Day 174 - Jeremiah 7–9 Ecclesiastes 3

In Jeremiah 7, God tells Jeremiah to stand at the temple gates and preach! The people are going through religious motions but what about how they are living? They were oppressing the poor, shedding innocent blood, and chasing idols. God says, “Do you think this temple protects you while you live like this?” God doesn’t want church attendance; He wants a changed heart.

In Jeremiah 8, the people are in full denial. They think they are wise, but God replies to set them straight. Even religious leaders are caught lying. Avoiding truth to rest in false comfort is a very human thing to do. Healing starts with honesty.

In Jeremiah 9, Jeremiah is wrecked. He is disappointed by his people’s stubbornness. Pride overruns the land. He urges everyone to focus on their relationship with God. He teaches that is the only thing wisdom is proud of.

Ecclesiastes 3 declares that there’s a season for everything; birth and death, crying and laughing, silence and speech. God has made everything beautiful in its time. Solomon teaches: we can’t fully grasp God’s timing, but we’re called to enjoy the life He gives freely. Life’s rhythms aren’t random. God is weaving a story beyond our vision.