Jeremiah 10 “Living Within the Covenant”

Jeremiah 10 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Jesus Paid It All – Reawaken Hymns
• Cece Winans The blood will never loose its power, because He lives
• In Christ Alone – Keith & Kristyn Getty, CityAlight

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• 10 Commandments and Golden Calf l God’s Story – Lesson for Kids
• Amazing Grace | Power Lab Music Video| Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Love the Lord | Jerusalem Marketplace VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Forever Love, Forever God | Cross Culture Thailand VBS Music Video | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

Jeremiah delivers the Lord’s message concerning idolatry. The Lord tells the people not to fear the idols that the nations worship. Those nations serve idols because they are afraid of being harmed by them. However, idols are merely man-made objects and have no real power (vv. 1–5).

The only One truly to be feared is the living and true God. He is the Creator of heaven and earth, reigning above all other gods and kings (vv. 6–7). No matter how beautifully they are made, all other idols are nothing more than human craftsmanship (vv. 8–9). The only true God is the Lord Himself (v. 10). The Lord commands the people of Judah to proclaim that all idols will perish (v. 11). Only the Lord is God—He alone created and rules over heaven and earth (vv. 12–13). To serve idols is sheer foolishness (vv. 14–15). The only One worthy of worship is the Creator God (v. 16).

Yet the people of Judah, though they knew this God, did not worship Him. Instead, they turned to vain idolatry. Because of this, the Lord declared judgment upon Judah, and the people would be taken into exile in a foreign land (vv. 17–18).

Reflecting on Judah’s tragic future, Jeremiah once again sings a sorrowful lament (vv. 19–22). He identifies himself with his people by using the pronoun “we,” sharing in their suffering and fate. Trembling with fear, he acknowledges that God alone determines human destiny and prays that they may receive whatever punishment God sees fit. However, he pleads that it would not be according to God’s full wrath, but with mercy (vv. 23–24). Finally, Jeremiah asks that the Lord’s wrath be poured out instead upon the nations that have devoured “the descendants of Jacob” and turned God’s vineyard into a desolate wasteland (v. 25).

Meditation:

Jeremiah acknowledges God’s absolute sovereignty. God’s supreme authority extends not only over each person’s life but also over all of human history. Therefore, Jeremiah confesses, “Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps” (v. 23).

When God has determined something, no human being can reverse it. All we can do is appeal to His mercy and compassion. Jeremiah pleads with God not to pour out the fullness of His wrath upon the people of Judah, for if He did, no hope would remain. Jeremiah makes this plea because he believes that God’s covenant with the descendants of Jacob has not been revoked. God’s judgment does not mean the cancellation of His covenant. God’s covenant remains eternally unchanging, and Jeremiah finds his only hope in that truth.

After all the judgments Jeremiah had foretold came to pass, the Lord spoke through him about a “new covenant” (Jer. 31:31). The Lord promised that He would one day make a new covenant with the remnant of Israel—one that would not be like the old covenant. This new covenant was fulfilled through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Thus, at the Last Supper, Jesus took the cup and said to His disciples, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20).

To receive Jesus Christ as Lord means to enter into this new covenant established through Him. Within that covenant, we find the mercy and compassion of the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord, we thank You for receiving us into the eternal covenant sealed by Jesus’s blood. Help us not to become complacent, as Israel once did, but to live as true people of the covenant. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God’s covenant never changes. Even when people fail, God’s mercy and love remain steadfast through Jesus Christ. Living within God’s covenant means trusting His plan, obeying His Word, and walking in His grace every day.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • Who is the only true God we should worship?
  • Why did Jeremiah ask God to show mercy instead of anger?
  • What does it mean to be part of God’s “new covenant” through Jesus?
    
• Youth
  • Jeremiah admitted that people cannot control their own lives. What do you think it means to trust God with your future?
  • The people of Judah forgot their covenant with God. What helps you remember God’s promises in your daily life (for example, prayer, worship, or helping others)?
  • Jesus called His blood “the new covenant.” How does this truth affect the way you see God’s love and forgiveness today?