Baruch 6:53-59: a reflection

53For they can’t set up a king in a land or give rain to men. 54They can’t judge their own cause, or redress a wrong, being unable; for they are like crows between heaven and earth. 55For even when fire falls upon the house of gods of wood overlaid with gold or with silver, their priests will flee away, and escape, but they themselves will be burned apart like beams. 56Moreover they can’t withstand any king or enemies. How could a man then admit or think that they are gods? 57Those gods of wood overlaid with silver or with gold aren’t able to escape from thieves or robbers. 58The gold, silver, and garments with which they are clothed—those who are strong will take from them, and go away with them. They won’t be able to help themselves. 59Therefore it is better to be a king who shows his manhood, or else a vessel in a house profitable for whatever the owner needs, than such false gods—or even a door in a house, to keep the things safe that are in it, than such false gods; or better to be a pillar of wood in a palace than such false gods.

This passage mocks the helplessness of idols with a series of pointed observations. They cannot set up a king or give rain; they cannot judge a case or right a wrong; when fire falls on their temple, their priests flee but the idols themselves burn like the beams they are; they cannot save themselves from thieves. Better, it says, to be a useful object, a door, a pillar, than such a false god. The idols people trust can do nothing, not even help themselves.

Notice the relentless point: the idols are utterly powerless, unable even to save themselves. They cannot act, cannot help, cannot protect themselves from fire or theft; a mere door that keeps things safe is more useful than they are. The passage strips away every pretense of the idols' worth, exposing them as helpless objects, unable to do the smallest thing for those who trust them, or even for themselves. To trust such things is folly, for they can do nothing.

That mockery of idols has a point for us, for we too can put our trust in things that can do nothing for us. The idols may be different now, wealth, status, possessions, the things we look to for security and help, but the folly is the same if we trust in what cannot finally help us. Consider what you are trusting for your security and help, and whether it can truly deliver, or is as helpless as an idol that cannot save itself. Do not put your trust in things that can do nothing for you, however impressive they seem. The idols could not help themselves, let alone their worshipers; turn your trust from such helpless things to the living God, who alone can truly help. Trust in what can actually save, the living God, not in the idols, old or new, that can do nothing for those who trust them.

Lord, this passage mocks the helplessness of idols: they cannot give rain or judge a case, cannot save themselves from fire or theft, and a mere door is more useful than they are; the idols people trust can do nothing, not even help themselves. Let that have its point for me, for I too can put my trust in things that can do nothing for me. The idols may be different now, wealth, status, possessions, the things I look to for security and help, but the folly is the same if I trust in what cannot finally help me. Help me consider what I am trusting for my security and help, and whether it can truly deliver, or is as helpless as an idol that cannot save itself. Keep me from putting my trust in things that can do nothing for me, however impressive they seem. The idols could not help themselves, let alone their worshipers; help me turn my trust from such helpless things to you, the living God, who alone can truly help. Help me trust in what can actually save, in you, Lord, not in the idols, old or new, that can do nothing for those who trust them.