Tag: Idols vs God - Jeremiah 7-11

Jeremiah 10:12-16 (ESV Strong's)

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.

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.

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.

They are worthless, a work of delusion;

at the time of their punishment they shall perish.

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.

Tag:   Idols vs God

The nation of Israel, according to this prophecy of Jeremiah, had fallen into idol worship.  The majority of this section is about the futility of idols as compared to the promises and the power of God.  No section highlights that truth more than the above text.   The nation wanted to worship like the other nations:

Jeremiah 10:1-4 (ESV Strong's)

Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. 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,

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.

They decorate it with silver and gold;

they fasten it with hammer and nails

so that it cannot move.

The nations around them were supposed to be destroyed.  But, instead of destroying them, Israel copied them.   Idols can’t compare to the living and powerful God of the universe.   Yet, the nation wanted to worship sticks and stones rather than the God who made the sticks and stones.   Man, today, continues to reduce God to something they can make and therefore, worship that thing he makes or builds. It might be his house, his car, his career, his children, his wealth, his power, his entertainment, his whatever.   But, God can not be reduced to something we own or make.  God is to be feared and worshiped above all else.   Idols do not compare to the God of ages.