Jeremiah 10 Commentary
“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” Verse 23. In a statement of great importance, the prophet admits and submits to the sovereignty of the Creator God. The LORD God retains overall control over creation – His creation.
Idols are useless; worthless, and objects of mockery. Evil is the creation of people. Idols are hand-crafted by men. This is the wisdom of men: they take a lifeless object and enthrone it to lead. Other than the Creator God and beyond the LORD, there is no one else. Don’t worry about the lifeless objects; don’t worry about signs in the heavens. Don’t be bothered by what looks like signs of potency.
Chapter 10 is a combination of praise, petitionary prayer, and naked facts of life as we have it.
In the last section, the prophet asks the LORD to pour out His wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge the LORD. But Israel is among the nations that do not acknowledge the LORD, and so the prophet is careful. He prays for lenience on Jacob. Yes, punishment has been decreed against Jacob but let there be lenience.
This is key to unlocking self-restoration. We are not really different. Probably the punishment I have wished for the evil-doers will be mine. I’m equally evil. But let there be lenience. Yes, lenience.
And the LORD answered Jeremiah’s prayer but not exactly as expected. There would be no lenience. The LORD would still punish sin, otherwise, rules of justice are broken, creating a dent in the character of the LORD who is just. Isaiah’s Servant would take the punishment instead.
The first prayer that the saint prays reflects the acceptance of the fact that the just LORD punishes sin, always. Forgiveness is out of the question. However, the greatest news – always breaking news is that the Servant, known as the LORD Jesus Christ, is punished instead of the sinner. Ponder this fact. Accept it and let the LORD Jesus Christ rule in your life. You will have found lenience at this point.
More resources visit http://www.lovingscripture.com
LOVING SCRIPTURE 