Sacrifices of Praise

O. T. #1767  "Sacrifices of Praise"
August 31, 2020
Jeremiah 17-Part 4
Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for Thou art my praise.
(verse 14)

LET IT GLOW

How did Jeremiah begin his prayer in verse 14?
He asked to be healed and saved. Then, he recognized God as his praise (a hymn).
 
Jeremiah was wounded in spirit. He asked God to heal his backslidings, bent to backslide, and save him from being carried away by the strength of the stream to forsake Thee. He desired to be sanctified by the grace of God. He needed to be saved from dangers and threatening enemies. (Matthew Henry)

Psalm 119:175 says, Let my soul live, and it shall praise Thee; and let Thy judgments help me.
Psalm 71:8 states, Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise and with Thy honor all the day.
Psalm 79:13 says, So we Thy people and sheep of Thy pasture will give Thee thanks for ever: we will show forth Thy praise to all generations.


Now jump down to verse 26. The Lord says that the people will return to Jerusalem from all around the area to bring burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings, frankincense, and thanksgiving offerings to the LORD's Temple.
They will be bringing sacrifices of praise unto the house of the LORD.
The word praise is different than the previous one. It means adoration, specifically a choir of worshipers; thanks.

Before we get into some serious praying, do we sing praises unto King Jesus?
There is a Christian radio station located in the next town from me. I keep my radio set on that one. It helps me sing praises unto my Lord.


LET IT GROW

We found out that the people of Judah were working on the Sabbath, their day of rest. As they entered the gates of Jerusalem, the people did not go to worship, but joined the hustle and bustle of business like any other day. Making money was more important than keeping God's laws. If only they had repented and put God first in their lives. That is what He wanted and required.
What was the most important reform of those returnees, over 70 years later? They observed the Sabbath and rebuilt the Temple.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary gives three reasons for the judgment of God upon Judah:

1. idolatry (verses 1-4),
2. relying on the flesh (verse 5),
3. dishonesty in amassing wealth (verse 11).

If only Jerusalem had repented of those sins, then there would have been no captivity for 70 years.

The names of the idols were engraved on the horns of their altars with a pen of iron. It was permanently etched. So were their sins, as if in stone. God wants His word to be written on our heart.
(Jeremiah 31:33)


LET IT GO
We will bring to You the sacrifices of praise into the house of praise.