Jeremiah 51:17-23: a reflection

17“Every man has become stupid and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is disappointed by his image, for his molten images are falsehood, and there is no breath in them. 18They are vanity, a work of delusion. In the time of their visitation, they will perish. 19The portion of Jacob is not like these, for he formed all things, including the tribe of his inheritance. The LORD of Armies is his name. 20“You are my battle ax and weapons of war. With you I will break the nations into pieces. With you I will destroy kingdoms. 21With you I will break in pieces the horse and his rider. 22With you I will break in pieces the chariot and him who rides therein. With you I will break in pieces man and woman. With you I will break in pieces the old man and the youth. With you I will break in pieces the young man and the virgin. 23With you I will break in pieces the shepherd and his flock. With you I will break in pieces the farmer and his yoke. With you I will break in pieces governors and deputies.

Jeremiah contrasts the emptiness of idols with the living God who is the portion of his people. The idols, he says, are worthless, a work of delusion; there is no breath in them, and in the time of their judgment they will perish. But then he lifts our eyes to something utterly different: The portion of Jacob is not like these, for he formed all things. The living God, who made all things, is the portion of his people, and he is nothing like the lifeless idols. Our God is the living Maker of all, not a dead and breathless image.

Notice the contrast: lifeless idols, and the living God who is our portion. The idols have no breath, no life; they are the work of human hands, empty, unable to help, destined to perish. But the portion of God's people is not like these; he is the living God who formed all things, the Maker of heaven and earth. To have such idols as one's portion is to have nothing; but to have the living God as one's portion is to have the Maker of all. The difference between the idol and the living God, between the breathless image and the Creator, could not be greater.

That contrast is worth taking to heart, for we too can be tempted to make our portion in lifeless idols rather than the living God. We can set our hearts on things that, like idols, have no life to give us, that cannot finally help or satisfy, making them our portion; but the living God, the Maker of all, offers himself as our portion, and he is nothing like the empty idols. Do not make your portion in the lifeless idols that cannot help you, whatever they are; make your portion in the living God who formed all things, and who is nothing like the breathless images. The portion of God's people is the living Maker of all, not a dead idol; let your portion be in him, the living God, rather than in the empty idols that have no breath and cannot save, as Jeremiah contrasted the worthless idols with the God who formed all things, the portion of his people.

Lord, Jeremiah contrasts the emptiness of idols with the living God who is the portion of his people. The idols, he says, are worthless, a work of delusion; there is no breath in them, and in the time of their judgment they will perish. But then he lifts my eyes to something utterly different: the portion of Jacob is not like these, for he formed all things. The living God, who made all things, is the portion of his people, and he is nothing like the lifeless idols. Show me the contrast: lifeless idols, and the living God who is my portion. The idols have no breath, no life; they are empty, unable to help, destined to perish. But the portion of your people is not like these; you are the living God who formed all things. To have such idols as one's portion is to have nothing; but to have you as one's portion is to have the Maker of all. Take that contrast to my heart, for I too can be tempted to make my portion in lifeless idols rather than in you. I can set my heart on things that, like idols, have no life to give me, that cannot finally help or satisfy, making them my portion; but you, the living God, the Maker of all, offer yourself as my portion. Keep me from making my portion in the lifeless idols that cannot help me, whatever they are; help me make my portion in the living God who formed all things, Lord. Let my portion be in you, the living God, rather than in the empty idols that have no breath and cannot save.