Jeremiah 10
COMMENTARY:
: 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. (571 “true” [emeth] means firmness, faithfulness, truth, reliability, sureness, stability, or honesty.)
DEVOTION: Jeremiah continues to relay the message the LORD wants the people of Judah to hear. As we look back at the chapters we have covered in this book we see that the list of sins that the people of Judah were committing are long. The list keeps growing. They don’t want to listen to Jeremiah or the LORD. They are satisfied with the way they are living their life. They are blocking out any negative message from the LORD and only hearing what they want to hear.
We again have a description of how they build their idols and how they have to transport them around on their shoulders or by other methods. We find that they spend a lot of money to build these idols. There are individuals who make a living by building these idols.
Jeremiah states that there is only one reliable God in the universe. HE is the God that created the universe. HE is faithful to HIS people. HE is a living God that doesn’t need to be carried by those who worship HIM. HE is an everlasting King. Those who understand HIS power tremble before HIM. HIS anger is something that those around don’t want to have to deal with in their life.
Even with this description by Jeremiah the people don’t seem to care. HE is the king of nations. HE wants them to learn about HIM and how HE works in the world. HE continually sent messengers to give the people warning of HIS coming judgment. HE continually gives a message of hope to those who will listen.
Today we have the same message. It is a message of hope to those who will listen. HE still is the only reliable God in our world. There are many false gods being presented by false cults and even in some churches that claim to be followers of Jesus Christ but their message is not the message of the Word of God.
God is still speaking. God is still on the throne. HE is working HIS plan for the universe. HE is long-suffering but one day judgment is going to fall on this world and those who reject HIS message will stand in HIS presence to give an answer to the question of why they didn’t listen to HIS faithful servants.
We need to be faithful servants to the LORD. We need to spread HIS message of HOPE in Jesus Christ. We have to believe that HE is the only way to heaven. IF we doubt the message it will be meaningless to those we share it with. Know what you believe.
CHALLENGE: Get hold of the concept that there is only one true God in the Universe. HE is the God of the Bible. HE will save those who will believe. Settle this issue in your heart and it will come alive to spreading HIS message to your world.
: 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. (1197 “brutish” [ba’ar] means behave senseless, turn out to be stupid, dull-hearted.)
DEVOTION: This word is used three times in this chapter, in verses 8 and 14 and here. The leaders of the people were leading the people of God astray. They were allowing them to worship gods made with hands, out of wood.
This only scattered the people away from God and caused God to have to come and judge them. These are both the political and religious leaders according to Lamentations 4: 13. They were individuals who didn’t care to consult the LORD regarding what they should do. They were not prospering and didn’t think anything of it.
Their people were moving away from them but they didn’t care. They were dull-hearted. They were plainly only thinking of themselves. They really didn’t care about anyone else.
We need to be sure that we are worshipping only God and not the things that are made with HIS hands. Today we have a people looking for leadership and finding none.
Our theologians are confusing the people in the pews with all the latest fads. Our people are starting to believe in a limited God. They are not sure that Christ’s death on the cross was for our benefit.
We need to teach them the truth of verse ten – Our God is the only TRUE God. HE is the only LIVING God. HE is the only EVERLASTING King. HE made the earth and all that is in it. Any substituting of a limited God is HERESY.
We need people who are willing to work at their relationship with God. They have to study the Word and understand the Bible’s teachings. They have to serve the LORD with their gifts. They have to invite others to come into a relationship with HIM.
Are we all doing these things? Or are we being leaders like those who were leading Israel into captivity and judgment?
CHALLENGE: There are many people in our world who think they are too smart to believe in the One God of the Bible. Realize that they are working for the enemy. Work with all your heart for the LORD. Find a good Biblical leader and encourage him today.
: 24 O LORD, correct me, but with justice; not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing. The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). Correct – AV translates as “chastise 21 instruct” eight times, “correct” seven times. To chasten, discipline, instruct, admonish.
Devotion: Jeremiah now concludes his temple address with a prayer and pleads with the Lord that His correction be done in justice not in anger. Many times the Psalmist recognized that the Lord was powerful and could reduce man to nothing as well (Ps. 6:1; 38:1; 79:6-7) The people that knew God intimately, repeatedly, feared for their people when the anger of God was aroused. In His justice God would judge the people fairly and with patience and leniency! In his anger He could consume the nation as He threatened to in Exodus 32:10. If not for Moses’ intercession the people would have been destroyed and perhaps here, if not for Jeremiah, the people would have experienced a greater judgment.
Jeremiah stood in the gap between God and the people of Judah just as Moses did in Exodus! We are called to people who will stand in the gap as well. To intercede when wicked and rebellious children of God desire to do their own thing instead of God’s will. Jeremiah prayed with the people as Nehemiah did and accepted the judgment alongside the rebellious and wicked people. Like Jeremiah we have family and friends that claim to be believers but they are not living anything like Christ, but are we praying for or accusing them!
Application: Today take a moment to remind yourself where you have been in life. Were you rebellious and insensitive to the Lord and His word? Have you, in the past, turned your back to the ways of God? I am thankful that you have returned but take a moment to be sensitive to where your brother or sister is and pray for them instead of being critical! Sure they should know better but don’t be their judge just their prayer warrior! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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