 Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel.2 Thus says the Lord:
“Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, 3 for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. 4 They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. 5 Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” 6 There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might. 7 Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you. 8 They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood! 9 Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz. They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is violet and purple; they are all the work of skilled men. 10 But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation. 11 Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.” 12 It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. 13 When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses. 14 Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them. 15 They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish. 16 Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name. 17 Gather up your bundle from the ground, O you who dwell under siege! 18 For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am slinging out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and I will bring distress on them, that they may feel it.” 19 Woe is me because of my hurt! My wound is grievous. But I said, “Truly this is an affliction, and I must bear it.” 20 My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken; my children have gone from me, and they are not; there is no one to spread my tent again and to set up my curtains. 21 For the shepherds are stupid and do not inquire of the Lord; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered. 22 A voice, a rumor! Behold, it comes!-- a great commotion out of the north country to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a lair of jackals. 23 I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. 24 Correct me, O Lord, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing. 25 Pour out your wrath on the nations that know you not, and on the peoples that call not on your name, for they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation. Meditation God’s grace invites you to replace your anxiety and fear with faith and fruitfulness by totally trusting in Him. Idols of our heart are revealed during tough times, what we turn to for strength, security, status, hope, and healing. “The (ungodly) nations” (2, 25) trust in “vain” things (3), mist that is here today and gone tomorrow. In contrast, God is eternal and His love is steadfast in every season. Jeremiah fleshes out four contrasts between idols and the one true God: Idols are impotent like a scarecrow but God is great in might (2-7). Idols are “stupid and foolish” man-made objects but God is the eternal King who made all things (8-10). Idols will disappear and perish but the eternal Lord established the earth by His word (11-13). Idols are worthless works of delusion but the Lord is the worthy God of His people (14-17). God grieves how His people choose to trust the idols of the nations (18-22) and the prophet offers a prayer of hope (23-25). God is worthy of our total trust! Ultimately idols of our hearts, the gods of the nations, need our focus to survive. The truth is we need to focus on and trust the Lord for survival! Jeremiah sums it up well later in the book: “Blessed is the person who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream and does not fear when heat comes… and is not anxious in the year of drought” Jeremiah 17:7-8) Richly Dwelling -Where does your heart trust during tough times? Are you anxious and fearful? -Which of the four contrasts between the gods of the nations and the one true God stand out to you the most? -You need to trust in the Lord to survive seasons of struggle. How can you more fully trust Jesus by turning from the vain idols of our culture to totally cast your cares onto Him? Key Verse 10 But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. Comments are closed.
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