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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 44

"The blood of the lives of the poor innocents"

Text: Jeremiah 2:34

BLOOD-STAINED GARMENTS

One of the earliest laws God gave, was that man must not murder. There will be a reckoning for the person who sheds the blood of another man (Genesis 9:5). The law against murder was included as one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17).

“Also on your skirts is found
The blood of the lives of the poor innocents.
I have not found it by secret search,
But plainly on all these things.”
Jeremiah 2:34

1. “Also on your skirts is found the blood of the lives of the poor innocents”

a) Some idolatrous practices:
i) Included occultic practices (2 Kings 21:6).
ii) Child sacrifices were not uncommon.
iii) King Manasseh made his son pass through fire (2 Kings 21:6).

iv) King Ahaz burned his own children (2 Chronicles 28:3).

b) Killing would involve the shedding of blood.
i) Garments worn by the murderers would become blood-stained.
ii) The victims killed were “poor innocents”.

2. “I have not found it by secret search, but plainly on all these things”

a) The LORD did not have to make a “secret search”:
i) A thorough criminal investigation, or
ii) Surprise raids on the homes of the murderers.
b) The perpetrators were not even ashamed of their wicked deeds.
i) Their blood-stained garments were for all to see.
ii) They did not hide their evil deeds.

3. Some reasons how people could have killed their own children

a) The terrible influence of occultic practices.
b) A dead conscience.
c) Spiritual darkness.
d) The reign of wickedness in the heart.
e) Devoid of any sense of basic good and evil.