Jeremías 10

1 Oíd la palabra que el SEÑOR ha hablado sobre vosotros, oh Casa de Israel

2 Así dijo el SEÑOR: No aprendáis el camino de los gentiles, ni de las señales del cielo tengáis temor, aunque los gentiles las teman

3 Porque las ordenanzas de los pueblos son vanidad; porque leño del monte cortaron, obra de manos de artífice con cepillo

4 Con plata y oro lo engalanan; con clavos y martillo lo afirman, para que no se caiga

5 Como palma lo igualan, y no hablan; son llevados, porque no pueden andar. No tengáis temor de ellos; porque ni pueden hacer mal, ni para hacer bien tienen poder

6 No hay semejante a ti, oh SEÑOR; grande eres tú, y grande tu Nombre en fortaleza

7 ¿Quién no te temerá, oh Rey de los gentiles? Porque a ti compete ello; porque entre todos los sabios de los gentiles, y en todos sus reinos, no hay semejante a ti

8 Y todos se volverán locos y carnales. Enseñanza de vanidades es el mismo leño

9 Traerán plata batida de Tarsis, y oro de Ufaz; obrará el artífice, y las manos del fundidor; los vestirán de cárdeno y de púrpura; obra de peritos es todo

10 Mas el SEÑOR Dios es la Verdad; él mismo es Dios Vivo y Rey Eterno; de su ira tiembla la tierra, y los gentiles no pueden sufrir su furor

11 Les diréis así: dioses que no hicieron los cielos ni la tierra, perezcan de la tierra y de debajo de estos cielos

12 El que hace la tierra con su potencia, el que pone en orden el mundo con su saber, y extiende los cielos con su inteligencia

13 a su voz se da muchedumbre de aguas en el cielo, y hace subir las nubes de lo postrero de la tierra; hace los relámpagos con la lluvia, y hace salir el viento de sus escondederos

14 Todo hombre es carnal en su ciencia. Avergüéncese de su vaciadizo todo fundidor, porque mentira es su obra de fundición, ni hay espíritu en ellos

15 vanidad son, obra de escarnios; en el tiempo de su visitación perecerán

16 No es como ellos la suerte de Jacob; porque él es el Hacedor de todo, e Israel es la vara de su herencia; el SEÑOR de los ejércitos es su Nombre

17 Recoge de las tierras tus mercaderías, la que moras en lugar fuerte

18 Porque así dijo el SEÑOR: He aquí que esta vez arrojaré con honda los moradores de la tierra, y he de afligirlos, para que lo hallen

19 ¡Ay de mí, por mi quebrantamiento! Mi llaga es muy dolorosa. Pero yo dije: Ciertamente enfermedad mía es ésta, y debo sufrirla

20 Mi tienda es destruida, y todas mis cuerdas están rotas; mis hijos fueron sacados de mí, y perecieron; no hay ya más quien extienda mi tienda, ni quien levante mis cortinas

21 Porque los pastores se enloquecieron, y no buscaron al SEÑOR; por tanto, no entendieron, y todo su ganado se esparció

22 He aquí que voz de fama viene, y alboroto grande de la tierra del aquilón, para tornar en soledad todas las ciudades de Judá, en morada de dragones

23 Conozco, oh SEÑOR, que el hombre no es señor de su propio camino, ni del hombre que camina es el ordenar sus pasos

24 Castígame, oh SEÑOR, mas con juicio; no con tu furor, para que no me aniquiles

25 Derrama tu enojo sobre los gentiles que no te conocen, y sobre las naciones que no invocan tu Nombre; porque se comieron a Jacob, y lo devoraron, y le han consumido, y su morada destruyeron

Jeremías 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

The absurdity of idolatry. (1-16) Destruction denounced against Jerusalem. (17-25)

Verses 1-16 The prophet shows the glory of Israel's God, and exposes the folly of idolaters. Charms and other attempts to obtain supernatural help, or to pry into futurity, are copied from the wicked customs of the heathen. Let us stand in awe, and not dare provoke God, by giving that glory to another which is due to him alone. He is ready to forgive, and save all who repent and believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ. Faith learns these blessed truths from the word of God; but all knowledge not from that source, leads to doctrines of vanity.

Verses 17-25 The Jews who continued in their own land, felt secure. But, sooner or later, sinners will find all things as the word of God has declared, and that its threatenings are not empty terrors. Submission will support the believer under every grief allotted to him; but what can render the load of Divine vengeance easy to be borne by those who fall under it in sullen despair? Those cannot expect to prosper, who do not, by faith and prayer, take God with them in all their ways. The report of the enemy's approach was very dreadful. Yet the designs which men lay deep, and think well formed, are dashed to pieces in a moment. Events are often overruled, so as to be quite contrary to what we intended and expected. If the Lord has directed our steps into the ways of peace and righteousness, let us entreat him to enable us to walk therein. Say not, Lord, do not correct me; but, Lord, do not correct me in anger. We may bear the smart of God's rod, but we cannot bear the weight of his wrath. Those who restrain prayer, prove that they know not God; for those who know him will seek him, and seek his favour. If even severe corrections lead sinners to be convinced of wholesome truths, they will have abundant cause for gratitude. And they will then humble themselves before the Lord.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 10

This chapter shows that there is no comparison to be made between God and the idols of the Gentiles; represents the destruction of the Jews as near at hand; and is closed with some petitions of the prophet. It begins by way of preface with an exhortation to hear the word of the Lord, and a dehortation not to learn the way of the Heathens, or be dismayed at their signs, since their customs were in vain, Jer 10:1-3 which lead on to expose their idols, and set forth the greatness and glory of God. Their idols are described by the matter and makers of them, Jer 10:3,4,9 and from their impotence to speak, to stand, to move, or do either good or evil, Jer 10:4,5, but, on the other hand, God is described by the greatness of his name and power, and by the reverence that belongs unto him; in comparison of whom all the wise men of the nations are brutish, foolish, and vain, Jer 10:6-8, by the epithets of true, living, and everlasting, and by the terribleness of his wrath, Jer 10:10, by his power and wisdom, in making the heavens and the earth, in causing thunder and lightning, wind and rain, when the gods that have no share in these shall utterly perish, Jer 10:11-13 their makers being brutish, and brought to shame; and they falsehood and breathless vanity, the work of errors, and so shall come to ruin, Jer 10:14,15, but he, who is Jacob's portion, and whose inheritance Israel is, is not like them; being the former of all things, and his name the Lord of hosts, Jer 10:16 and next follows a prophecy of the destruction of the Jews; wherefore they are bid to gather up their wares, since in a very little time, and at once, the Lord would fling them out of the land, and bring them into distress, Jer 10:17,18, upon which the prophet expresses his sympathy with his people in trouble, and the part of grief he took and bore with them, Jer 10:19, the particulars of his distress, through the desolation of the land, and the captivity of the people, with the cause and authors of it, by whose means these things were brought upon them, are mentioned, Jer 10:20,21, and the Chaldean army, the instruments of their ruin, are represented as just at hand, Jer 10:22, when the prophet, directing himself to God, acknowledges the impotence of man in general to help and guide himself, deprecates correction in anger to himself in particular, and prays that the wrath of God might be poured down upon the Heathens, by whom his people were devoured, consumed, and made desolate, Jer 10:23-25.