Misplaced Faith

"And now, because you have done all these works," says the LORD, "and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer, ¹⁴ therefore I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh."

Jeremiah 7:13-14

It didn't take long for God's people to misplace faith which should have been reserved for God alone.  They hadn't lost faith, but they placed it in the wrong things.  Instead of trusting in God they looked to the temple as a sign of God's favour, blessing, and protection.  The temple was their place of refuge rather than God!  Surely He would not allow enemies to destroy Jerusalem, for it was where He placed His name - so they thought.

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God instructed His people to think back to Shiloh where the tabernacle had once stood.  Because of the wickedness of the priests and people He allowed it to become a total ruin.  God had sent prophets to instruct, correct, and warn His people of coming judgment, but they would not listen.  Words proved ineffective so the rod would be required:  God would thresh His people as a farmer does grain because they refused to hear, answer, and trusted in the temple rather than Him.

Perhaps the people foolishly saw the temple and the ministry therein as a great gift worthy of God, along with all the sacrifices, offerings, and service.  In their mind such great honour and worship was a benefit God was unwilling to be deprived of, built at great cost by King Solomon himself.  But had not the word of the LORD come through Samuel which plainly said, "To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22)  Micah 6:8 does not mention the necessity of a temple at all to fulfil good things God requires of men:  "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

It is likely God's people heard the worship of the priests and the prayers of the pious but they would not hear God and the prophets He sent to them.  They provoked God to anger with their idolatry, for they gave sacrifices and paid homage to other gods besides Him.  God would allow Jerusalem to fall and the temple to be razed - not only to bring judgment upon wickedness, but for the ultimate restoration of communion and fellowship with His people.  There is always grace in God's chastening.  Despite the grave sins of the children of Israel there was hope in God and His goodness because He sought to refine rather than destroy.  Jerusalem would fall but would be rebuilt; the Jews would be taken into captivity but would be brought back again to the holy city amid revival.

Could it be our faith over time might be misplaced, that we would look to ourselves or our efforts rather than hearing and answering God?  If God will allow a city to fall, won't He allow a man or woman so there might be repentance and restoration of worship in spirit and truth before Him?