Coachlight Bible Study

The Greatest Faith Builder Is God’s Word – Romans 10:17

Isaiah 48:5 I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.

Jeremiah 7:18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

Jeremiah 7:19 Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?

Jeremiah 10:2 Thus 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.

Jeremiah Chapter 8 – Heaven Can’t Believe It

The last two weeks we have learned that the so called, “conventional wisdom” is seldom proven correct, but that many people still adhere to it. God’s Word, however, is eternally the Truth’. This week we will see that “conventional wisdom is false because it is based on a false, and therefore empty assumption, and a false, and therefore empty belief.’ But the people of Judah had an ear for conventional wisdom and did not listen to God. They had forsaken God and replaced Him with religion. Therefore they faced judgment.

Their conventional wisdom came from two main voices, and a 3^rd we will get to:

1.) Voice of the False Prophets: Ezekiel 13:3, 10; Jeremiah 27:15

False Prophets deny God’s Word with their message: Jerusalem will not be destroyed

This we would call today a “positive message”

2.) Voice of Contemporary Psychology: Jeremiah 29:29-30; Ezekiel 18:10

Excuses - “Fathers have eaten sour grapes and their children’s teeth are set on edge” – Our fathers were idolaters, and that is the reason we practice idolatry. Today, it is also a denial of individual responsibility. (Example: Blame it on parents, culture, Christians, etc.)

3.) Voice of the Danger of Idolatry – This Chapter Will Explain This one

The nation of Judah, while retaining Jerusalem as their capitol and the presence of the temple, had at least an interest in the outward appearance of worshipping their covenant God, but was influenced and seduced by the Pagan religions around them. In fact, by the time of King Josiah, the last good king of Judah, Idol worship was the norm in Judah and the temple was neglected and the Word of God lost – literally.

Early in the reign of the good king Josiah, Josiah began to seek God. Realizing that idol worship was much more hideous than just worshipping an idol, Josiah began reform by destroying the high places and remodeling the temple of God. You see that when a man makes an idol for himself, it is just a reflection of the natural man’s inner desires and covetousness’. The high places consisted of a grove of trees and an altar where human sacrifices were made and all sorts of sexual orgies were carried out in the name of religion. Josiah destroyed all the high places, remodeled the temple, and the lost Word of God was found..

During the time of remodeling the temple, Jeremiah’s father found the Word of God hidden and long lost in the temple. The Word of God was read to the king and the people. Revival then broke out. (II Chronicles 35:10-18). Unfortunately, this revival was only an outward expression of worshipping God, with no change in heart.

During the first 5 years of Jeremiah’s ministry there was reformation, because of Josiah’s seeking God, and then revival, because the neglected and lost Book of the Law had been found. Josiah’s leadership brought about a revival of the feasts in Judah. This revival was mainly an outward manifestation, because there was no actual change in the people’s heart. This is evidence that there was no true repentance.

Beginning in chapter 7, the temple is remodeled and the Book found. The people demonstrated an outward manifestation of serving their Creator, but still did not inwardly agree with God’s Word, but continued believing in their “conventional wisdom”. This is why no true repentance was manifested by the people, and therefore will experience God’s judgment. Now in chapter 10, God spells out the most dangerous aspect of idolatry. This danger goes beyond outwardly professing God while at the temple, and then living their lives around their idols. God warns that the most dangerous aspect of idolatry is attributing to your idol, the power and majestic works of the true God.

Judah was in its last days because of its own decay and corruption and the parallels to the United States at this part of its existence is undeniable. The result of no true repentance in the last days of Judah was that the people rejected God, and therefore God eventually rejected them. Will this happen to the US as well? Will the adherence to US “Conventional wisdom” break down the United States? Will the US continue in their idolatry, and attribute the majesty and creative power of Almighty God to their idols?

I. Teaching Conventional Wisdom Brings Depression

Jeremiah 10:1 ¶ Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

Jeremiah 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn<03925> not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed<02865> at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed<02865> at them.

03925 למד lamad law-mad’ - a primitive root; v;

teach 56, learn 22, instruct 3, diligently 1, expert 1, skilful 1, teachers 1, unaccustomed + 03808 1; 86

1) to learn. teach, exercise in - 1a) (Qal) to learn - 1b) (Piel) to teach - 1c) (Pual) to be taught, be trained

02865 חתת chathath khaw-thath’ - a primitive root; v;

dismayed 27, afraid 6, break in pieces 6, broken 3, break down 2, abolished 1, affrighted 1, amazed 1, chapt 1, confound 1, discouraged 1, go down 1, beaten down 1, scarest 1, terrify 1; 54

1) to be shattered, be dismayed, be broken, be abolished, be afraid –

1a) (Qal) - 1a1) to be shattered, be broken - 1a2) to be dismayed - 1b) (Niphal) to be broken, be dismayed - 1c) (Piel) to be shattered, be dismayed, be scared - 1d) (Hiphil) - 1d1) to cause to be dismayed - 1d2) to dismay, terrify - 1d3) to shatter

We have Hebrew adjectives in this verse, and a study of their meanings help interpret this Passage. The word “learn” is the Hebrew word lawmad and means “to be skillful in and instruct others in” , while he word “dismayed” is the Hebrew word khawthath, and means “to be awed by, the result being be beaten down in pieces”

God instructs His people not to believe the “conventional wisdom” and certainly do not teach it to your offspring. The “conventional wisdom of the Chaldeans concerning idol worship was that the idols represented the sun, moon, stars, etc. They did not believe in a first cause, but that all events depended on the power of celestial bodies. “Events” in their beliefs included eclipses, comets, and other celestial phenomena which in their superstition guided the affairs of man. Later the Greeks were plagued by the evolution of this belief because Plato wrote about the stars having spirit and reason. The problem was that the Jews were awed by the Pagan beliefs, and had fallen into the same superstition.

How does all this parallel with the advanced technology and science of today? Well there is not much difference believe it or not. One of the founders of modern astronomy, Sir Edmund Hubble, is known for stating, “Some say in the beginning God, but I say, In the beginning hydrogen.” It is easy to see that Hubble was attributing God’s creative power to an element with one proton and one electron.

The Heathen are doomed because of their false beliefs, especially in their adherence to idols which represent the heavenly bodies, and maybe only unconsciously, attributing God’s work to their idols. It is evident through sayings such as: “mother nature”, “mother earth”, etc.

II. Conventional Wisdom Void Of Any Truth – Comparison – God Vs Idols

Jeremiah 10:3 For the customs of the people are vain:,<01892> for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

01892 הבל hebel heh’bel or (rarely in the abs.) הבל habel hab-ale’ - from 01891

vanity 61, vain 11, altogether 1; 73

1) vapour, breath - 1a) breath, vapour - 1b) vanity (fig.) meaning emptiness

Jeremiah 10:4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

Jeremiah 10:5 They 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.

Now, I have heard people quote this verse, and state that people should not have Christmas trees! This is not only the wrong interpretation of this verse, but very naive. Obviously, God is speaking about idols that people waste their time and resources making, and then become awed by them. The message is to not be awed by these idols, they are just dolls. They cannot move, or for that matter they cannot do any evil or any good. Idols are completely without power. If the people view these idols in the wrong way, however, they are in danger of destruction. In this lesson, we will learn the ultimate danger of idolatry.

III. God Is Full Of Majesty And Power

Jeremiah 10:6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

Jeremiah 10:7 Who 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.

There is really no comparison between the Almighty Creator and a lifeless, powerless idol. For that matter, there is no one who could compare to God.

III. Idolaters Are Consumed With Foolishness

Jeremiah 10:8 But they are altogether brutish,<01197> and foolish:<03688> the stock is a doctrine of vanities.

Jeremiah 10:9 Silver 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.

01197 בער ba‘ar baw-ar’ - a primitive root; v; {See TWOT on 263}

burn 41, … away 21, kindle 13, brutish 7, eaten 2, set 2, burn up 2, eat up 2, feed 1, heated 1, took 1, wasted 1; 94

1) to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled

2) Jehovah’s wrath, human wrath (fig.)

3) to be stupid, brutish, barbarous

2a) (Qal) to be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive - 2b) (Niphal) to be stupid, dull-hearted

2c) (Piel) to feed, graze - 2d) (Hiphil) to cause to be grazed over

03688 כסל kacal kaw-sal’ - a primitive root; v; {See TWOT on 1011}

foolish 1; 1

1) (Qal) to be foolish, be stupid

God, here describes the foolish people who make and are awed by idols. They are burning with passion toward their specific idol, and their doctrines are completely void of any substance.

IV. But The Creator Is Awesome

Jeremiah 10:10 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.

But God is True, Living, and the King for eternity. The entire earth will tremble when He is angry, not by climate change, global warming, any man-made cause or idol. He is the One to be awed by and have a burning desire to serve.

V. Your False Gods Will Perish

Jeremiah 10:11 Thus 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.

VI. But The Creator Is Full Of Wisdom

Jeremiah 10:12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.

Jeremiah 10:13 When 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.

Jeremiah 10:14 Every 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.

Jeremiah 10:15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

VII. But Falsehood Is Not Israel’s Inheritance – No Excuses

Jeremiah 10:16 The 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.

Jeremiah 10:17 ¶ Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.

VIII. God’s Reason For Judgment

Jeremiah 10:18 For 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.

IX. The Heart Of The Judge

Jeremiah 10:19 Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.

Jeremiah 10:20 My 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.

X. The Judgment For Teachers Of “Conventional Wisdom”

Jeremiah 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

Jeremiah 10:22 Behold, 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.

Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Jeremiah 10:24 O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

Jeremiah 10:25 Pour 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.

Can we see that not only was God’s wrath kindled with the obvious destruction of idolatry, but that the idolater eventually attributes God’s Power and Majesty to his idol. This was evident in ancient Judah. Look back at a few verses in chapter 7:

Judah Was Very Religious – Deceived Into Thinking That They Were Serving God

Jeremiah 7:10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?

Jeremiah 7:11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.

But They Were Unconsciously, Or Otherwise, Attributing The Creators Power To The Idol

These cakes were formed in a circle to look like the moon, and the people were sacrificing to the sun moon and stars just like the heathen. You see they inwardly believed that what happened to them was directed by empty power of the sun, moon and stars! They burned with passion to appease these gods.

Do you think we have no idols today? Many of the idols of the United States today, are manifested in governmental agencies like the EPA, etc. The doctrines based on evolution carried out with these idols are just as empty of substance as the ancient idols. In fact, these “doctrines” are very similar to those of the ancients. All one has to do is look at the motivation of most astronomers today. They are looking at the stars to “See where it all began”. They believe without any credible proof that “it all began” by an explosion in the cosmos. This is commonly called evolution, but the evolution of this brings the modern heathen to Animal Rights, manmade Global Warming, and other wacked out environmental beliefs to control the people’s lives. They believe that only the august power of the government will save us from these false fears. Today the Pastors (Purveyors of Conventional Wisdom) are attributing The Power and Majesty of the Creator to the “Signs of Heaven” . Like in ancient times this idolatry is vain. (Empty)

The immediate result of this idolatry is to stifle the economy, thus giving more power to the government, and less to the people. This is empty power, because the money will run out.

But the greatest and ultimate result of this idolatry, is that the idolater will attribute The Creator’s Power and Majesty to these empty idols. Remember Isaiah prophesied: