Jeremiah 7

In Jeremiah 7, God has Jeremiah speak out a huge warning cry in the Temple. The very place the people of Judah think they are safe. He speaks against the false worship, false prophets, false gods and the false confidence in the Temple. The Temple is a place to worship God, bring sacrifices, and be made holy. Instead, the people were making the Temple unholy by bringing in idols and worshipping false gods. Jerusalem was no longer holy, it had been defiled by sin and wickedness. God doesn't want their meaningless sacrifices and heartless rituals. He wants relationship. He wants a heart that's truly after God and God alone. Rituals and routines mean nothing if it's not coming from a heart after God. God desires us to be in relation with Him, not in ritual with Him.