D. The Wisdom and Judgment of Yahweh (10:1-25)

God’s people cannot formulate a theological system based on the ways and customs of surrounding cultures. The God of Israel and the gods of the world have nothing in common. The former is the source of wisdom; he is the true, living, and eternal King and God. The proper starting point of theology is the affirmation that Yahweh is the maker of all things. Refusal to acknowledge this truth about Yahweh would only lead to fraudulent beliefs and worship of idols (10:1-16; see also 51:15-19).

When leaders fail to respond and remain insensitive to the requirements of Yahweh, the outcome is destruction and scattering of the flock. Jeremiah, though he is the messenger of Yahweh’s judgment, is sensitive to the distress of his people and regards it as his sickness, which he must endure (10:17-22).

Man is totally dependent on God’s grace for his existence. Though man does not acknowledge this, Jeremiah pleads with God to extend his grace to those who are under judgment and to turn judgment into a corrective measure (10:23-25).