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"God and the Idols "
Jeremiah 10:1-25

Wednesday AM Bible Study
October 13, 2004

We come to the closing portion of Jeremiah's "temple" prophecy (chpts. 7-10). The people are about to go into captivity into a land surrounded by idols; and God speaks of those idols before the captivity comes.

The Bible speaks very frankly about the pathetic character of the gods made by the hands of men (Deut. 4:28; Psalm 115:1-8; 135:15-18; Isa. 40:18-20; 41:5-7; 44:9-20; 46:5-7). In this passage, God gives His analysis of those who make them and worship them. In it, He compares Himself with them and shows, not only their vanity, but His greatness.

I. A WORD REGARDING THE FALSE GODS OF THE NATIONS (vv. 1-16).

A. Don't learn the ways of these nations (vv. 1-5).

1. Don't be dismayed at the signs of the heavens (1-2).

2. Don't hold to their futile customs of worshipping idols (3-5).

a. They are the works of hands on wood.

b. They have to be decorated.

c. They have to be fastened down so they won't topple over.

d. They have to be made to stand upright.

e. They must be carried because they can't walk.

f. They cannot do anything?either good or evil.

B. They should worship the God of Israel (vv. 6-7).

1. There is none like Him in the greatness of His name (6).

2. He is to be revered by even the nations (7).

C. Instead, they serve ?worthless doctrines' (vv. 8-10).

1. They are dull-hearted and foolish (8a).

2. Their is shame in what they worship (8b-9).

a. A worthless doctrine.

b. Gods that must be beautified by the hands of men.

3. The whole while, they ignore God (10).

a. That He is true.

b. That He is living.

c. That He is an everlasting King.

d. That He makes the nations tremble at His work.

D. Therefore, the people are to ignore them and look to the one true God (vv. 11-16).

1. The response they are to have is given (11).

2. The reason for this response (vv. 12-16; note also 51:15-19).

a. God's creative power (12).

b. God's power over creation (13).

c. God's superiority over the idols (14-16).

i. The nations make idols that will cause them shame (14).

ii. Their idols will perish in judgment (15).

iii. The one true God is not like them (16).

II. A WORD OF WARNING FROM THE GOD OF ISRAEL (vv. 17-22).

A. God will throw the people of Israel into captivity (vv. 17-18).

1. He encourages them to gather up their things, even though they seem secure (17).

2. He says this because they are about to be taken out of the land (18).

a. He will sling them out at that time.

b. He will distress them.

c. This is so that His true greatness will be proven to them.

B. The people will mourn the woe that they must bear (vv. 19-22).

1. The people express their woe (19-20).

a. Their tent is pulled up.

b. Their children are gone.

c. here is no one to restore them.

2. The cause of the woe is given (21-22).

a. The shepherds have become dull and have not sought the Lord (21).

b. The enemies from the north have come (22).

III. A WORD OF REFLECTION FROM THE PROPHET (vv. 23-25).

A. The absolute dependency of man on God (v. 23).

B. The cry to be corrected in justice, not anger (this is a cry for mercy) (24).

C. The cry to bring justice upon the Gentile nations (25).

1. Who do not know God or call upon Him.

2. Who have "eaten up" God's covenant people and destroyed their dwelling place.

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