Foundations 2: God’s Character–Jeremiah 10

1. Background

God’s people held a special relationship with Him in a covenant. But when God’s people were unfaithful to Him, He would eventually allow them to be taken captive by their enemies. When Judah was invaded and captured by Babylon, the silversmiths and craftsmen began making idols in hopes their idols would save them. Jeremiah, God’s prophets, warned them that it only further aggravated God’s jealousy, bringing more judgment upon them.

2. What can we observe about God?

There is none like Him.

Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; Thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

Verse 6

Can the God who created the universe be reduced to a tree stump found in the forest? (v3) Can the God who said, “Let there be light!” be domesticated to a wooden figure that cannot speak at all? (v5) Can the God who gave men life and ability be made again by man’s imagination? (v9)

If the God of the Bible is true, then He cannot be reduced or domesticated to finally be placed on a shelf like other idols men have made. Instead, His throne sits above all nations governing them, and those who rebel against Him cannot stand against His judgment when it comes.

But 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.

Verse 10

None of those idols one finds about the shelf or in the temples have made the heavens and earth. And in the end, their names will be forgotten, just like the people who made them (v10). Only one God created all that exists with the power of His word (v12-13). When men make an idol and ask its blessing, we only prove our great ignorance and further condemn ourselves to darkness (v14). Can a breathless idol provide you with life?

God is a jealous God.

What made God so jealous is His people already knew that there is another God but Him. In their nation’s constitution, it says this:

 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

So when Judah began producing idols of wood and silver, this only deepened their sin against Him. They are supposed to His special people, His unique inheritance. Still, just like a spouse who has been discovered with another lover, God’s jealousy incited His wrath against them in judgment.

Our God is a jealous God. It is also written in their constitution:

For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: 

EXODUS 34:14

3. How does this passage point to Jesus?

Through Jesus’ covenant, the Gospel can bring others into an intimate relationship with our one and only Creator.

God’s jealousy only exists with His people. When His people betrayed Him with idols, He became jealous because of His love for them.

Since thou wast precious in my sight, Thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, And people for thy life.

Isaiah 43:4

If it can be said that people can have an intimate relationship with God, then one can understand God’s jealousy and anger when the objects of His love are unfaithful. How then does an outsider begin a relationship with God?

If we return to Athens where (last week’s lesson) we saw Paul trying to convince idol worshippers to believe God and become a Christian, we’ll find our answer.

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  

Acts 17:29-30

First, we take what God has revealed about Himself and allow it to change our beliefs. He isn’t an idol that can be made by men. God commands all who will come to Him to repent from false gods, who are not gods at all. If we are going to begin a relationship with God, we first renounce other pretenders and false gods.

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:12-13

God has chosen a covenant through Christ’s sacrifice to bring us near to Him. His death on the cross removes our sin and the transgressions we made in ignorance, and His resurrection began the covenant that ensures our hope in knowing God. Even though we were once strangers to God, we may draw near to God through Jesus Christ, who purchased us.

The result of God’s covenant brings outsiders into a loving relationship with God. His protective jealousy also extends to you. If God used something so valuable as the blood of Christ in your redemption, then rest assured that God is infinitely invested in your relationship with Him and He will jealously defend it!

4. Application:

We give God our allegiance and take part in God’s covenant when we recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior. We believe God raised Him from the dead therefore initiated the covenant we enjoy with God!

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:9-10

If you desire to be saved, you can by repenting false gods and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ today!