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"I will not listen to them"

Text: Jeremiah 11:11

WHEN PRAYERS WILL NOT BE HEARD

The children of Judah assumed that God will always hear their prayers. This assumption would be proven to be wrong!

“Therefore thus says the LORD:
‘Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them
which they will not be able to escape;
and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them.
Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem
will go and cry out to the gods to whom they offer incense,
but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
For according to the number of your cities were your gods, O Judah;
and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem
you have set up altars to that shameful thing,
altars to burn incense to Baal.'”
Jeremiah 11:11-13

1. “Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape'”

a) This word came from God directly.

b) A calamity would be experienced by Judah.

i) This would come from the Lord.

ii) There would be no escape.

2. “And though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them”

a) The inhabitants of Jerusalem would certainly cry out to God.

i) In their desperation.

ii) But not necessarily out of repentant faith.

b) God will not hear these prayers.

i) They had rejected Him.

ii) They had conspired to go against the Lord and to turn to idols.

iii) They had broken God’s covenant.

3. “Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they offer incense”

a) The idolaters would cry out to their gods.

b) They would offer incense to them in the hope of a favourable response.

4. “But they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble”

a) But the idols would not be able to save them.

b) They cannot come to the rescue of their devotees.

c) They are powerless.

5. “For according to the number of your cities were your gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem you have set up altars to that shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal”

a) How many were the cities of Judah?

There were as many idols in the nation!

b) How many were the streets in Jerusalem?

There were as many altars set up.

c) Baal was the chief of the gods and goddesses.

i) He was given much worship.

ii) But he would be powerless to help his desperate devotees!