Jeremiah 10:10, commentary and pictures

The Lord alone is the true God, the living God, and the everlasting King, in contrast to lifeless idols of wood and stone that people call gods. He is a personal Being and the Creator who made the heavens and the earth and established the world by His wisdom and power, and who upholds all things while gods that did not make heaven and earth will perish. At His wrath the earth trembles and the nations cannot abide His indignation, for no opposing power can withstand Him. The proof that He is the true and living God is held in the fourth commandment, which bears the seal of His authority as the One who made heaven and earth in six days and rested and hallowed the seventh, with the Sabbath standing as the continuing sign and memorial that distinguishes Him from false gods. He is the hope of His people and the fountain of living waters, so trusting in Him brings blessing and unfailing fruitfulness while trusting in man or in anything loved instead of Him brings curse and desolation, for that becomes an idol.

True God Against Idols

The Lord alone is the true God, the living God, and the everlasting King. He stands in utter contrast to lifeless idols of wood and stone that blinded heathen bow down to and call their gods. He is a personal Being, not an impersonal force.

He is the Creator who made the heavens and the earth and established the world by His wisdom and power. He upholds and sustains all things by that same power and wisdom. The heavens declare the glory of their Maker, the sun shining in its strength gives life and beauty to created things, and the moon and stars as the works of His hands show His superiority. His claim to worship rests on His being the Creator, while gods that did not make heaven and earth will perish.

At His wrath the earth trembles with His anger, and the nations cannot withstand or abide His indignation. No god or ruler is like Him, and no opposing power can withstand Him. After affliction, Israel would acknowledge this truth.

Creator and Sabbath Witness

The Lord is the true God, the living God, and the everlasting King in contrast to idols of wood and stone that blind heathen bow down to and call their gods. The proof that He is the true and living God is in the fourth commandment, which holds the seal of His authority as the One who in six days made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day and blessed and hallowed it. The heavens declaring the glory of their Maker, the sun shining in its strength giving life and beauty to created things, and the moon and stars as the works of His hands show His superiority as the God who made the heavens and the earth and established the world by His wisdom and power.

He is identified as the true, living, everlasting King and as Creator, and this makes the declaration a witness to the Creator's authority over false gods. The Sabbath is the sign of that authority and power, because the fourth commandment distinguishes the Creator from false gods. His claim to worship rests on His being the Creator, while gods that did not make heaven and earth will perish, and His power and authority surpass those of the heathen gods. The Sabbath is therefore a memorial of creation and a continuing witness to God's existence, greatness, wisdom, and love. At His wrath the earth trembles and the nations cannot withstand His indignation.

The Maker of heaven and earth named in the fourth commandment is that true God. Human wisdom does not by itself lead people to know God. God's law reflects His character, displaying His wisdom and holiness.

Trust and Obedient Worship

The Lord alone is real and alive and reigns forever, the hope of Israel and the fountain of living waters who heals and saves. Trusting in Him brings blessing and unfailing fruitfulness like a tree planted by waters. Trusting in man and departing from Him brings a curse, shame, and dry desolation. The works of creation testify to His power and glory and invite people to recognize their Maker and learn from Him.

Anything loved and trusted instead of the Lord becomes an idol, so worship of the true and living God requires wholehearted trust in Him. Those who worship Him are to bear fruit in keeping with the light and privileges they have received. Loyalty and obedience to God as the everlasting King whose power no opposing force can withstand mean that the enemy cannot overpower His church, just as chaff cannot resist a whirlwind.