Jeremy 7:5-7

Israel failed time and time again to hear the word of the Lord and instead listened to their own evil hearts.  All of Judah suffered because of the lack of compassion and caring shown to those who could not take care of themselves. Do we really want to follow in their footsteps?….wake up Christians!

Jeremiah 7:5-7

5 “For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, 6 if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, 7 then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

The only true hope for dwelling in the context of the temple was a radical restructuring of Judah’s society. Thoroughly amend, or “make good” or “do good,” emphasizes the necessary transformation of Jerusalem’s inhabitants. The emphatic phrase form implies the depth of corruption that existed in the land; there was no justice. Stranger refers to resident aliens who were dwelling in the land. The fatherless and the widow were accorded special treatment in the Law, but they had been abused by the leaders of Jerusalem. Innocent blood refers to those convicted of capital crimes on false charges, such as Urijah the prophet. Humanitarian concern for all persons was a central element of the covenant. To walk after other gods is to serve and worship them.