By Eugene Garner

JEREMIAH - CHAPTER 10

THE FOLLY OF WORSHIPPING PORTABLE GODS

    Upon his being made acquainted with the long lost "book of the covenants discovered in the temple, King Josiah purposed that with all his heart and soul to confirm, or perform, the words of that covenant. He, furthermore, caused his brethren in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand by the covenant that he had made, (2 Kings 23:3; 2 Chron. 34:32). This covenant was made between Josiah and His people in the presence of the book before which they stood in awe. This was followed by renewed, and more drastic measures to suppress idolatry in the land. Outwardly, that campaign appeared to be a success, (2 Chron. 34:33), but, in reality, idolatry simply went underground for a time.
    The prophecies recorded in chapter 10 through 12 correspond to this particular period in the reign of Josiah. While Josiah was attempting to stamp out idolatry, the prophet, Jeremiah, was declaring it to be abominable in the sight of the true and living God, (10:1-16). He foretells the coming judgment upon that idolatry, (10:17-25).
   Though men sometimes lose consciousness of God, they never lose their sense of NEED for God. For this reason they often attempt to supplant the true God with gods of their own making. This was the story of Judah's disloyalty and corruption.

THE IMPOTENCE OF IDOLS CONTRASTED WITH THE POWER OF JEHOVAH (Jeremiah 10:1-16)

    Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good … 8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. 9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men … 14 Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. 15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

    1. The covenant nation is warned against learning the delusive customs of the heathen, (vs. 1-2; Ex. 20:4-6; 32; Num. 25:1-3; Hos. 13:4; Isa. 40:18-20; 41:5-7; 28-29; 44:9-20; 45:16-20; 46:1-7).
    2. Their idols are worthless - being cut from a tree, fashioned by craftsmen, decorated by artists and then anchored securely - lest they topple over! (vs. 3b-4, 9).
    3. Like "scarecrows in a cucumber garden" (Berkeley), they cannot speak or move, (Isa. 41:21-24; 46:6-7); there is no reason to fear them, for they can do no evil - and to do good is beyond their power, (vs. 5; comp. Isa. 41:23-24).
    4. Idolaters are stupid and foolish (4:22; 5:4, 20); no better than the wooden idol itself, the teaching of idolatry is totally destitute of any moral or spiritual power, (vs. 8).
    5. How utterly ridiculous that, in the hour of need, one would look expectantly toward a lifeless, mindless, helpless toy of his own making! (14:22; 2:27-28).
    6. A work of false hood, the idol brings shame and delusion; in the day of judgment the workman and his work will perish together, (vs. 14-15; 8:12; 51:18; 18:15-17).

    6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. 7 Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee ... 10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. 11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. 12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. 13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightning's with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures ... 16 The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name.

    1. By way of contrast with idols, whose position and authority are derived solely from human imputation, Jehovah is incomparably great (Deut. 33:26-29; Jer. 32:17-19; Psa. 48:1; 96:4) - being sovereign over ALL nations (Psa. 22:27-28).
    2. He is the true and living God - an everlasting king, whom all men should fear, (vs. 7a; l0a; Isa. 65:15-16; Jer. 4:1-2; Psa. 86:8-10 10:16; 29:10-11).
    3. The earth will tremble when His wrath is kindled, (see note of 4:24. comp. 50:46); nor will the nations be able to stand in the presence of His indignation, (vs. l0b; Psa. 76:7; 130:3; Nahum 1:6; Mal. 3:2-6).
    4. Every god that has not created the heavens and the earth will perish from under the heavens, (vs. 11; Psa. 96:4-6; Isa. 2:18; Zeph. 2:11).
    5. Jehovah is God; the Designer and Creator of ALL, He rules overall! (51:15-19; Isa. 45:18).
      a. The heavens and the earth are the works of His hands - manifesting His supreme wisdom and sovereign power, (Psa. 19:1-4).
      b. The elements are all under His control - obeying His voice, (vs. 13).
      c. And He is the Maker of man who, refusing Him, tinkers with a tree to make a lifeless god of silver and gold, purple and blue before which he will foolishly do obeisance!
    6. Jehovah is the portion of Jacob (51:19; Psa. 73:26; comp. Psa. 16:5) - if the nation will but TURN and RECEIVE Him; Jacob is the tribe of His inheritance, (Deut. 32:9).
    7. Though the nation has long rejected Him, He is still faithful to His covenant.

    17 Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress. 18 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so. 19 Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it. 20 My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains. 21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. 22 Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons. 23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. 24 O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. 25 Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

    1. Foreseeing the impending invasion, and the siege of Jerusalem, Jeremiah appeals to his people - urging them to accept their just punishment and to prepare for deportation, (vs. 17-18).
    2. In the cry of verses 19-21 he appears to be expressing Judah's hurt as she laments the ruin that has come upon her through the stupidity of her rulers.
      a. Her wound is grievous, but she realizes that she must bear it, (vs. 19; comp. 4:31; 14:17; Mic. 7:9).
      b. The desolation of her heart is set forth in verse 20; her tent destroyed, her cords broken and her children exiled, (comp. 4:20; 31:15; Isa. 51:18).
      c. Since her rulers (shepherds) lost touch with Jehovah, they were not able to lead the flock to safety, (vs. 21; 8a; 12:10-11; Isa. 56:10-12; Jer. 2:8).
    3. From the north country (Babylon) is heard a commotion that forebodes such crushing of Judah that her cities will become a lair of night-dogs, (vs. 22; 1:14; 25:9; 9:11).
    4. In view of the judgment purposed upon Judah, Jeremiah pleads the basic moral weakness of man and his inability to walk uprightly before God, (vs. 23).
    5. While admitting that divine judgment is richly deserved, he pleads for mercy - lest Judah be totally wiped out! (vs. 24; comp. Psa. 6:1-2; Jer. 30:18-22; 46:28).
    6. He pleads that the Lord may reserve the fullness of His wrath for those nations whom He has used to discipline His people, but whose vindictiveness has far exceeded that which he has prescribed (vs. 25); the prophet REALLY CARES for his thoughtless brethren!