Judah’s Wrong Religion

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

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In Jeremiah 7-8, the prophet details the problems occurring in Judah, the southern kingdom. Israel, the northern kingdom had already been decimated by the Assyrians roughly 100-150 years prior. All that remained of the nation of Israel was the southern kingdom, which included Jerusalem.

The problems within Judah were many. King Jehoiakim (609BC) had allowed a return to pagan practices in Judah, which created a form of pluralism. People worshiped false gods during the week and then had the audacity to go to the Temple on the Sabbath to worship Yahweh.

Because of this, Jeremiah’s message is really a Temple sermon, calling out to the people that they needed to change their hearts. Jeremiah takes the time to explain Yahweh’s will (vv1-7). He then describes Israel’s/Judah’s departure from it (vv8-12). Finally, he announces coming divine judgment (vv13-15).

Part of the situation includes the fact that during pilgrimage festivals in the Temple people were greeted at the gates and asked to examine their moral lives before entering. This was very much part of the worship situation in Judah and it is similar to when a pastor calls on the people in the congregation to examine their hearts prior to taking communion.

It appears as though Jeremiah is taking on that role of the one calling out to the people to examine their heart. The people were warned to amend their ways and they should not assume that just because they had the Temple, they were safe. The belief at the time was that because they had the Temple, nothing bad would happen to them. This is similar to Pharisees saying they had Abraham as their father (Luke 3:8).

In essence, the Temple instead of God had become the object of worship. Jeremiah offers practical ways the Judahites could live for God (v6):

• Not oppressing the stranger/fatherless/widow
• Not shedding innocent blood
• Not walking after other gods

God speaks through Jeremiah asking if His house had become a den of thieves, which of course is reminiscent of what Jesus stated in the New Testament (v11; cf. Matthew 21:12-13).

God reminds the people to go find Shiloh where the Tabernacle stood because Shiloh had been destroyed due to Israel’s evil. The LORD was ready to cast the Judahites out of the land to the north as He had done with Israel. God would send them into captivity by Babylon because of their continued disobedience and flagrant idolatry. God appears to have made up His mind with finality (v16) and tells Jeremiah to not pray for them. In essence, Jeremiah’s prayers would not help at all.

In fact, the people of Judah were steeped in idolatry. They worshiped the Queen of Heaven (Ishtar) and Ishtar was a Babylonian goddess who also went by the names:

• Ashtoreth
• Astarte
• The wife of Baal or Molech

Their worship involved temple prostitution and God tells them they should walk in the ways He commanded them (v23).
Amazingly, the people refused (vv 24, 26)!

God then tells Jeremiah to tell the people all they are doing wrong, yet the people will not listen. In fact, they did worse than their fathers (vv26-27). So, God declares judgment (vv28ff) because they refuse Him. God warns what will occur and it will be a slaughter (vv32-34) and He promises the Land will be desolate (v34). This is another indication that the people were so bound by their own deceit they could not see or accept truth.

When God sent judgment onto Judah, He stated that the bones of kings of Judah will be unearthed to bake in the sun by the enemy. Those bones will be desecrated like garbage and those left alive will wish for death. The Assyrians were extremely heartless and cruel. They seemed to delight in that.

Yet the people refused to repent denying they’ve done anything wrong (v6). They kept saying, “Peace peace!” but there would be no peace (v11; also 1 Thessalonians 5:3).

Because of the continued unrepentant attitude of the Judahites, Jeremiah’s heart grew faint because of coming judgment (v18-22). Jeremiah was astonished at what was going to happen (v21).

The prophet asks is there no balm in Gilead? Balm in Gilead was a resin used medicinally and available in Gilead (cf Gen 37:25). This “balm” was actually God’s help, but the people refused to turn to Him therefore there was no balm for their coming distress.

Here are some questions by way of application for us to consider:

1. Why do you think the Judahites became so hard-hearted, hypocritical, defiant and idolatrous where God was concerned?
2. How does anyone’s heart become so hardened against the Living God so that they even turn away from Him?
3. How can we guard our hearts so that this does not happen to us?

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Source: https://studygrowknowblog.com/2025/09/22/judahs-wrong-religion/