Jer. 9:1 ¶ Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
Jer. 9:2 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.
This chapter begins with Jeremiah expressing deep grief and sorrow for the wickedness and evil that permeates the culture of his people. He’s wishing he had somewhere far away to which he could go and separate himself from that culture. Jeremiah loved his people and was sick of seeing how they had given themselves over to evil in rejection of the God of Israel. I believe his reference to adultery was two-fold—both physical and spiritual.
Jer. 9:3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.
The LORD adds to Jeremiah’s accusation. He emphasizes that honesty is almost nonexistent; lying predominates the culture. No one stands up for the truth. The people in general participate in one evil deed after another. Why? Because they have no true relationship with YHWH.
It is only through a relationship with YHWH and knowledge of His word that one can hope to overcome evil. When one rejects God, he/she has rejected the only source of power available that can help one overcome the lure of sin and the attack of the enemy. Access to the knowledge of God that is foundational to a relationship with God that can transform one’s life is dependent upon the attitude of one’s heart. God makes reference to this truth through Jeremiah later in this book.
Jeremiah 24:7 “And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.”
Moses had warned the people that it was the condition of their heart that would determine their susceptibility to the deceit of the enemy and the lure of serving “other gods.”
Deuteronomy 11:16 “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them….”
Scripture is clear in teaching that it is our heart that directs our actions and that the condition of our heart is our responsibility. The Chronicler cites King Rehoboam as an example of this truth.
2 Chronicles 12:13–14 “So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.”
Jesus affirmed this truth in His teaching. A hard or calloused heart prevents one from having spiritual understanding. It is from within, out of the heart, that the actions of men are determined.
Matthew 13:15 “For this people’s heart is waxed gross [calloused], and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” [brackets mine]
Mark 7:21–23 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
Jer. 9:4 Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.
Jer. 9:5 And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.
Jer. 9:6 Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.
God’s commentary on the prevailing culture of His people continues. Through the prophet He warns them that their neighbors are not to be trusted. The motto of the day is “every man for himself.” People are determined to get what they want by whatever means. No one can be trusted to tell the truth. The people are directing all their energy toward sinful pursuits. The dominating characteristic of the people is deceit. It was interesting to look at the meaning of this word in the Hebrew—“…in the sense of deceiving; fraud…feigned, guile…treachery.” Webster provides more insight.
Deceive = To lead into error; to cause to believe what is false, or disbelieve what is true; to impose upon; to mislead; to cheat; to disappoint; to delude; to insnare.
Fraud = Deception deliberately practiced with a view to gaining an unlawful or unfair advantage; artifice by which the right or interest of another is injured….
Feign = To give a mental existence to, as to something not real or actual; to imagine….
Guile = To disguise or conceal; to deceive or delude.
Treachery = Violation of allegiance or of faith and confidence….
It is interesting to note that each of these words is directly connected to a person’s choice with intent to take advantage of someone else. Part of this choice includes rejecting the LORD; this choice is evident from their actions.
The application to the continued spiritual decline in America today as evidenced by its culture is obvious.
Jer. 9:7 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?
Jer. 9:8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.
Jer. 9:9 Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
In these verses the LORD concludes that He has no other choice but to refine (melt) His people through judgment. The nation as a whole has become utterly corrupt and wicked. My paraphrase of verse 9: “Do they not deserve judgment for their sin? Does not My righteousness call for vengeance on such wickedness?”
Jer. 9:10 For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.
Jer. 9:11 And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.
These two verses again make me think that Jeremiah is expressing his grief and the LORD is responding with the surety of the coming judgment. It could be that both verses are an expression of God’s heart since He had singled out Jerusalem and the land of Israel as a gift to His people. It does not please Him to have to exercise judgment upon His people that will result in the destruction of the land as well.
Jeremiah 2:7 “And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.”
The prophets Ezekiel and Joel declared this same truth.
Ezekiel 36:5 “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.”
Joel 3:2 “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.”
Jer. 9:12 ¶ Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?
The NIV gives a clearer translation of this verse: “What man is wise enough to understand this? Who has been instructed by the LORD and can explain it? Why has the land been ruined and laid waste like a desert that no one can cross?”
Jer. 9:13 And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;
Jer. 9:14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:
The LORD now answers the why:
• The people had forsaken His law. In other words, they had refused to accept God’s law as their own.
• The people had chosen to disobey Him. Since they chose to reject God’s law, they naturally proceeded to act in disobedience to His declared will for them.
• The people had chosen to follow their own hearts and false gods. Those to whom Jeremiah was ministering were following in the steps of their fathers before them.
There is a natural progression in view. Man responds to the revelation of God in his life. If that choice is to reject God, his actions will evidence that decision. Those who choose to reject God inevitably end up following false gods that appeal to the lusts of their heart.
Key truth—How parents choose to respond to God is usually pivotal in determining how their children respond to God.
Jer. 9:15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
Jer. 9:16 I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.
Based on their rejection of Him and His laws, YHWH has determined that His people require judgment. Note that He identifies Himself as “the God of Israel”; they may have rejected Him, but He has not rejected them. He made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that is unconditional. Though He may have to subject His people to great judgment as part of the process of refinement, He will one day restore them in relationship and establish them in blessing before the nations.
Zechariah 8:13 “And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.”
It was interesting to look up the meaning of wormwood in Webster. It made reference to a tonic that was used to get rid of worms and secondarily as anything bitter or grievous. “Water of gall” seemed to be referencing poisonous urine. Seems to be very descriptive of judgment intended to eliminate disease and destroy those who have rejected Him and brought this judgment upon His people and His land.
Part of this judgment will be to scatter His people among the heathen, the Gentile nations. This part of the judgment will also serve to weed out those who have rejected their covenant with the God of Israel. He specifically states that He will send a sword after them to consume them. No one can deny that history gives ample evidence that the “heathen” nations have relished their role as His instruments of judgment.
Jer. 9:17 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:
Jer. 9:18 And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.
Jer. 9:19 For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.
Jer. 9:20 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation.
Jer. 9:21 For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.
This group of verses is meant to affirm the surety of coming judgment. YHWH tells them to go ahead and hire professional mourners. Implied is that so many will die that more women will be needed than are available, so it will be necessary to teach the young women how to effectively express the sorrow of the people. Verses 19 and 21 seem to be the message of the mourners.
Jer. 9:22 Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.
This verse declares that the judgment of the LORD will result in so many deaths so quickly that proper burial will not be an option.
Jer. 9:23 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
Jer. 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
These are verses of very important truth that was totally disregarded by the people of Israel at that time as well as by the majority of people today. The most treasured possession available to man today is a relationship with and knowledge of the LORD that is evidenced in his life!
What are the things that occupy the desires of most men and women in the world? Wisdom, power and wealth. It is thought that if you possess enough wisdom, it will enable you to attain power and/or wealth. Or if you have enough power, you can make use of the wisdom of others in achieving more power and wealth. Or if you have wealth, it provides the power needed to influence the wise towards your own purposes. It’s all about self. What they don’t focus on is the fact that worldly wisdom, power and wealth are just temporary possessions associated with this life.
True wisdom, power and wealth are the possession of every person that places faith in the LORD and strives to get to know Him through His word and honor Him with their lives. The wisdom, power and wealth associated with that choice are eternal.
The LORD is very clear in declaring that He exercises and delights in lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness. Implied is that He expects the same from His people. Lovingkindness speaks to showing mercy to others and doing good deeds in honor of God. Judgment speaks to governing according to God’s law. Righteousness makes reference to possessing morals and virtues as defined by God’s revelation to man in scripture.
This truth is summarized well by the prophet Micah.
Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
The Hebrew for understanding makes reference to one who is intelligent, prudent, and skillful and lives accordingly. The Hebrew for knoweth makes reference to one who has made careful observation and been diligent in his search for understanding.
Jer. 9:25 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;
Jer. 9:26 Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.
I really liked the wording of the NLT for these verses: “A time is coming,” says the LORD, “when I will punish all those who are circumcised in body but not in spirit—the Egyptians, Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, the people who live in distant places, and yes, even the people of Judah. Like all these pagan nations, the people of Israel also have uncircumcised hearts.”
We normally think of circumcision as a physical action. The LORD is more concerned with spiritual circumcision—a personal decision to cut away the fleshly desires associated with this world because we have chosen to embrace the spiritual desires associated with a relationship with Him.
Jer. 10:1 ¶ Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
Jer. 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.
This chapter begins with another declaration that the prophet is declaring the word of the LORD to Israel. It is yet another warning to stop investing their energies into learning the ways of the Gentile nations. They are not to practice astrology or be frightened by ominous signs in the stars. Implied: Your fear should be focused on reverencing God. You should be looking to the God of Israel, the Creator of the heavens, for guidance and direction.
Jer. 10:3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
Jer. 10:4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
Jer. 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.
Jeremiah goes on to explain how ludicrous it is to worship idols. Idols are nothing more than manmade icons decorated with silver and gold. In fact, an idol can be knocked over if it is not nailed down. They may stand up straight, but they can’t speak. They have to be carried around because they cannot move around on their own. There is nothing to fear from them. They have no power to do either good or evil. This truth is echoed by the psalmist.
Psalms 115:4–7 “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.”
Wiersbe: “Our contemporary idols aren’t ugly, as were the pagan idols in Jeremiah’s day, but they capture just much affection and do just as much damage. Whatever we worship and serve other than the true and living God is an idol, whether it’s an expensive house or car, the latest electronic device, a boat, a library, a girlfriend or boyfriend, our children, a career, or a bank account.”
Jer. 10:6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.
Jer. 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.
YHWH, on the other hand, is mighty in word and deed. His power and authority should invoke fear. Though they might not yet accept Him as such, He is and will be King over all the nations. There is no wise man or king in any kingdom that compares to Almighty God. Again the psalmist affirms this truth.
Psalms 115:3 “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”
Psalms 47:7–8 “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.”
Psalms 95:3 “For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”
Jer. 10:8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
Jer. 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.
Again, I liked the NLT translation for verse 8: “The wisest of people who worship idols are stupid and foolish. The things they worship are made of wood!”
You can hire the most skilled craftsman to make your idol and decorate it with all the most expensive ornaments at your disposal, and it will do nothing to make that representation of a false god worthy of honor or worship. It’s nothing more than evidence of one’s foolishness—proof of one’s lack of wisdom.
Jer. 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.
True = stable, certain, trustworthy, faithful; from Webster: “Actual; not counterfeit, adulterated, or pretended; genuine; pure; real….”
YHWH is unique from all the “gods” of the Gentile nations. He is genuine and trustworthy. There is not one iota of pretense about Him. Unlike the idols representing false gods worshipped by the world at large, YHWH is “the living God.” In fact, He is the source of all life.
Isaiah 42:5 “Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein….”
Acts 17:24–25 “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things….”
Not only is God the Creator and the source of all life, He is the everlasting King. He is not bound by time or space; He is outside time and space. His authority and power will last for time without end.
Though God is longsuffering and full of love for His creation, He is also righteous and holy. His wrath is expressed in righteous anger against all that is wicked and evil. It is His holiness and righteousness that should cause the nations to tremble at the thought of His wrath being unleashed in absolute power and authority. The truth—the nations will not be able to endure His judgment in wrath and righteous vengeance. Only by seeking deliverance through His provision for us in His Son can one hope to avoid His wrath. Scripture is clear that His wrath is reserved for His enemies and the wicked.
Nahum 1:2 “God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.”
John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
Ephesians 5:3–6 “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”
Jer. 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.
The LORD is telling the prophet to inform His people that the time is coming when idols and false gods will no longer be allowed on earth under heaven. Why? Because the Creator will be on the throne for eternity.
Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”
Revelation 19:11–16 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war….his name is called The Word of God….And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Jer. 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.
Jer. 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.
“He” = “the LORD … the true God … the living God” from verse 10
Again emphasis is made that YHWH is the Creator. He created the earth and the universe in His power, wisdom and discretion (according to His own pleasure and purpose). With all the technological advances available to us today, we are just beginning to get a real glimpse of how powerful and wise He is as we study the creation.
My paraphrase of verse 13: “He only has to speak, and nature obeys His command.” There are several examples in scripture of this truth. Following are just a few.
Joshua 10:12–14 “Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.”
2 Kings 20:8–11 “And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day? And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees. And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.”
Mark 4:37–39 “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
Jer. 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.
Jer. 10:15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
I like the CJB translation for the first part of verse 14: “At this, everyone is proved stupid, ignorant, every goldsmith put to shame by his idol!”
In other words, there is no comparison between YHWH and idols and the false gods represented by those idols. They are dead; they have no life in them; they are frauds. When the LORD comes to judge the world, they will be destroyed along with those that choose to worship them.
Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Jer. 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.
The wording of this verse is a bit confusing; I think the NLT expresses the meaning best: “But the God of Israel is no idol! He is the Creator of everything that exists, including Israel, his own special possession. The LORD Almighty is his name!”
Jer. 10:17 ¶ Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.
Jer. 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.
This is another statement regarding the surety of coming judgment. Jeremiah is telling the people to pack up their things and get ready to leave because God is going to send them out of the land as captives of their enemy.
It is interesting to note that though declaring severe judgment that will result in removing His people from the land, YHWH still identifies them as belonging to Him (verse 16). They have broken covenant with Him, but He will not break covenant with them.
Deuteronomy 4:31 “(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.”
Jer. 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.
Jer. 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.
Jer. 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.
As I read through these verses, I at first thought it was an expression of Jeremiah’s feelings; but I tend to think he is speaking the hurt in God’s heart.
The severity of the judgment to come will cause great sorrow and mourning. Judgment is not meant to be easily endured, or it would be ineffective. It is a necessary action on the part of a loving Father toward His people intended to result in a change of heart in His people.
This judgment will result in the homes of the people being destroyed and their children taken away from them. Their spiritual leaders have become useless because they no longer seek the LORD. The leaders shoulder great responsibility for the people being scattered among the heathen because they have failed in providing spiritual leadership according to God’s word.
Jer. 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.
The wording of this verse indicates that the enemy is already in the land coming from the north and leaving destruction in their path.
Jer. 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 is acknowledging to the LORD that he understands that man was never intended to live out of relationship to the LORD. Apart from God, man does not have the wisdom to make the right choices about how to live his life.
I couldn’t help but think of the words of the LORD Jesus at this point: John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
And of Solomon: Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Jer. 10:24 O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
Jeremiah is quick to acknowledge that he needs God’s loving correction. He realizes that to experience God’s wrath as His enemy, one who has rejected Him, would “bring me to nothing.”
Jer. 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.
Jeremiah loves the LORD; his desire is for God to be honored and obeyed. This verse is a statement calling for God to pour out His fury on those that reject Him as LORD, whether heathen or Jew. Both the heathen nations and the unbelieving Jews were responsible for the destruction of Israel—the heathen nations as the rod of judgment in God’s hands, and the Jewish idolaters as those whose actions brought judgment upon the nation. Though the heathen nations are acting in accordance with God’s purpose, they are not acting against their conscience or desire. They are still accountable for their wickedness and deserve judgment for their actions.