Jeremiah 4-6

Modern Day Idols - Jeremiah 4-6

Listen to Jeremiah 4-6

Good Morning! Boy, the first chapters were pretty strong words by YAHWEH. You could tell that YAHWEH had it with giving Israel and Judah, chance after chance. The imagery that HE uses leaves no room for imagination. HIS people were an adulterous people, have an affair again, and again.

Jeremiah 3:1, 3:6-10
1 "If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, should he return to her again? Would not the land be completely defiled? But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers-
would you now return to me?"
declares the LORD.

Unfaithful Israel
6 During the reign of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, "Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there.
7 I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it.
8 I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery.
9 Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood.
10 In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense,"
declares the LORD.

Thought for the Day
When we speak of someone having an affair on their spouse, our heart might break for the person that was cheated on. We also might feel some anger towards the one that had the affair. And usually the marriage is destroyed, it does not last. All trust is lost, and as the saying goes, "Once a cheater, always a cheater" the person that had the affair can't stop the sin they are in.

This is exactly how YAHWEH describes what HIS people were doing to HIM. Israel and Judah would have an affair, repent and say they were sorry, just to turn around and do it again and again. The cycle never ended. Can you imagine how hurt YAHWEH was. The pain that it caused HIM to see the ones that He LOVED so dearly lie and hurt HIM again and again?

Now let's move from back then to today. We may read these passages and think, "How could they put a wooden image and worship it? I know that I would never do anything like that!" Well...... would you?

Do you have a favorite hobby or sport? Maybe you have an XBOX, cell phone, laptop, 50 inch plasma TV, or other cool electronic toy. Or maybe you are pursuing a member of the opposite sex? How much time do you spend on the above "Things?" Now how much time do you spend reading GOD's word and time in prayer vs. the other toys?

One of my friends (Who is a believer) has a cell phone, if he lost his cell phone, it would be the end of the world. I really believe that his world would implode. But, if he lost his Bible, huh, no big deal. Would you say that his cell phone has become an idol? Which is more important?

The point I am trying to make, we look at our brothers and sisters in past history and look down at them for making idols. But, my friends we are guilty for doing the same thing, we are just more modern. It is OK to have these cool toys, I love technology, but we always have to make GOD THE priority of our lives. HE comes first. If you have watched 8 hours of TV, and not spent 30 minutes in your Bible......... not so good. You may want to re think where your priorities lie.

Bible Trivia
What term describes Samson, who was never to cut his hair?
Hint: Judges 13

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