Jeremiah 10 - Senseless Statues vs. Great God

LINK: Jeremiah 10

BACKGROUND

The key word in this chapter is "senseless" (10: 8, 14, 21), but I like the blunter word "stupid" used in the NASB version! Jeremiah is saying it is pretty stupid to put your trust in stupid statues rather than the unique, living God!

After describing the uniqueness of God compared to idols, he goes on with the sad address to Judah of destruction and exile. Jeremiah concludes the address with a prayer to God regarding His ultimate control over a man's life.

REFLECTION and APPLICATION

I love the rich verses about the character of God in comparison to idols in Jeremiah 10:6-16. Spend time praying through these Scriptures in praise to God today! Read a couple of verses at a time and then respond to God and have a dialogue!

PRAYER

Here are the verses to do it right now!

6 There is none like You, O Lord;

You are great, and great is Your name in might.

7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations?

Indeed it is Your due!

For among all the wise men of the nations

And in all their kingdoms,

There is none like You.

8 But they are altogether stupid and foolish

In their discipline of delusion—their idol is wood!

9 Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish,

And gold from Uphaz,

The work of a craftsman and of the hands of a goldsmith;

Violet and purple are their clothing;

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 you shall say to them, “The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will 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 He has stretched out the heavens.

13 When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,

And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth;

He makes lightning for the rain,

And brings out the wind from His storehouses.

14 Every man is stupid, devoid of knowledge;

Every goldsmith is put to shame by his ¹idols;

For his molten images are deceitful,

And there is no breath in them.

15 They are worthless, a work of mockery;

In the time of their punishment they will perish.

16 The portion of Jacob is not like these;

For the Maker of all is He,

And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance;

The Lord of hosts is His name. (Jeremiah 10:6-16, NASB95)