Psalm 118:8-9

1. Into.
1. when a man is lost in the desert he may experience a mirage
1. such an experience only brings tragedy to the individual
2. a life that is built on a similar illusion will also end in tragedy
2. the question we all need to ask ourselves: upon what or in whom do we trust for security?
3. to trust in that which cannot provide security is like the desert wanderer who hopes in a mirage
2. an example of false security - Jeremiah 7:3-4
1. Jeremiah was identifying that which the Jews were trusting in for security
1. he was trying to show them the uselessness of their trust
2. what the people thought to be the source of their security, was in fact the source of their destruction
3. this was a tragic false security
2. the trusted in lying words
1. lying had become common practice
2. false prophet added to the deception , and hastened the day of destruction - Jeremiah 7:14-15
3. a nation or person who hopes in a lie has no real security
3. their religion was a shame
1. done in pretense, an imitation of the real
2. to them the temple was a good luck charm
3. the security gained by a show of religion is as false as the religion itself
4. many people today have put their trust in a false security
3. how to be secure - Jeremiah 7:5-7
1. the world has many problems, but the greatest problem is a spiritual problem
1. we can have no security apart from the obedience to God’s spiritual and moral laws
2. when our relationship with God is right, we have the highest degree of security possible
2. righteous living - 5 [thoroughly amend your ways] (see verse 7)
1. spoken at a time when Jerusalem was in great danger
2. the Babylonians were coming, and they were no match for them
3. they were religious, but not godly
4. Babylon was a threat, but the greater threat was the corruption within
3. justice - 5 [thoroughly execute judgment]
4. compassion - 6 [oppress not]
5. faithfulness to God - 6 [neither walk after other gods]
1. our fears cannot be overcome by raw courage, but with absolute faith in God
2. those who trust in a false god are without hope [to your hurt]
6. God is our only source of security - 7
1. it was God that gave them the power to conquer
2. it is God who has the power to keep the secure
4. Judah’s fatal mistake - Jeremiah 7:8-12
1. rejection of God’s Word - 8
2. ungodly living - 9
1. a deliberate violation of God’s law by those who said God was their protector)
2. God will forgive and receive repentant people
3. those who reject God and His ways, will be rejected by God
3. hypocrisy - 10-11
4. God’s warning to them - 12
5. we and all America need to follow God’s command in II Chronicles 7:14