Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Abominations in the house which is called by My name"
Text: Jeremiah 32:34
GOD’S ANSWER TO JEREMIAH III
The LORD elaborated on the reasons why He was angry with Israel. He had every reason to be furious with the nation!
“And they have turned to Me the back, and not the face;
though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them,
yet they have not listened to receive instruction.
But they set their abominations in the house
which is called by My name, to defile it.
And they built the high places of Baal
which are in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom,
to cause their sons and their daughters
to pass through the fire to Molech,
which I did not command them,
nor did it come into My mind that they should do this abomination,
to cause Judah to sin.”
Jeremiah 32:33-35
1. “And they have turned to Me the back, and not the face;
though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them,
yet they have not listened to receive instruction”
a) The LORD had taught Israel:
i) Personally
ii) Diligently
iii) Patiently
b) The phrase “rising up early and teaching”.
i) This is a description of how the LORD had taught the nation.
ii) One of the ways He had taught them was to send them His prophets.
iii) They would get up early in the morning to teach the nation.
c) The response of the nation was totally unwarranted.
i) They were rude and nasty.
ii) They turned their back on the LORD instead of their face.
iii) They had not listened to the instructions that were given.
2. “But they set their abominations in the house which is called by My name, to defile it”
a) “The house which is called by My name”
i) This is a reference to the Temple in Jerusalem.
ii) It was dedicated to the LORD by King Solomon.
iii) The Temple was always associated with the holy name of God.
b) “They set their abominations”
i) This is a reference to the idols that Israel had placed in the Temple.
ii) These idols were called “abominations” by the LORD.
iii) Israel had come to the Temple to worship these abominations.
iv) This was insult added to injury!
3. “And they built the high places of Baal which are in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech,
which I did not command them, nor did it come into My mind
that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin”
a) Israel built up many shrines of Baal.
b) One of the major shrines was in the Hinnom Valley.
c) It was known as “The Valley of the Son of Hinnom”.
d) The people were taught to make their sons and daughters pass through the fire.
i) This was the worship of Molech.
ii) The children were offered as human sacrifices.
e) This practice was soundly condemned by the LORD.
i) This was something that God never commanded.
ii) This practice caused Judah to sin grievously against the LORD.