Observation: The Lord warns the people of Judah and Jerusalem that, if they persist in their evil, they will be destroyed. He will enumerate the evil acts they are currently perpetrating, but they effectively boil down to two categories ... worship and sacrifice to other gods, and violating the moral law.
In the midst of this warning, the Lord makes this strong accusation ... that their words are deceitful when they declare that the temple of Jerusalem is the temple of the Lord. Interestingly, we know this is the temple of the Lord. It is the place where he has placed his 'name'. He ordered David and Solomon to build it, they did, and he occupied it. Yet now he declares that their words, chanting that the temple is the Lord's, is deceitful. This is because the people themselves have made those words a lie.
They have turned the temple into something else. They commit sins and violate God's instructions, then come to the temple for sacrifices and thus declare themselves forgiven and blameless. The Lord even says that, in so doing, they have turned the temple into a "den of robbers". It has lost its purpose - which was as a place to draw close the Lord in covenant relationship - and instead has become a 'get out of jail free' card where ritual compliance then allows everyone to do whatever else they desire and feel exonerated. They believe that going to the temple occasionally offsets their daily disobedience.
The temple in Jerusalem was the temple of the Lord. Yet when those whose actions oppose the Lord declare it as such, the Lord himself calls that deceit. Actions must align to faith for words to be true.
Application: Of course, my actions fall short of perfection. They often fall short of good and faithful. In this, I am a hypocrite just like the people of Jerusalem, and the Lord would be justified to destroy me. Our nation is on a similar path, to the point where many relish their lives full of the rejection of the Lord, and yet they might choose to pray - for reasons even they don't understand - during great emergencies.
I have no doubt that the Lord will destroy our nation in some form and fashion, though I do not know the timing. I also know I am forgiven through the new covenant of Jesus Christ, and thus has a different way of obtaining a relationship with the Lord that is not based on temple ritual. That said, even Jesus warned of similar pitfalls, telling us that there may come a time when many cry out "Lord, Lord" to him, and he will say he does not know us because we did not do his work on earth.
My behavior cannot be perfect. But I can strive to do his work, and obey his word. I do chant "Jesus Christ is my Lord and savior" ... may my actions - and my heart and faith - align to these words, so the Lord will find them true.
Prayer: Lord, I desire your forgiveness and mercy, for I know my sins and my faults. Help me to serve you and love others in your name, every day. Amen.
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