Passage Read: Jeremiah 5-8
Meditation Verses: 8:8-11
Thought
These are brutal and grievous indictments. The people of the Lord, who were given the Law of the Lord think they are wise and understanding because they have the Law. But they do not read it for themselves. Instead they turn to the scribes and all their teachings. They listen to this one and that one's explanation, until they no longer have any idea what the Law itself actually teaches. When confronted with the plain meaning of Scripture, they defend themselves with the writings of men. They think they are wise, but they refuse to listen and obey the actual Law of God. Why? Because they're all greedy for gain, including the prophets and the priests. They no longer care about God's truth, but about extorting whatever they can from the people, so they don't tell the people what they need to hear, but promise peace, when the Lord stands ready to destroy their nation!
Application
As many scribes and writings and opinions as they had back then, we have magnitudes more! Everyone wants to write a book to proclaim their new take and better understanding of what God's Word means. We're more confused than ever, but we like it that way, because we can hide behind whatever explanation suits us. Sing me a catchy song that tells me everything's gonna be alright! We don't have to know the Lord or His ways, we just have to find and follow a good leader, who has discovered how he can make more money by writing this book or publishing that opinion. Few if any confront the Church with Truth, but almost all comfort the Church when there is no peace. They're just after the money, not the Lord's approval. To the degree that I've been lulled into the same greed, I need to repent. To the degree to which I've been deceived and adopted man-comforting lies or ways, I need to repent. Whatever God's Word says is true; I need to cleanse my heart and mind from the godless influences of modern and ancient scribes with their lying pens driven by greed.