Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"According to the dictates of their own hearts"
Text: Jeremiah 9:14
THE PROBLEM OF APOSTASY
There were many things that contributed to Judah’s apostasy. This text offers a deeper glimpse as to why Judah ended up rejecting their faith in the Lord.
“And the LORD said,
‘Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them,
and have not obeyed My voice, nor walked according to it,
but they have walked according to the dictates of their own hearts
and after the Baals, which their fathers taught them.'”
Jeremiah 9:13-14
1. “And the LORD said”
a) This word came from the LORD Himself.
b) This was His analysis of Judah’s apostasy.
2. A series of connected things
a) Forsaking God’s law.
i) This had been set before them.
ii) The law of God had been given through Moses.
b) Disobedience
i) Both Israel and Judah had deliberately disobeyed God’s voice.
ii) God had sent many prophets to speak on His behalf, but they did not listen to His servants.
c) Not walking in God’s ways:
i) The word “walk” was used to describe “living out their faith in God”.
ii) Judah had not walked in God’s ways.
d) The “dictates of their own heart”
i) Judah had chosen to follow whatever their hearts instructed.
ii) This was simply choosing the way of the flesh.
e) “After the Baals”
i) Their forefathers had taught them the way of the idol Baal.
ii) The children had chosen the way of Baal too.
These were some of the major reasons that led Judah into apostasy! They had abandoned their historic faith in God! The path the nation was walking on would lead to destruction.