Chapter 10 continues the “outpouring of rebukes, appeals, reflections, warnings, and prayers,” says Derek Kidner. The cries of Jeremiah reflect all these realities. Chapter 10 especially speaks of the results of the kind of idolatry that Israel so often found itself entangled in. The pull of the majority (adult peer pressure?!) and the impressiveness of visual idols continually lured God’s people away. Sounds pretty familiar! The lust of the flesh and the pride of life is what Paul describes as the cause of our turning to other “gods.”
Chapter 11 and 12 talk about the covenant as a catalyst for change in Israel. Remembering the covenant has the power to draw people back to their real God and king, the Holy One of Israel. Jeremiah’s “sermon” was a repetetive one. The words of the public reading of the law that had been found in Josiah’s day was still “ringing” in the prophets ears, says Kidner. God had sent Jeremiah to preach this throughout the kingdom with the unfailing promise of God’s covenant with Israel as a backdrop. The message was intended to be repeated over and over, not only by Jeremiah but by all the people who put their faith and trust in God and had experienced his hand of mercy and deliverance.
It is the same today. The good news of the Gospel is not only to be preached by the pastor or the ministery of educatiton, but by all the people. It is meant to be told and retold by everyone who has come under its grace. God’s truth never changes. It is to be taught to our children and our children’s children, and on and on. Because we are slow learners and prone to return to our old ways quickly, the message must be repeated over and over again. God is faithful and just. What he says he will do–reward those who follow him and punish those who rebel. He will woo his “bride” and they will live together in peace and harmony. That is the future hope and the direction of the covenant. In the meantime, we have to live it out in the not yet fully realized kingdom of God in our midst. And we have the added advantage of looking back on the mistakes of the people of Israel to see how very dangerous it is to not believe God. Like the man in the sermon from yesterday. We need to say to God, “I believe, help my unbelief!” If we do, all things are possible.