8/31/2025 The Folly of it All

This week's message is from Pastor Karla Conditt Daniels.  I will admit that it had been a long time since I had read the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, the lengthy collection of oracles prophesying the impending downfall of the Kingdom of Judah. After God’s faithful guidance of the people of Israel out of slavery, through the wilderness, and into a land of plenty, they have “forgotten” God. Some have even turned to the cult of Baal. With language reminiscent of a courtroom, God indicts the people for breach of covenant.  

It can be difficult to imagine life in a small Mediterranean land of tribal units over two and a half millennia ago. The ancient religious structure and practices can seem too remote to offer guidance today. It might be easy to believe that “the word of the LORD” uttered by Jeremiah wouldn’t have much relevance to the fast-paced, digitally and globally informed lives we lead. But friends, the ways we "forget" God are not so different from how ancient people denied God. In fact, it is likely that our “advanced” culture provides more idols to distract and capture our devotion.

God’s stinging indictment to our ancient forbears, “But my people have changed their glory for something that does not profit.” (Jeremiah 2:11b), should still sting us today.

John Calvin once said that the human heart is a perpetual idol factory. What idols might you have manufactured recently?