Jeremiah 6–12: The Ancient Paths, Religious Hypocrisy & Biblical Parenting

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms | Entrusted Ministries

What does it look like to truly know God—not simply participate in religious activities? In Jeremiah 6–12, the prophet Jeremiah confronts Judah’s religious hypocrisy, exposing a people who worshiped in the temple while continuing to oppress the vulnerable, pursue idols, and live in rebellion against God.

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox walks through Jeremiah’s powerful temple sermon in Jeremiah 7, helping us understand why God’s judgment was righteous and why outward religious practices can never replace wholehearted obedience.

As Christian moms, this passage also challenges us to consider how we are discipling our children. Are we teaching them to simply check spiritual boxes—or are we helping them know, love, and follow the Lord?

Jeremiah reminds us to return to the ancient paths, seek the wisdom of God's Word, care for the vulnerable, reject cultural idols, and build families whose worship flows from hearts devoted to God.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• Why Jeremiah’s temple sermon is such a powerful warning against religious hypocrisy
• Why simply attending church or participating in Christian activities cannot substitute for obedience to God
• What Jeremiah 6:16 means when God tells His people to seek the “ancient paths”
• How Judah was trusting the temple as a kind of spiritual “good luck charm”
• God's command to care for the sojourner, orphan, and widow
• The devastating consequences of allowing pagan worship and cultural influences to shape God's people
• What Jeremiah teaches us about biblical parenting and discipling our children
• Why parents must be careful not to teach children a checklist of Christian behaviors without teaching them to know and love God
• How we can evaluate whether our families are becoming more like Christ or simply looking like the culture around us
• Why Jeremiah 9:23–24 tells us what we should truly boast in: knowing and understanding God
• How idols made by human hands contrast with the living and everlasting God
• Encouragement for moms who feel overwhelmed by the endless stream of advice about parenting, food, health, culture, and family life
• Why returning to Scripture can give us clarity, wisdom, and the peace of the ancient paths

A Powerful Word for Christian Moms

One of the most beautiful challenges in this passage is found in Jeremiah 6:16:

“Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.”

As moms, we can easily become overwhelmed by the constant stream of advice telling us how to raise our children, what they should eat, how they should learn, what media they should consume, and how our families should live.

But Scripture repeatedly brings us back to something much simpler: know God, love God, obey His Word, and teach your children to do the same.

The goal isn't perfect Christian parenting. The goal is raising children who know where to turn for wisdom—and ultimately know and love the Lord themselves.

Scripture Mentioned

• Jeremiah 6
• Jeremiah 7
• Jeremiah 8
• Jeremiah 9:23–24
• Jeremiah 10
• Jeremiah 11
• Jeremiah 12
• Deuteronomy 6
• Psalm 46
• Psalm 119
• Hebrews 11:6

Key Takeaway

Don't find your security in religious checklists. Find your security in knowing, loving, and dwelling with God.

Jeremiah's message is sobering, but it is also deeply hopeful for Christian moms. God's Word gives us a clear path when the culture around us becomes confusing. We don't have to imitate the world or be overwhelmed by every new parenting philosophy. We can return to Scripture, walk in the good way, and teach our children to do the same.

Listen & Study the Bible With Us

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms is designed to help Christian moms stay rooted in God's Word through a chronological Bible reading plan, biblical teaching, prayer, and practical encouragement for motherhood.

If you're looking for a Bible podcast for women, a chronological Bible study, Christian parenting encouragement, biblical parenting wisdom, or help staying consistent in reading the Bible, join us as we journey through Scripture together.

Subscribe to The Dwelling Place from Entrusted Ministries and keep studying God's Word with us—one passage at a time.

Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

This is The Dwelling Place from Entrusted Ministries.

2

I'm Stephanie Hickox, and in

today's reading of Jeremiah six

3

through 12, the prophet confronts

religious hypocrisy head on.

4

We'll largely focus on Jeremiah's

temple sermon in chapter seven.

5

God will rebuke the people for coming

before Him in His temple and afterward

6

treating the vulnerable wickedly

and engaging in abominable worship

7

practices of the surrounding nations

8

In studying these chapters, we'll better

understand why God's judgment upon them

9

was so righteous and necessary, and

we'll be reminded to not find security in

10

religious checklists, But to be people who

know, love, and dwell with the Lord God.

11

This episode will have some difficult

descriptions and is best for mom ears In

12

chapter six, Jeremiah tells the people

that the coming judgment is certain.

13

In verse ten, "To whom shall I speak

and give warning that they might hear?

14

Behold, their ears are uncircumcised.

15

They cannot listen.

16

Behold, the word of the Lord

is to them an object of scorn.

17

They take no pleasure in it.

18

Therefore, I am full of

the wrath of the Lord.

19

I am weary of holding it in."

20

More than thirty-five times in the Book of

Jeremiah, he points out that the people do

21

not obey, love, or listen to God's Word.

22

Their hearts are so far from what

God commanded in Deuteronomy, and

23

the judgment coming upon them is

exactly what He warned would happen

24

In 6:12 we learn, " From the least

to the greatest of them, everyone is

25

greedy for unjust gain, and from prophet

to priest, everyone deals falsely."

26

They have healed the wound of my

people lightly, saying, "Peace,

27

peace," when there is no peace.

28

Were they ashamed when

they committed abomination?

29

No, they were not at all ashamed.

30

They did not know how to blush There

are times I've seen something happen

31

on TV or I've heard a song on the radio

and I think, " Do these people have

32

aunts and uncles and grandparents?

33

Have they no shame?"

34

To do these things publicly?

35

And sadly, I really don't think they do.

36

Their consciences are so seared

37

that they feel no shame

over their actions.

38

And it was the same in the days of

Jeremiah, from prophet to priest.

39

They found security in the fact

that they came to the temple.

40

But God says, "You shouldn't find

peace here because your worship

41

doesn't extend to your heart."

42

One of the verses I've clung to most

from the entire Book of Jeremiah

43

is Thus says the Lord, 'Stand by the

roads and look, and ask for the ancient

44

paths, where the good way is, and walk

in it, and find rest for your souls.'"

45

I often long to do things well to honor

the Lord, and that's why I can find

46

it so overwhelming at the constant

flood of information coming before us.

47

We receive so much content and

guidance, and sometimes it's difficult

48

to discern What we should do.

49

This can extend to parenting, the

foods that we feed our families,

50

and medical solutions, and I'm

grateful for the peace and the

51

way that God Himself directs us.

52

When I read Scripture, I find so

much clarity about what's important

53

to the Lord, and instead of being

overwhelmed by details and decisions,

54

it helps me to realign my focus on Him.

55

I'm gonna read that verse one more

time because I love it so much.

56

Thus says the Lord, 'Stand by the

roads and look, and ask for the ancient

57

paths, where the good way is, and walk

in it, and find rest for your souls.'"

58

But unfortunately, the people

of Jeremiah's day did not want

59

the wisdom of the ancient paths.

60

But they said, "We will not walk in it."

61

And God once again declares that

a mighty enemy from the north is

62

coming Chapter 7 begins the first

of Jeremiah's temple sermons.

63

As I read it, I want you to listen for

exactly why the Lord is rebuking them

64

the word that came to Jeremiah from

the Lord, " Stand in the gate of the

65

Lord's house and proclaim there this

word and say, ' Hear the word of the

66

Lord, all you men of Judah who enter

these gates to worship the Lord.'

67

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of

Israel, ' Amend your ways and your deeds,

68

and I will let you dwell in this place.'

69

Do not trust in these deceptive words.

70

' This is the temple of the Lord, the temple

of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.'

71

For if you truly amend your ways and your

deeds, If you truly execute justice one

72

with another, if you do not oppress the

sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow,

73

or shed innocent blood in this place,

and if you do not go after other gods

74

to your own harm, then I will let you

dwell in this place, in the land that

75

I gave of old to your fathers forever.

76

Behold, you trust in

deceptive words to no avail.

77

Will you steal, murder, commit adultery,

swear falsely, make offerings to Baal,

78

and go after other gods that you have

not known, and then come and stand before

79

me in this house which is called by my

name and say, 'We are delivered,' only

80

to go on doing all these abominations?

81

Has this house which is called by my name

become a den of robbers in your eyes?

82

Behold, I myself have seen

it, declares the Lord.

83

Go now to my place that was in Shiloh,

where I made my name dwell at first,

84

and see what I did to it because

of the evil of my people Israel.

85

And now, because you have done all

these things, declares the Lord.

86

And when I spoke to you

persistently, you did not listen.

87

And when I called you, you did not answer.

88

Therefore, I will do to the

house that is called by my name

89

And in which you trust and to the place

that I gave to you and to your fathers

90

as I did to Shiloh And I will cast you

out of my sight as I cast out all of your

91

kinsmen, all the offspring of Ephraim.

92

Let's pause there for a moment.

93

I'm sure you recognized the list of

many of the Ten Commandments that

94

the people were breaking, but they

were using the temple as a good luck

95

charm, thinking, "As long as we have

this, surely God won't destroy us."

96

God reminds them about Shiloh and how

it was the former place of worship.

97

God did not protect

them, but destroyed them.

98

And the nation of Israel was carried

away, so they should not find confidence

99

in Jerusalem Next, God tells Jeremiah

to not even intercede for the people.

100

And as he describes what the families

are engaging in together, I hope

101

you can understand the absolute

wickedness that these parents

102

are guiding their children in

103

I can't help but think of how this

is the opposite 6, that they were

104

to speak of God's faithfulness to

their children while sitting, rising,

105

lying, and walking by the way.

106

They had a command to train their

children in the fear and instruction

107

of the Lord, and instead, the people

are having their children take part

108

in disgusting, horrific practices

109

Do not pray for this people,

or lift up a cry or prayer for

110

them, and do not intercede with

me, for I will not hear you.

111

Do you not see what they are

doing in the cities of Judah

112

and in the streets of Jerusalem?

113

The children gather wood, the fathers

kindle fire, and the women knead dough

114

to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven,

and they pour out drink offerings to

115

other gods to provoke me to anger."

116

" Is it I whom they provoke?"

117

declares the Lord.

118

" Is it not themselves, to their own shame?

119

Therefore thus says the Lord God:

Behold, my anger and my wrath will

120

be poured out on this place, upon

man and beast, upon the trees of the

121

field and the fruit of the ground.

122

It will burn and not be

123

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God

of Israel: Add your burnt offerings

124

to your sacrifices and eat the flesh.

125

for in the day that I brought them

out of the land of Egypt, I did not

126

speak to your fathers or command them

concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices.

127

but this command I gave them, " Obey

my voice, and I will be your God,

128

and you shall be my people, and

walk in the way that I command

129

you, that it may be well with you."

130

But they did not obey or incline their

ear, but walked in their own counsels and

131

the stubbornness of their evil hearts,

and went backward and not forward.

132

From the day that your fathers came

out of the land of Egypt to this day, I

133

have persistently sent all my servants

the prophets to them day after day

134

Yet they did not listen to me or incline

their ear, but stiffened their neck.

135

They did worse than their fathers.

136

So you shall speak all these words to

them, but they will not listen to you.

137

You shall call to them, but

they will not answer you.

138

And you shall say to them, ' This

is the nation that did not obey

139

the voice of the Lord their God

and did not accept discipline.

140

Truth has perished.

141

It is cut off from their lips.'

142

Cut off your hair and cast it away.

143

Raise a lamentation on the bare

heights, for the Lord has rejected and

144

forsaken the generation of his wrath.

145

For the sons of Judah have done evil

in my sight," declares the Lord.

146

" They have set their detestable

things in the house that is

147

called by my name to defile it.

148

And they have built the high places of

Topheth, which is in the valley of the son

149

of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their

daughters in the fire, which I did not

150

command, nor did it come into my mind.

151

In this sermon, Jeremiah gave

three specific action points.

152

First, they were to start honoring

the people around them, especially

153

those that were vulnerable, and

were given a familiar list: the

154

sojourner, the orphan, and the widow.

155

Secondly, they were to

cease killing the innocent.

156

And finally, they were to serve

God alone and stop worshiping

157

the pagan gods around them.

158

The queen of heaven is probably Ishtar,

a Babylonian goddess, who is much

159

like the Canaanite goddess Asherah.

160

Because these were fertility

goddesses, there were often disgusting

161

sexual practices and prostitution

happening in their places of worship.

162

The location's name Topheth

stems from the Hebrew word drum.

163

It was most likely named that because

as the people were sacrificing their

164

sons and daughters, there would be

drumming to drown out the cries and

165

the screams Eva Rydelnik writes that

Moloch, the Phoenician god, had the

166

most evil of worship rituals of any

god in history, demanding parents to

167

burn their sons and their daughters

alive in the fire in a brass statue

168

of the god as child sacrifice.

169

This cruel practice was specifically

forbidden by God, and worship of Moloch

170

was often combined with Baal worship.

171

In Greek times, this Valley of the Son of

Hinnom became known as Gehenna, and that

172

name became synonymous with the picture

of the fiery corruption of hell because

173

of the reputation of the children burned

alive and sacrificed here to Moloch God

174

completely disapproved of this wickedness.

175

In my head, I picture a scene

from the movie The Lion, the Witch

176

and the Wardrobe, based on C.S.

177

Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia.

178

In the heartbreaking scene in which

Aslan lays down his life for the people

179

The evil and wickedness

is on full display.

180

And it must have been so

similar in this valley

181

with the drumming and the prostitution.

182

It helps us to understand why

these people needed to be judged.

183

They had every opportunity to be set

apart from the nations around them,

184

and instead they forsake the Lord God.

185

It's horrific and also a reminder to us.

186

Are we set apart or do we

look just like non-believers?

187

Are our lives characterized by

the hope and peace of the Lord?

188

Do our hearts break for the persecution

of refugees or believers around the world?

189

Do we care about the orphans

and children who are neglected?

190

Are we taking opportunities

to serve widows around us?

191

Or do we justify ourselves that we're

just too busy, choosing instead to

192

fill our time scrolling updates that

take us far from the ancient paths

193

Jeremiah reminded us to return to?

194

In chapter eight, God continues his

rebuke saying the people are perpetually

195

backsliding and that none of them

evaluates their own hearts They

196

reject the word of the Lord Throughout

scripture, we're told that God opposes

197

the proud and gives grace to the humble.

198

But do you know that He actually

tells us to boast in something?

199

In chapter nine, verses 23 and

24, "Thus says the Lord, ' Let not

200

the wise man boast in his wisdom.

201

Let not the mighty man boast in his might.

202

Let not the rich man boast in his riches.

203

But let him who boasts boast in this,

that he understands and knows me, that I

204

am the God who practices steadfast love,

justice, and righteousness in the earth.

205

For in these things I

delight,' declares the Lord."

206

As mysterious and as unsearchable as

God's ways may be, we can actually

207

boast that we understand and know Him

because what He wants us to know of

208

Him, He's revealed to us in His Word.

209

I think that's so encouraging for us as

we continually come back to the Bible.

210

Would you say you know Him better

than you knew Him six months ago?

211

I would, and it's helped me to trust Him

more deeply and love Him more fervently

212

I pray you are more convinced of His

goodness and that you are finding the

213

peace of the ancient paths In chapter

10, God explains how vain and pointless

214

it is to worship idols made from hands

and he contrasts it to worshiping him.

215

tells us, "But the Lord is the true God.

216

He is the living God and

the everlasting King."

217

No graven idol could ever

claim that description

218

In chapter 11, God again tells

Jeremiah not to pray or intervene,

219

and we discover a plot that

Jeremiah's own people had against him.

220

They were trying to kill him,

and his own family even took

221

part, but God protected Jeremiah.

222

In chapter 12, Jeremiah praises God for

his protection, But like the psalmist, he

223

questions, " why do the wicked prosper?"

224

God responds that judgment is coming But

amazingly, he once again declares that

225

he will have compassion on the nation,

226

And he reminds them to diligently

learn his ways and call on his name.

227

So let's do that now.

228

Heavenly Father, you are

a God of steadfast love,

229

justice, and righteousness.

230

Thank you that you

delight in us knowing you.

231

As we look at our nation today and at

the state of the world, we're grieved

232

by how many do not call on you and

do not heed the wisdom of your Word.

233

We pray that as we cling to the ancient

paths and the counsel set forward in

234

your Word, that our lives would look

markedly different, so that we could be

235

A hope and a light that points to your

goodness We pray we would seek you so

236

diligently that we could rightfully boast

that we understand and know you thank

237

you for the clarity you provide in your

word of how we are to lead our families

238

Guide us so that we do not

lead our kids into hypocrisy

239

May we not ask them to engage in spiritual

practices that are like a checklist

240

We long for your Holy Spirit to direct our

hearts toward wholehearted worship of you.

241

We know we can't do it alone, and we're

grateful for this reminder to continually

242

come before you Jesus, thank you

that you made a way to restore us to

243

the Father while we were yet sinners.

244

May our gratitude lead us to

seek you each and every day.

245

It's in your name we pray.

246

Amen.