True Despair

Aim: To die to self; and to please God in His way.

Doctrine: Nothing will satisfy God when His gospel is rejected. Extremely devout religion nor a plea based on ignorance (or being deceived) will not suffice.

Exegesis: The evils that befall the unregenerate church: all of its devotion, because it is false, is refused (vv. 11-12); all of its vain hopes, because they are lies, utterly fail (vv. 13-16); all of its covenant privileges, because they are scorned, are suspended (vv. 17-18).

Further application: How to find hope in the face of despair: be a true penitent (whom God will never despise) and be a stubborn believer (even in the darkest times).

Key verses: vv. 11-12a ''Then the LORD said to me, 'Do not pray for this people, for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them.'''