SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 10:1-16
OBSERVATION:
1. Jeremiah contrasts the God of Israel with the gods of the nations, statues made by hand. There’s no comparison (6).
2. If people only knew how awesome and unfathomable God is, they would naturally revere Him. How can people think that a statue made by hands can compare with the invisible, infinite God of the universe? It is senseless and foolish!
3. All of our definitions (read ‘idols’) of God are limited and incomplete. Even the positive descriptions of God in the Bible are incomplete, merely touching upon the immeasurable greatness of this Invisible, Infinite Being. God’s warning about making idols is about limiting and taming God to fit our own finite understandings.
APPLICATION:
1. We may be beyond idols of stone, but we still construct ideas of God that are unworthy of Him, limiting, human-like. God rejects our ‘images’ and instead makes a perfect image of Himself in Jesus (Colossians 1:15). If we want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.
2. Where am I limiting God or viewing Him as less than He is. One way to dig out these ‘false images’ is to look at how we relate to God? Do I presume upon His grace, sin as if He didn’t care, speak lightly of Him with others, ignore Him through the day? These practices reveal a less than worthy view of God, which is a false image.
3. We also make idols of our possessions, our dreams, our looks, etc. Whatever we rely on for success, meaning, hope, comfort, this is our God. These are idols too, and they are a fraud.
PRAYER:
Lord, its easy to dismiss the idolatry of Jeremiah’s time as unrelated to me and my life. Help me to see ways in which I falsely view You, and ways in which I idolize things of this world. Help me to put You first, as the true image of God! Amen.
Remember the words of Joshua? But as for me and for my household, we will serve the living God. I must take a stand and not do what the world does serving the gods that they have made with human hands. Those who formed them will become like them. Dumb. There is but one God. Jehovah is His name! And there is none like Him. In Him I stand. He formed and fashioned the heavens and the earth. He is in control over the weather. All those who trust in the gods made by human hands will perish since they are dead already, even before their physical death. I am reminded once again of Daniel and his friends – and to these young men God gave knowledge and wisdom in the understanding of all things.
Open my eyes Lord that I may see You. Help me to put You first in all things. Help me daily to walk in Your Way for You have given me the light upon my path. Continue to lead and guide me always.
You are my strength when I am weak
you are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking you like a precious jewel
Lord to give up I’d be a fool
You are my all in all
Jesus lamb of God
Holy is your name (2x)
Taking my cross my sin my shame
raising again I praise your name
you are my all in all
When I fall down you pick me up
when I run dry you fill my cup
You are my all in all