The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven; they pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger. Sermons
I. IT IS A WARNING. For it shows the deadly contagion of sin. Now, when the head of the household goes after evil, he speedily draws in and down wife and children, until the whole family is corrupted, and they become a household of wickedness. The text reveals whole families engaged in the worship of idolatry, each member taking an active and eager part. They become so many societies for the propagation of ungodliness. In the sanctity or the sin of the parent the children are sure to share. In the first, by the grace of God; in the second, by the fatal force of a father's example. A father can lift his children up to heaven or he can drag them down to hell, and some do. See the text. II. BUT IT IS A MODEL ALSO. In what we are here told, the heathen shame the Church. Idolatrous worship may well put to the blush much of the worship of God. For in the worship told of in the text, false and horrible as it was, nevertheless we see much that we might well copy. 1. It was a worship that made all work. What a busy hive of workers each household is seen to be! But where is the counterpart of this in the Church of Christ? A whole family eager and active for Christ - the father, the mother, and all the children - would be a unique fact. How lazy, how indolent, is the greater part of our religion! 2. The children were interested in it. We are heartbroken that the great masses of our countrymen stand aloof from the worship of God. Did we interest them in it when they were children? We had them all in our hands, as we have their children now. Are our modes of worship, our representations of God's truth, our methods of instruction, such as shall make them love God's worship when they grow up? What would we not give to see our children so eager in God's worship as were the children told of in the text in idol-worship? 3. Both sides of the house were agreed on this great question. Husband and wife were of one mind, and each did what they could to further it. It was the general rule. Is it so now in regard to God and his service? Does the husband never hinder the wife? Does the wife always help the husband on the heavenward road? 4. There was fit work for each, and each did it. The children could gather sticks, the men kindle the fires, and the women, etc. When will there arise in the Church some who will point out some fresh and wise methods of enlisting all in her work? We have now two or three regular plans in operation; but if any be unfit or unwilling for them, as many are, there is nothing else for them. What we need is what these idolaters in their sad worship seem to have found - a work for every one, and every one at his work. But meanwhile let each one who is standing in the vineyard idle, not because unwilling to work, but because no one has hired him, no one has pointed him to the work for which he is really fit - and there are many such - let him take his case to the Lord, and ask, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" and he may rest assured, no matter whether he be little child or grown-up man, an answer will come to him soon. - C.
The children gather wood. I. GOD IS SETTING UP A KINGDOM IN THIS WORLD. A very glorious and gracious kingdom.1. Righteousness. Teaches us to do justice. 2. Peace — to love and pursue it. 3. Joy. God makes all happy who come into His kingdom. II. GOD EXPECTS US ALL TO WORK TO SET UP THIS KINGDOM. Christ came to set it up; ministers preach and labour for it; missionaries go to heathen; all God's people aid. III. CHILDREN CAN DO SOMETHING TO SET UP THIS KINGDOM. 1. You can pray; that God would make you willing subjects of this kingdom. 2. You can talk; speak to others about Jesus, pardon, God, heaven. 3. You can work; give to missionary society, etc. IV. CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS HAPPY WHEN TRYING TO SET UP THIS KINGDOM. Why? Because make others happy. Angels are happy, because employed making others happy. God is happy, for He blesses every one. And, when we act like God, we ourselves are happy. V. GOD WILL NEVER FORGET THE LABOURS OF LITTLE CHILDREN FOR HIM. When children wanted to come to Jesus, He noticed their disposition, and said, "Never prevent a child from coming to Me"; then took in arms and blessed. When they sang in temple He noticed their song, and said, "Hearest thou what these say?" God loves,everything done by children, because it is a proof of their obedience and love. (J. Sherman) Lay Preacher. "Queen of Heaven," i.e., Ashtaroth, or the Moon. The Israelites fell into this idolatry in the time of the Judges. Solomon was carried away by it. Josiah suppressed it. We may learn a useful lesson from these young idolaters.I. THEY WISHED TO BE USEFUL IN RELIGION. II. THEY DID WHAT THEY COULD. III. WHAT THEY DID WAS OF SERVICE. What can you do? For example, in — 1. Money. 2. Word. 3. Effort. 4. Prayer. IV. GOD DOES NOT DESPISE CHILDREN'S WORK. This fact is one which should be seriously pondered by children, parents, teachers. (Lay Preacher.) Eccentric Preachers. It is said that Matthew Wilks, one of the founders of the London Missionary Society, chose this text when he preached the anniversary sermon; and in those days when trite and commonplace remarks from the pulpit were considered orthodox, and anything that was a little fresh and novel was looked upon with suspicion, every eye in the large assembly expressed astonishment at the preacher's selection. He had not proceeded far, however, when the feeling of astonishment gave way to pure delight, when all seemed convinced that the text, though uncommon, was by no means inappropriate. I have not seen the sermon; I only know that he dealt with it in the following manner. He said, I will contrast your objects with those of the worshippers of the queen of heaven. I will compare your ardour with theirs. I will muster your agents. And it was this part of the subject, in which he referred to the agents, namely, men, women, and children, which gave rise to the system of auxiliary institutions which now pervade the whole country, and combine in its support young and old, rich and poor.(Eccentric Preachers.) To make cakes to the queen of heaven. (A talk with Children): — The people who lived in Jerusalem at this time, alas! worshipped the sun, and called it Baal, also the moon, and called it Ashtoreth, — just as our ancestors did at one time in this country, calling the day upon which they worshipped the sun Sunday, and the day upon which they worshipped the moon Monday. In Jerusalem, at the time referred to in our text, the people used to offer cakes to the moon. These cakes were always made round to resemble the moon. This offering was considered to be a very important one, and all wanted to have a share in making the cakes and presenting them. Now the first thing that had to be done was to get plenty of firewood. You cannot make a cake without fire, and you cannot get fire without fuel. Thus I think I can hear a Jewish mother say, "Now, my children, I want you to get some good firewood for tomorrow — wood that will burn brightly; I am going to make some cakes for the queen of heaven, and — who knows? — perhaps there may be a few tit-bits left!" Off the children go. That's just the work they like; they can stoop easily, or jump over the hedge or fence, and tear their clothes without having much scolding, as they are gathering wood for their mother. Little Hannah gathers her apron full, and Dan or Benjamin as much as he can carry in his arms, and they return home full of glee. They have done their part. But the following morning the fire had to be kindled. It required strong arms to kindle a fire by rubbing two pieces of wood vigorously together. The fathers could do that best; for they had muscular arms, and they gladly did their part. Then there was need of clean and gentle hands to knead the dough, and there were none who could do that as well as the mothers, aunts, and the elder sisters. It was their turn now, and the children would look earnestly on and wonder whether the dough would go far enough to make the necessary number of cakes for the "queen of heaven," or the moon, and one or two over. They little knew that the mother or sister had put in an extra handful of meal for that purpose. Then there was the baking and the consumption of the odd cake or two by the little wood gatherers. But beyond all this, there was a great pleasure reserved for them all — the privilege of presenting to the moon the cakes in the making of which they had all had a part, and which were as round and as perfect as a woman's hand could make them. Children have their part to do still. Often, as in this case, the work begins with children. They cannot do much; they cannot kindle a fire, or make a cake or a loaf; but they can gather wood, supply the fuel, and others will kindle the fire and provide an offering fit for the altar of God. You cannot as yet, at least, go forth to distant lands as missionaries and Zenana workers, and take the bread of life — not as a gift to God, but as a gift from God — to the heathen; but you can enable others who are older than you to do all this. You can contribute your pence to the missionary society, etc.(D. Davies.) People Ben, JeremiahPlaces Egypt, Jerusalem, Shiloh, Topheth, Valley of Hinnom, Valley of Slaughter, ZionTopics Anger, Bread, Burn, Burning, Cakes, Causing, Dough, Drained, Drink, Drink-offerings, Fathers, Fire, Gather, Gathering, Gods, Heaven, Heavens, Kindle, Knead, Kneading, Libations, Moving, Offerings, Order, Paste, Pour, Provoke, Queen, Sky, Sons, Spite, Women, Wood, Working, WrathOutline 1. Jeremiah is sent to call to true repentance, to prevent the Jews' captivity.8. He rejects their vain confidence, 12. by the example of Shiloh. 17. He threatens them for their idolatry. 21. He rejects the sacrifices of the disobedient. 29. He exhorts to mourn for their abominations in Tophet; 32. and the judgments for the same. Dictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 7:18 4432 dough Library An Earnest Warning About LukewarmnessI should judge that the church at Laodicea was once in a very fervent and healthy condition. Paul wrote a letter to it which did not claim inspiration, and therefore its loss does not render the Scriptures incomplete, for Paul may have written scores of other letters besides. Paul also mentions the church at Laodicea in his letter to the church at Colosse; he was, therefore, well acquainted with it, and as he does not utter a word of censure with regard to it, we may infer that the church was at … Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 20: 1874 The Sinner Stripped of his Vain Pleas. The Life of Mr. Hugh Binning. The Valley of Hinnom. The Knowledge that God Is, Combined with the Knowledge that He is to be Worshipped. The Everlasting Covenant of the Spirit Whether a Vow Should Always be About a Better Good? Appendix iv. An Abstract of Jewish History from the Reign of Alexander the Great to the Accession of Herod Obedience Christian Worship, Some General Uses from this Useful Truth, that Christ is the Truth. First Ministry in Judæa --John's Second Testimony. Barren Fig-Tree. Temple Cleansed. Concerning the Ministry. The Scriptures Reveal Eternal Life through Jesus Christ "To what Purpose is the Multitude of Your Sacrifices unto Me? Saith the Lord," "All Our Righteousnesses are as Filthy Rags, and we all do Fade as a Leaf, and Our Iniquities, Like the Wind, have Taken us Away. " Covenanting a Duty. Motives to Holy Mourning Letter ii (A. D. 1126) to the Monk Adam Jeremiah Links Jeremiah 7:18 NIVJeremiah 7:18 NLT Jeremiah 7:18 ESV Jeremiah 7:18 NASB Jeremiah 7:18 KJV Jeremiah 7:18 Bible Apps Jeremiah 7:18 Parallel Jeremiah 7:18 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 7:18 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 7:18 French Bible Jeremiah 7:18 German Bible Jeremiah 7:18 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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