Jeremiah 19-20

“Listen! I am going to bring on this city and all the villages around it every disaster ...” (19:14). Jeremiah stood in the Temple court and declared that God’s own people had “burned incense on the roofs to all the starry hosts and poured out drink offerings to other gods” (19:13). Worshiping those other forces had led them to terrible behavior, including violence and child sacrifice (19:4-5). But the Temple priest, Pashhur, arrested Jeremiah (20:1).

“For they have forsaken me and made this a place of foreign gods ...” (19:4). God warns us that the “foreign gods” of violence and “the starry hosts” of chasing success will only lead to heartbreak. Worshiping Him alone brings abundant life.