The prophet Jeremiah literally takes a stand in chapter 7. He goes to the temple and preaches the word of the Lord. That makes sense, doesn’t it? What better place for a prophet to tell the people the message he has received from God?

I guess things are going fine—that is, until he opens his mouth and starts talking. “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your doings, and let me dwell with you in this place. Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’”

Wait! Isn’t he right now in the temple of the Lord? What’s so deceptive about calling it that? Could it be that the people have been putting their trust in a place, a revered building, while acting contrary to the one the building supposedly honors? Could it be that they have been putting their trust in a slogan, in words now become deceptive? (Could it be that I like asking questions?)

Do we trust deceptive words?