\\INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 7\\

In this chapter the Lord, by the prophet, calls the people of the Jews
to repentance and reformation; reproves them for their vain confidence;
and threatens them with destruction for their many sins, and
particularly idolatry. The preface to all this is in \\#Jer 7:1,2\\, the
exhortation to amendment, encouraged to by a promise that they should
dwell in the land, is in \\#Jer 7:3\\, but this was not to be expected on
account of the temple, and temple service; but through a thorough
reformation of manners; an exercise of justice, and avoiding all
oppression and idolatry, \\#Jer 7:4-7\\, their vain confidence in the temple
is exposed; they fancying that their standing there, and doing the
service of it, would atone for their theft, murder, adultery, perjury,
and idolatry; and that they might commit these with impunity; wherefore
they are let to know, that so doing these they made the temple a house
of thieves; and that for such wickedness, what the Lord had done to his
place in Shiloh, which they are reminded of, he would to the temple, and
to them, reject and cast them off, \\#Jer 6:8-15\\, and seeing they also had
a dependence on the prophet's prayer, he is bid not to pray for them,
for his prayers would not he heard; and he is directed to observe their
wretched idolatry, of which an instance is given, whereby they provoked
the Lord to anger; and therefore he was determined to pour out his fury
on man and beast, and on the trees and fruit of the field, \\#Jer 7:16-20\\
and whereas they trusted in their burnt offerings and sacrifices, these
are rejected, as being what were not originally commanded; but obedience
to the moral law, and the precepts of it, which they refused to hearken
to, though they were oft called upon to it by his servants the prophets,
\\#Jer 7:21-26\\, and it is foretold that the Prophet Jeremy would meet with
the same treatment; that they would not hearken to his words, nor answer
to his call; and therefore he should declare them a disobedient,
incorrigible, and an unfaithful people, \\#Jer 7:27,28\\ hence, either he,
or Jerusalem, is called upon to cut off the hair, as a sign of mourning;
for their rejection of the Lord, occasioned by their sins, and
especially their idolatry, of which instances are given, \\#Jer 7:29-31\\
and it is threatened that the place of their idolatry should be a place
of slaughter and of burial, till there should be no room for more; and
the carcasses of the rest should be the food of fowls and beasts; and
all joy should cease from Judah and Jerusalem, \\#Jer 7:32-34\\.