Jeremiah 10, Judgment on Idolatry

Idols and astrology. These were the adopted religion of Israel. Jeremiah makes a polemic, an attack, on this false worldview, and defends the worship of the true God. And he attributes to this idolatry the motive for God’s coming judgment on the people.

^10:1 Hear what Yahweh says to you, people of Israel. ² This is what Yahweh says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them. ³ For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. ⁴ They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. ⁵ Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.”

“The Israelites were surrounded by people interested in the stars. The Babylonians are said to be the originators of astronomy and astrology. The Egyptians in the south had also developed astrology to a sophisticated degree. Behind this intricate understanding of the astral bodies lies a worldview in which celestial phenomena have direct and often disastrous consequences on human existence. That is why many in the ancient world lived in fear of the “signs in the sky.” (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary) They were equally surrounded by people who worshiped their gods through idols. God made the heavens and rules them. He is the one to be feared, not His creations. And idols are inanimate “scarecrows” that do not deserve fear nor trust.

⁶ No one is like you, Yahweh; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. ⁷ Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you. ⁸ They are all senseless and foolish; they are taught by worthless wooden idols. ⁹ Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz. What the craftsman and goldsmith have made is then dressed in blue and purple—all made by skilled workers. ¹⁰ But Yahweh is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King. When He is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure His wrath. ¹¹ “Tell them this: ‘These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.’”

Yahweh is the one whose mighty power should inspire fear. His wisdom exceeds the greatest human ruler, all of whom are instructed by idols. The idols and the gods they represent will all perish from the earth, but Yahweh is the true and living God who will judge the nations.

¹² But God made the earth by His power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. ¹³ When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses. ¹⁴ Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. The images he makes are a fraud; they have no breath in them. ¹⁵ They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish. ¹⁶ He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for He is the Maker of all things, including Israel, the people of His inheritance— Yahweh Almighty is His name.

God is not only the creator of all the earth, but the one who makes it function. He is Israel’s Portion, what they need to survive, and superior to idols.

¹⁷ Gather up your belongings to leave the land, you who live under siege. ¹⁸ For this is what Yahweh says: “At this time I will hurl out those who live in this land; I will bring distress on them so that they may be captured.” ¹⁹ Woe to me because of my injury! My wound is incurable! Yet I said to myself, “This is my sickness, and I must endure it.” ²⁰ My tent is destroyed; all its ropes are snapped. My children are gone from me and are no more; no one is left now to pitch my tent or to set up my shelter. ²¹ The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of Yahweh; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered. ²² Listen! The report is coming—a great commotion from the land of the north! It will make the towns of Judah desolate, a haunt of jackals.

Israel’s dependence on idols and the sin that leads to requires Yahweh to expel them from the land. Jeremiah depicts Israel sorrowing because her incurable wound has led to this judgment from Yahweh, the destruction of her “tent” and the loss of her children. She has leaders who don’t lead the land to prosperity because they do not seek Yahweh. Their desolation is coming.

²³ Yahweh, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps. ²⁴ Discipline me, Yahweh, but only in due measure—not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing. ²⁵ Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him completely and destroyed his homeland. (Jeremiah 10)

Jeremiah knows the need for this judgment, but he intercedes for Israel, as Moses did, asking Yahweh to limit the measure of his wrath. He appeals to Yahweh to vent His anger against those nations that will destroy his people in God’s judgment. We know from history that He indeed did this, destroying all the nations that warred against Israel.

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Discussion Questions:

1. How do you think an idolator would answer the polemic of Jeremiah against idols?
2. What do you think Jeremiah would say against that defense?
3. What do you think is attractive about idol worship?
4. Do you think it is okay to follow modern day astrology?