The inadequacy of mere ritual worship 6:16-21 - Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

Resource > Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable) > Jeremiah > Exposition > II. Prophecies about Judah chs. 2--45 > A. Warnings of judgment on Judah and Jerusalem chs. 2-25 > 1. Warnings of coming punishment because of Judah's guilt chs. 2-6 > Yahweh's declaration of divine judgment 4:5-6:30 > The inadequacy of mere ritual worship 6:16-21

hide text

6:16 Yahweh commanded the Judahites to compare the paths in which they could walk. Then they should ask their leaders to direct them in the good old paths, the teachings of the Mosaic Covenant. Then they should walk in those ways and so experience rest (cf. Isa. 28:12; Matt. 11:28-29). But the people refused to follow those old paths. Probably they confused the ancient ways with obsolete ways, as many in our day do.

"The importance of the covenant for Jeremiah cannot be overrated. For him the covenant was fundamental to Israel's very life, involving as it did the acknowledgment of Yahweh as Israel's only sovereign Lord, and the glad acceptance of the covenant obligations. When Israel took this way she followed the ancient paths, the good way, and found rest. It was a theme to which Jeremiah returned again and again (7:22-23; 11:1-13; etc.)."¹⁵⁷

6:17 The Lord had set prophets over the people to warn them of their wicked ways, but the people refused to listen to them.

6:18-19 Because the people refused to listen to the Lord's words and had rejected His Law, the Lord announced to the whole earth that He would bring disaster on His people.

6:20 Even though the Judeans still worshipped God formally, their sacrifices made no impression on Him (cf. Isa. 1:11-14; Amos 5:21; Mic. 6:6-8). It was their true attitudes and actions that He saw.

Sheba was a famous southwest Arabia (possibly modern Yemen) source for the incense used in the offerings (cf. 1 Kings 10:1-13; Ezek. 27:22). Sweet cane (calamus) was an ingredient in the anointing oil (Exod. 30:22-25; cf. Song of Sol. 4:14; Isa. 43:24) and was also an expensive import item perhaps coming from India. Burnt offerings were those in which the entire animal was offered up to God, and sacrifices were those offerings that were partially eaten by their worshippers.

6:21 Because of this hypocrisy, the Lord would trip His people up. He would humiliate them and interrupt their progress, probably with their own sins and with the coming invader. This would include all generations and involve people in all relationships (cf. v. 11).