Isaiah 10
Jeremiah 10 can be divided into two main parts. In the first section (verses 1–16), the emptiness of idolatry and descriptions of the true God appear in contrasting ways. In the second section (verses 17–25), there is a message of judgment that will come upon Jerusalem, as well as the prophet’s prayer, in which he intercedes on behalf of the people.
Verses 1–16 emphasize that the idols worshiped by foreign nations are made by human hands and have no power at all. By contrast, the true God is proclaimed as the Creator of everything and the living One. This is a passage that reminds the people that only God is to be worshiped as the one and only object of worship.
In verses 17–25, the message of judgment appears more fully. As Jeremiah foretells that Judah will experience disaster, he offers intercessory prayer for the people even amid this sorrow and suffering. This shows, together, God’s justice and mercy, along with hope for restoration.
1verseWoe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who write oppressive decrees
2verseto deprive the needy of justice, and to rob the poor among my people of their rights, that widows may be their plunder, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
3verseWhat will you do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?
4verseThey will only bow down under the prisoners, and will fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
5verseAlas Assyrian, the rod of my anger, the staff in whose hand is my indignation!
6verseI will send him against a profane nation, and against the people who anger me I will give him a command to take the plunder and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7verseHowever, he doesn’t mean so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off not a few nations.
8verseFor he says, “Aren’t all of my princes kings?
9verseIsn’t Calno like Carchemish? Isn’t Hamath like Arpad? Isn’t Samaria like Damascus?”
10verseAs my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose engraved images exceeded those of Jerusalem and of Samaria,
11verseshall I not, as I have done to Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
12verseTherefore it will happen that when the Lord has performed his whole work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the willful proud heart of the king of Assyria, and the insolence of his arrogant looks.
13verseFor he has said, “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding. I have removed the boundaries of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures. Like a valiant man I have brought down their rulers.
14verseMy hand has found the riches of the peoples like a nest, and like one gathers eggs that are abandoned, I have gathered all the earth. There was no one who moved their wing, or that opened their mouth, or chirped.”
15verseShould an ax brag against him who chops with it? Should a saw exalt itself above him who saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up someone who is not wood.
16verseTherefore the Lord, GOD of Armies, will send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory a burning will be kindled like the burning of fire.
17verseThe light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.
18verseHe will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, both soul and body. It will be as when a standard bearer faints.
19verseThe remnant of the trees of his forest shall be few, so that a child could write their number.
20verseIt will come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and those who have escaped from the house of Jacob will no more again lean on him who struck them, but shall lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
21verseA remnant will return, even the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.
22verseFor though your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.
23verseFor the Lord, GOD of Armies, will make a full end, and that determined, throughout all the earth.
24verseTherefore the Lord, GOD of Armies, says, “My people who dwell in Zion, don’t be afraid of the Assyrian, though he strike you with the rod, and lift up his staff against you, as Egypt did.
25verseFor yet a very little while, and the indignation against you will be accomplished, and my anger will be directed to his destruction.”
26verseThe LORD of Armies will stir up a scourge against him, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb. His rod will be over the sea, and he will lift it up like he did against Egypt.
27verseIt will happen in that day that his burden will depart from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing oil.
28verseHe has come to Aiath. He has passed through Migron. At Michmash he stores his baggage.
29verseThey have gone over the pass. They have taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah trembles. Gibeah of Saul has fled.
30verseCry aloud with your voice, daughter of Gallim! Listen, Laishah! You poor Anathoth!
31verseMadmenah is a fugitive. The inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.
32verseThis very day he will halt at Nob. He shakes his hand at the mountain of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
33verseBehold, the Lord, GOD of Armies, will lop the boughs with terror. The tall will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low.
34verseHe will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.
Key Themes and Symbols
- The worthlessness of idolatry: It points out that idols made of gold, silver, and the like may seem as though they are alive, but in reality they can do nothing and cannot even speak.
- Confession of the true God: God reveals that He is the Creator and truly living and active—not something essentially the same as idols made by human hands.
- Imminent judgment: Because Judah did not turn from wickedness such as idolatry, it foretells that they will experience suffering as they are taken into exile.
- Intercessory prayer: Jeremiah pleads for mercy to God on behalf of the people, praying that discipline would not be excessive.
Meditation Points
- Take a moment to reflect on whether you are placing your heart on things that have no real substance, and on who truly should be worshiped.
- Like Jeremiah’s prayer, consider whether you can nurture a willingness to acknowledge your own wrongdoing and seek God’s mercy.
- Please think deeply about how God is fundamentally different from idols.
Apply to Yourself
- Through this chapter, check what it is that you “rely on.” Consider whether there is anything you are treating as more important than God, and decide to practice aligning your heart’s direction with God.
- Instead of trying to solve problems around you or issues of the world with your own strength, set aside time to pray to God and rely on Him, just as Jeremiah did.
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