Jer 7:22-23 | KingComments | STEP | After the flaming condemnation of their idolatry, a word about offering sacrifices follows ( ). In light of the above, this is an ironic word. The people are said that it is good to continue bringing their sacrifices and let them eat from it. Let them even add their burnt offerings to it. It will caress their religious feelings and also give them a nice feeling in the stomach. They will have fulfilled their religious duties nicely and will not have become worse off themselves. But let them also remember that the LORD said nothing about such a sacrificial service to their fathers or commanded anything about it when He led them out of Egypt ( ). He did not speak of sacrifices at Sinai, when He gave them His law, but only of obedience. Only after that did He speak of sacrifices. It must be in that order. Sacrifices only have value if they go hand in hand with a walk in obedience to God’s commandments. That is what the LORD is all about. He has not prescribed sacrifices for the sake of sacrifices as such, but always in connection with an obedient heart. If a wayward life is led, He hates those sacrifices. He is pleased with obedience more than sacrifices ( ; ; ). He has spoken of obedience and the blessing that comes with it, that He will be their God and they will be His people ( ). If they would go the way He has commanded them, they would prosper. However, they did not listen, but walked according to the promptings of their hard, depraved heart ( ). Instead of going forward they have gone backward. The LORD has done everything possible to make His people walk in the right way and in the right direction. From the very beginning, He has sent His prophets every day to point out to His people that obedience to Him is the way of blessing ( ). He left nothing unused to point them to that path. But the people did not listen and even made it worse than their fathers ( ).

‏ Jeremiah 7:22-23

To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice

After the flaming condemnation of their idolatry, a word about offering sacrifices follows (Jer 7:21). In light of the above, this is an ironic word. The people are said that it is good to continue bringing their sacrifices and let them eat from it. Let them even add their burnt offerings to it. It will caress their religious feelings and also give them a nice feeling in the stomach. They will have fulfilled their religious duties nicely and will not have become worse off themselves.

But let them also remember that the LORD said nothing about such a sacrificial service to their fathers or commanded anything about it when He led them out of Egypt (Jer 7:22). He did not speak of sacrifices at Sinai, when He gave them His law, but only of obedience. Only after that did He speak of sacrifices. It must be in that order.

Sacrifices only have value if they go hand in hand with a walk in obedience to God’s commandments. That is what the LORD is all about. He has not prescribed sacrifices for the sake of sacrifices as such, but always in connection with an obedient heart. If a wayward life is led, He hates those sacrifices. He is pleased with obedience more than sacrifices (Hos 6:6; Psa 51:16-17; 1Sam 15:22).

He has spoken of obedience and the blessing that comes with it, that He will be their God and they will be His people (Jer 7:23). If they would go the way He has commanded them, they would prosper. However, they did not listen, but walked according to the promptings of their hard, depraved heart (Jer 7:24). Instead of going forward they have gone backward. The LORD has done everything possible to make His people walk in the right way and in the right direction.

From the very beginning, He has sent His prophets every day to point out to His people that obedience to Him is the way of blessing (Jer 7:25). He left nothing unused to point them to that path. But the people did not listen and even made it worse than their fathers (Jer 7:26).