s Idolatry Persists

The Valley of Slaughter

Jeremiah’s Message at the Temple Gate

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