Day 216

By
Molech's Topheth

Scripture

August 3—Jeremiah 7-10: Prophet of Sorrow

Observation

Idolatry and its abuses—including the most gruesome of Judah's sins, child sacrifice—make up the heart of Jeremiah's stinging indictments in today's reading. Guilty from the top down, with greedy priests (8:10), foolish leaders (10:21), apostate counselors (8:9), and reprobate families (7:18), the Jews would soon see their homeland reduced to wasteland. Yet even as they listen to the tearful charge of the prophet, the people remain totally heedless and indifferent to God's message of coming calamity (8:4-7).

Application

Desensitization: A process by which a patient with allergies receives weekly injections containing an increasing amount of the substance to which that patient is allergic. As a result, the body in time becomes accustomed to the foreign substance and is no longer irritated by it. Sadly, the same desensitization can occur in the spiritual life. Sins that once were considered unthinkable are at first tolerated, then condoned and finally openly endorsed.

Judah's citizens suffered from such a desensitization. Called to be God's holy and distinct people, little by little they became indifferent to sin's poisonous intrusion. At last they had sunk so low that even the burning of their little children, at Topheth, as sacrifices to idol Molech no longer bothered them.

Make a list of the daily lapses and "little sins" in your own life that ought to bother you but somehow don't: careless gossip, overeating, questionable business practices, failure to keep your word. Then read 7:5-7 slowly, thoughtfully, out loud and give your list to God in a prayer of confession. There's no better way to restore your sensitivity to sin.

Prayer

We humble ourselves before you, Lord that you will help us to become sensitive to sin and convict us of even our "little sins" so that we will repent and sin no more so we can remain in your grace. Strengthen our inward spiritual character which we know is developed by constant prayer and obeying your Word. We trust that you have delivered us from our sins and now we desire to walk according to your Word. We thank you for loving us and wanting all to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ for the same salvation. We honor and worship you and praise your Holy Name. Amen!



Praise His Holy Name!


© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2020

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