Baruch 6:60-73: a reflection

60For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their jobs, are obedient. 61Likewise also the lightning when it flashes is beautiful to see. In the same way, the wind also blows in every country. 62And when God commands the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are told. 63And the fire sent from above to consume mountains and woods does as it is commanded; but these are to be compared to them neither in show nor power. 64Therefore a man shouldn’t think or say that they are gods, seeing they aren’t able to judge causes or to do good to men. 65Knowing therefore that they are no gods, don’t fear them. 66For they can neither curse nor bless kings. 67They can’t show signs in the heavens among the nations, or shine as the sun, or give light as the moon. 68The beasts are better than they; for they can get under a covert, and help themselves. 69In no way then is it manifest to us that they are gods. Therefore don’t fear them. 70For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers that keeps nothing, so are their gods of wood overlaid with gold and silver. 71Likewise also their gods of wood overlaid with gold and with silver are like a white thorn in an orchard that every bird sits upon. They are also like a dead body that is thrown out into the dark. 72You will know them to be no gods by the bright purple that rots upon them. They themselves will be consumed afterwards, and will be a reproach in the country. 73Better therefore is the just man who has no idols; for he will be far from reproach.

This passage, from the Letter of Jeremiah, mocks the lifeless idols of the nations by contrasting them with the created things that actually obey God. The sun, moon, and stars shine and keep their courses because they are obedient to God; the lightning, the wind, the clouds, the fire all do as they are commanded. But the idols can do none of this: they cannot bless or curse, cannot give light, cannot even help themselves. They are, the passage says, like a scarecrow in a garden that guards nothing.

Notice the contrast. All creation obeys the living God, the sun rising at his word, the wind and clouds moving at his command; the whole natural world answers to him. But the idols, for all the gold and silver that cover them, can do nothing at all, unable to act, unable to help, useless as a scarecrow that protects nothing. One is the living God whom all creation obeys; the others are dead things that can neither harm nor help.

That contrast frees us from a subtle fear. We may not bow to idols of wood and silver, but we can still be gripped by fear of things that have no real power over us, the false gods of our age, the forces and threats that seem to loom large but can do nothing against the God who made us. The passage's refrain is simple: do not fear them. What is not the living God has no real power; do not give it the fear that belongs to God alone. Fear and serve the living God whom all creation obeys, and refuse to fear the empty things that would claim your worship or your dread. Better, the passage says, is the person who has no idols, for that person is free.

Lord, the created things obey you, the sun and stars keeping their courses, the wind and clouds moving at your word, while the idols can do nothing, useless as a scarecrow that guards nothing. Free me from the fear of things that have no real power over me. I may not bow to idols of wood and silver, but I can still be gripped by dread of the false gods of my age, the forces and threats that loom large yet can do nothing against the God who made me. Help me fear and serve you alone, the living God whom all creation obeys, and refuse to fear what is empty. Let me be the one who has no idols, and so is free.