When God does not listen to prayer

Jeremiah 11:9-17 (New International Version)

9 Then the LORD said to me, "There is a conspiracy among the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. 10 They have returned to the sins of their forefathers, who refused to listen to my words. They have followed other gods to serve them. Both the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken the covenant I made with their forefathers. 11 Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. 12 The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they will not help them at all when disaster strikes. 13 You have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah; and the altars you have set up to burn incense to that shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.' 14 "Do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress. 15 "What is my beloved doing in my temple as she works out her evil schemes with many? 
Can consecrated meat avert your punishment? When you engage in your wickedness, then you rejoice." 16 The LORD called you a thriving olive tree with fruit beautiful in form. But with the roar of a mighty storm he will set it on fire, and its branches will be broken. 17 The LORD Almighty, who planted you, has decreed disaster for you, because the house of Israel and the house of Judah have done evil and provoked me to anger by burning incense to Baal.

I. Message

Content

1. God points out that the people of Israel have broken the covenant and disobeyed the Lord. (v9-11)
2. God points out that the people of Israel though worship many gods, these idols cannot help them. (v12-13)
3. God prohibits the prophet Jeremiah to pray for the people; God will not hear these petitions. (v14)
4. God disqualified his people to enter his temple to worship; they are no longer worthy (v15)
5. God decreed disaster for the Israelites because they had worshiped idols (v16-17)

Theme

1. When God does not listen to prayer.

II. Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit?

1. The God of revelation (God who gives words to the people) (v9)
2. The covenantal God (v10)
3. God betrayed by his chosen people (v10)
4. Because of his chosen people’s disobedience, God prohibits his servant to intercede for them in prayer (v14)
5. Because of the disobedience of his elected, God refused to listen to their prayers (v14)
6. God who loves his people deeply (v15)
7. God of blessing and disaster (v17)

III. What is God teaching me (command, promise, model, rebuke, warning)?

1. The punishment for breaking the covenant

“Then the LORD said to me, "There is a conspiracy among the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. 10 They have returned to the sins of their forefathers, who refused to listen to my words. They have followed other gods to serve them. Both the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken the covenant I made with their forefathers. 11 Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them.” (v9-11)

God loved his people, and had made a covenant with them in order to protect them. Regrettably, His people broke their side of the covenant, causing God to decreed punishment. Thus, the Lord said to the prophet Jeremiah: "There is a conspiracy among the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. They have returned to the sins of their forefathers, who refused to listen to my words. They have followed other gods to serve them. Both the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken the covenant I made with their forefathers. Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape.”

Reflection: Do I fully understand the principle of ‘upholding the covenant receives blessing while breaking the covenant deserves punishment? Have I been keeping my promise?

2. Asking help from useless idols

The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they will not help them at all when disaster strikes. (v12)

The Israelites have established many idols, but as these are false gods, even if they are numerous, they are useless. Because when the Israelites faced imminent disasters, their petitions to the false gods bring no relief. Obviously, it is better to have one true God than to have many false gods.

Reflection: An old saying believes that the more incenses burned to many different gods would assure more security. Do you think this is true?

3. All the people frenetically worship the idols

"You have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah; and the altars you have set up to burn incense to that shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’ (v13)

The people of Israel have broken their end of the covenant with God. They have freely established many gods and idols. At that time idols worshiping was pervasive; it seems everyone and the whole nation were actively involved. The scripture says, they have as many gods as they have towns. The altars set up to burn incense to the shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem. These are the deeds of God’s chosen people. Their defiance are extremme beyond comprehension!

Reflection: How is my relationship with God? Am I faithful or have I other idols in life that I am sinning against God?

4. Rejected prayers

"Do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress. (v14)

God delights in the prayers of his people and is more than willing to listen. But because of the defiance and the Israelites, who had refused to turn back, God was disappointed. God said to the prophet Jeremiah, ‘Do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.’ What a sad state to be in! Evidently, when we continue to live in sin, our prayers are without effect!

Reflection: Have I been like the Israelites so stubborn in defiance towards God that my prayers are rejected?

5. Not worthy to enter the holy temple

"What is my beloved doing in my temple as she works out her evil schemes with many? 
Can consecrated meat avert your punishment? When you engage in your wickedness, then you rejoice." (v15) “…the house of Israel and the house of Judah have done evil and provoked me to anger by burning incense to Baal. (v17b)

God is very clear that the Israelites are no longer worthy to enter his holy temple to worship, because their sins are serious. They had burn incense to Baal and provoked and angered the Lord. They either worship insincerely or they were worshiping both God and the idols. Ignoring the first two commandments where God is clear that ‘you should have no other gods before me’ and ‘you should not make for yourself an idol and bow down to it.’ (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5)

Reflection: In my heart, do I have other idols? Am I worthy to enter His holy temple?

6. Obedience is better than offering

"What is my beloved doing in my temple as she works out her evil schemes with many? 
Can consecrated meat avert your punishment? When you engage in your wickedness, then you rejoice." (v15)

Faced with the stubborn defiance of the Israelites, God not only said that they are no longer worthy to enter his holy temple, he also pointed out that it is naïve to believe their offering would avert the punishment and that they could rejoice. Samuel replied to King Soul: ‘Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.’ (1Samuel 15:22)

Reflection: Am I similar to the Israelites, while remaining in sins had thought that redemption could be gotten through offering and service?

IV. Prayer/ Life Application