Dave Burnette's Commentary

Jeremiah Chapter 10

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Jeremiah
Date Penned: (627-586 BC)
Overview: To Urge God's People to Turn from Sin to God (c 1-52)
Theme: God's Judgement on Judah (c 1-45)
Message: The Lord is God of Creation (v 1-25)

Jeremiah 10 Commentary 

(10:2-3) The Future - Most people would like to know the future. Decisions would be easier, failures would be avoided, and successes would be assured. The people of Judah wanted to know the future, too, and they tried to discern it through reading "the signs of heaven." Jeremiah's response still applies today: God made the earth and the heavens, including the stars that people consult and worship (10:12). No one will discover the future in made-up charts of God's stars. But God, who promises to guide you, knows your future and will be with you all the way. He may not reveal your future to you, but he will walk with you as the future unfolds. Don't trust the stars; trust the one who made the stars. 

(10:8) What Do You Trust - Those who put their trust in a chunk of wood, even if it is carved well and looks beautiful, are foolish. The simplest person who worships God is wiser than the wisest person who worships a worthless substitute, because this simple person has discerned who God really is. In what or whom do you place your trust? 

(10:9-10) Tarshish - Tarshish was located at the westward limit of the ancient world, perhaps in what is now Spain (see Jonah 1:3). It was a source of silver, tin, lead, and iron for Tyre (Ezekiel 27:12). The location of Uphaz is unknown. Its name may be a metallurgical term for "refined gold." No matter how well made or how beautiful idols are, they can never have the power and life of the true and living God. 

(10:14-16) Idols - Jeremiah's message condemned the handmade idols and those who crafted them. Yet today, society admires the so-called self-made man or woman. These people think that they carve out their own future and fortune and craft their own status. They do not depend on God or anything higher than themselves. When self-promotion and self-glorification are your goals, your life will eventually crumble because it's been built on what ultimately has no purpose. 

(10:19-21) Shepherds - The shepherds of the people (the "pastors") were the evil leaders who were responsible for the calamity. The flocks represented the people of Judah. When the leaders should have been guiding the people to God, they were leading them away. 

(10:23-24)  God's ability to direct our lives is far superior to ours. Sometimes we are afraid of God's power and plans because we know his power would easily crush us if he used it against us. But don't be afraid to let God correct your plans. He will give you wisdom if you are willing to let him. Jeremiah gave an honest, human cry to God for help. 

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application


The Maker of Stars

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Jeremiah 10. In our text today, we see the Lord is the God of Creation, and He holds the future in His hand. The people of the Lord wanted to know the future and turned to horoscopes as they looked to the stars for answers to their questions instead of the ones who made the stars. In making an application, we see that today, many place their trust in things instead of the Lord. We should look to the one who created us instead of what He has created. How about you? What have you placed your trust in? Let us learn from our text today and the example put before us in our text to place our trust in the Creator and not His Creation.

 

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Jeremiah 10

Jeremiah 10

 1Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

 2Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

 3For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

 4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

 5They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

 6Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

 7Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.

 8But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.

 9Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.

 10But 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.

 11Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.

 12He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.

 13When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

 14Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

 15They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

 16The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name.

 17Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.

 18For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.

 19Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous; but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.

 20My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.

 21For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

 22Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.

 23O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

 24O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

 25Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.