Definition: But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Jeremiah 7:23. It’s a pretty powerful and complex message about obedience and consequences. Here's a simplified explanation: What it means in plain language: “Jeremiah says, ‘I am commanding you to obey me, and I will be your God, and you must follow everything I tell you, and do what I want. ’ Basically, he’s telling them to completely surrender to him and do exactly what he says.” Let's unpack it into smaller pieces: “Jeremiah says…” : This tells us the verse is from the book of Jeremiah. “…I am commanding you to obey me…” : This is the core of the message. Jeremiah is setting a strict rule – he wants everyone to listen to him. "...and I will be your God, and you shall be my people..." : This is where it gets interesting. He’s redefining what being “God” means for them . He's saying he wants them to become completely devoted to him, just as a true believer is devoted to God. "...and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you…” : This is the key part – he’s giving them a detailed list of rules and expectations. He’s telling them exactly what they must do. "...that it may be well unto you.” : This means “it will be good for them” or “it will benefit them.” What's the big picture? Jeremiah is essentially saying that this group of people has been messing up and disobeying God’s commands, and he wants to punish them by forcing them to follow his strict rules exactly. He believes that if they truly embrace his authority, it will lead to a better future for them. Important Context: This verse comes after a period of serious rebellion and idolatry (worshiping other gods). Jeremiah is using this to call them back to faithfulness and repentance. It’s a warning about the dangers of ignoring God's guidance. In short, it’s a command for complete obedience, with the potential for significant consequences if they fail to comply. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Give an example of how this verse might have been used in the past? Discuss what it could mean for us today (perhaps relating it to modern challenges)?