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JEREMIAH 7:4; JEREMIAH 8

II KINGS 22:3-7; 23:21-23; II KINGS 23:1,2; II CHRON. 34:29,30

I. THE TIME OF THE PROPHESY.
        A. 18th year of Josiah's reign - 5th yr. of Jeremiah.
                1. Book of law discovered by Hilkiah.
                        a. Revealed         how far people drifted.
        B. The repaired temple and gathering of multitudes. 
                1. Observance of Passover.
                2. Temple now repaired.
                        a. Doors opened.
                        b. Throngs gathering.
        C. Young people standing in gate - rebuking the people in the act of worshipping,
           because worship was an act.
                1. Lonely man - heroic -- "Trust ye not in lying."

II. THE ATTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE.
        A. Repaired temple.
        B. Restored worship. "No Passover kept like that since time of Samuel."
        C. People rejoicing in temple, people rejoicing in feast.
        Prophets message - "Trust ye not in lying words." Probably very words of people."
        D. Rejoicing because they thought restoration would bring national power.

Ill. THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHET.
        A. These people in act of worship, sinning against fellow man, guilty of theft, 
           murder, adultery, perjury.
                1. Prophets did not use watered down respectable terms:  "business women."
        B. These people sinned against God.
                1. Sin against God first.
        C. These people worshipping God, guilty of burning incense to Baal - sacrifices to 
           Molech.
                1. The people thought because these were forms of religion they were all right.
        D. They thought the temple meant safety.
                1. Like man who reads a few scriptures in the morning to ward off danger 
                   through day.
        Religious observance becomes blasphemous under certain circumstances.
        An opiate dulling when it should be an inspiration lifting.
        Religious conviction may become a curse.
        Refuge of lies.
        The essential value of proof of religion is what it produces in conduct.
        Failure to obey truth infinitely worse than having no truth.
        "Pure religion and undefiled before God." - How much this excludes (includes).
        If sacred days or observances one made occasions to escape higher responsibilities 
        vain.
        Celebration of Easter.