Jeremiah 7

I am reading Jeremiah 7. What stands out to me in this book, and just like in Isiah is just how many chances God give them. He tells them over and over again, giving warning after warning. I do that sometimes when I really dont want to have to discipline my kids, hoping that they will just be obedient. This really shows me just how much he cares for us. He does not want to punish us, or let us suffer our horrible consequences but he does because he loves us. The chapter starts out 1 The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. This means that hes already given a message. He says: 3 The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Even now, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land. So even after repeated disobedience he still says if you just listen to me, you can stay in your land. So with all the sin, and disobedience he wants the people to do right, and to listen but they are just so hardheaded. Then in 5 and 6 he says: 5 I will be merciful only if you stop your wicked thoughts and deeds and are fair to others; 6 and if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; and if you stop your murdering; and if you stop worshiping idols as you now do to your own harm. So even in his warning its all about concern for us, hurting ourselves and others by our sin. 9 Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and worship Baal and all those other new gods of yours, 10 and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, "We are safe!" -- only to go right back to all those evils again? God knows that we are flaky, undependable, and easily distracted but he still warns us repeatedly. Then even his warnings are because they hurt each other with the evil they commit. Its so hard to read sometimes because with all the "intelligence" we have now, and how far we are from these people we still have these issues. We still sin, we still disappoint God, but instead of just getting rid of the whole earth God is so patient with us. Then in 9 God just lets it all out and he expresses his sadness for our actions. Jeremiah 9 1 Oh, that my eyes were a fountain of tears; I would weep forever! I would sob day and night for all my people who have been slaughtered. 2 Oh, that I could go away and forget them and live in a shack in the desert, for they are all adulterous and treacherous. 3 "My people bend their tongues like bows to shoot lies. They refuse to stand up for the truth. And they only go from bad to worse! They care nothing for me," says the LORD.