Jeremiah Chapter 10—latest commentary

Any statue or art piece viewed in a worshipful manner is like worshipping a scarecrow in a cucumber field; verse 5

Exodus 23:2 implores us not to follow the crowd in doing evil. Parents give this instruction to children continually asking them “if everyone jumped off a bridge, would you?!”

Parents see this tendency emerging at a young age when raising offspring, but often fail to recognize it in themselves. If their “mature” generation follows after whatever spells creative and exciting, it is viewed as excellent being innovated from the culturally refined.

Even though God’s children were warned way back in Exodus not to follow what everyone else was doing, they were ignoring this powerful command during the time of Jeremiah. Judgment was about to fall like weighty balls of hail on these who desired to partake in what everyone else was doing. It is so much easier not be peculiar or is it? The consequences of discipline by God’s hand outweigh the temporary acceptance of others if one was to thoroughly contemplate it through to the bitter end.

Verse 2 of chapter 10 of Jeremiah, warns Judah not to learn the ways of the nations. We are to be imitators of God not the nations of this world, including the US! We are not to follow the crowds of the global populace in their actions and ways. In America, some believers enjoy delving into the hottest books on the NY best seller list. They also relish reading about all the new corporate trends that hasten prosperity for early retirement. They enjoy researching the recent developments in behavioral psychology as disclosed from sinful unregenerate man. They want to know what steps to take in becoming more “green.” Sad scenario for God’s separated called out ones.

We live on a lofty hill in this country of fulfilled desires. The world views us as the nation to imitate when it comes to most anything in the way of entertainment and style. America is viewed as the Babylon of the modern world. In Jeremiah’s time, Babylon was the place where society set their eyes to learn the ways of the world. In end times, there will be Mystery Babylon (actual name not disclosed by God), not in ancient Babylon’s exact location, which has moved 14 miles from the Euphrates River (the center of end times prophecies). Because destroyed Babylon no longer has pristine river access, it is no longer a logical construction local. Plus God stated ancient Babylon will never be rebuilt. But some place in Iraq (most likely this local) it will arise. Many carnal folk of the new age mentality forecast and look toward a Babylon-type city across the seas from America.

God warns His people in the next phrase not to be in bondage to fear, specifically what is beheld as one observes the heavens or weather. As God’s chosen, we should know and understand God’s omnipotence over creation and His sustaining ways over the earth. We should never be terrified of the signs of the heavens. It is the way of the pagan and unredeemed to be concerned about forecasted foul atmospheric conditions. Of course, it is their lot to continually complain about the weather as well.

Today, the jars of creation can make fearful the common man. So many seem to fear global warming from the sun’s supposedly increasing rays upon the earth. People seem to forget it wasn’t that many decades ago that scientists were predicting global cooling, causing everyone to fear that we were returning to the ice age. God is conveying here that He oversees all, and nothing is out of His omnipotent control including all the predictions and ramifications being calculated about by atmospheric scientists.

Verses 3-5 poke much fun at idols, those things made by man’s hands. These images are so independently powerful that they have to be balanced so they don’t fall on their face. Yes, I am joking. Furthermore, they must be carried about like a kitten in one’s arms. ☺

They cannot speak or bring good or harm. Isaiah 44:12-18 illuminates this farther, in the agenda of it all. One main disclosure is the fact many are shapen to look like men. Man loves to elevate himself and many do engage in this through self-worship. Often we hear “I did that or I will do that.” Sinful man loves spending about 90 percent of his time talking about himself. We all can be guilty of this, most certainly. No wonder man likes idols that resemble him!

This passage continues to reveal the folly of it all. A man selects a tree and cuts it down. With half of the felled tree, he warms himself, setting it ablaze for cooking a meal and then worships the other half, made in his image. He falls before it in self-deception! What a joke! God is right when He says idols are like scarecrows in cucumber fields; Jeremiah 10:5. God is poignant in man’s outrageous stupidity.

We see in verse 6, the proclaiming of the omnipotence of God; viewing the contrast between almighty God and idols. No similarity at all is anywhere present as there is none like Him! He is great and in His name is might! Who would not fear Him? And all will, when every knee will bow down and confess Jesus as Lord to the glory of God the Father! He indeed is worthy of all worship, honor and praise!

Verse 8 returns to the folly of idols in light of all this omnipotent proclaimed truth. How could anyone who knows of the true God, engage in such an abomination? Well, they did because everyone else was doing it. Even though Jeremiah revealed God’s omnipotence as well as the prophets throughout history, this did not turn these people away from doing what everyone else did.

As we travel to verse 9, we see the “work of skilled men” in making idols that catch the eye. Satan knows he must make things attractive for men to partake of what is contrary to Scripture and we recognize in this verse that many idols were made with silver, gold, and costly fabrics that are pleasing to one’s eye. Just as men love to look good they love to make the idols that resemble them look just as swanky.

Today, there are fancy idols in America, not only in foreign lands. America houses various religions where people bow to images, burn incense before them, etc. that are made by man’s hands. We formerly attended a church where two oriental children cherished being present to worship the true and living God. They dwelt in a Buddhist home that was filled with idols and demonic influences. Coming to church was their escape from their parents worship of things made by mans hands; averting the spiritual battle that raged in their home where they often felt the presence of demons.

A Rabbit Trail

I hope you don’t mind if we divert a bit and go hopping on a lovely rabbit trail sided with exquisite flowers in a range of varieties and hues; a trail that brings into view the expectation of emerging last days. I happened to take note of the words “work of skilled men.” Daniel 12:4 speaks of the last days in reference to knowledge increasing and many theologians believe this to be technology—man’s increasing skill with brain and hands. Never before has skill been elevated to this great pinnacle of invention. The machine age didn’t even enter historical embodiment till the 1800’s. Nothing resembling complicated mechanisms existed in centuries past and since their introduction nothing has triggered their decline, just the opposite. God put an end to the tower of Babel in its success of achievement but He has chosen not to do so in this age.

This portion of scripture in Daniel also speaks of many going back and forth. Never previously has travel been so universally effortless being routed with nearly a thought or hardship. It was just a century and a half ago that the majority of people traveled by wagon or horse, making it grueling and tedious. Travel by ship was time consuming, taking months to cross an ocean blue. Most people didn’t make traveling a habit as is done today. Yes, more and more prophecy seems to be directing us toward the rapture. Only the LORD knows the approaching time, but it can be motivating jumping to a side trail in Scripture on arriving promises.

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Once again we return to the omnipotence of our Lord contrasting between that which is of men and that which is of God. We know by verse 10 that the Lord is the true and living God. He is the everlasting King! Images and art made by men have no life or meaning as we saw earlier. Remember, they have to be carried. God never has to be wheeled about!! Statues and other artworks can be shattered and most have been destroyed over the centuries. God will never be destroyed and His time will never end!

“At His wrath the earth quakes,” no we cannot blame the earth’s inner layers or any San Andreas Fault as God makes everything apparent, it shakes at His will. We know increased earthquakes will come before Christ’s stand on the earth as sin increases. Of course, when Christ comes to reign and sin is passed, there will be no need for His wrath to be displayed in such a way.

LA Earthquakes:

Geography and Seismicity

“Northridge is about 32 km northwest of downtown Los Angeles and is within the suburban San Fernando Valley, which is a sprawling region of residential neighborhoods, apartment complexes, low-rise business and industrial parks, and shopping malls. The area’s biggest and best-known geologic fault, the San Andreas, passes about 100 km to the east and north of the San Fernando Valley.

The earthquake occurred on a thrust fault along the northern fringes of the valley. The near-record strong ground motion generated by the earthquake was an indication of the significant risk presented by thrust-fault events of moderate magnitude. Accelerations in the range of 1.0g were recorded over a large area. Similar accelerations, including large vertical accelerations, have been recorded in the past, but at isolated locations and in very limited numbers. Numerous detailed EQE investigations have pointed out that such ground motions were typical in the epicentral areas of many past earthquakes, particularly thrust-type earthquakes such as those in San Fernando in 1971, Coalinga in 1983, Chile in 1985, New Zealand in 1987, and Armenia in 1988.

While this is a major earthquake in terms of its damage, there is no indication that its occurrence has reduced the probability for a stronger earthquake in the next 30 years on a major fault in the Los Angeles region. The probabilities remain in the range of 5% to 10% per year that a major earthquake will strike Southern California. It will be most destructive if it strikes on a major fault such as the Newport-Inglewood Fault or on the San Andreas Fault in the vicinity of Riverside.”

1971 San Fernando Earthquake and Comparison to 1994 Earthquake

“This was the second time in 23 years that this region has been affected by a strong earthquake. On February 9, 1971, a magnitude 6.6 event struck the San Fernando Valley, about 32 km northeast of the epicenter of the 1994 event. The 1971 earthquake caused 58 fatalities and about 2,000 injuries. At the time, the 1971 earthquake was the most destructive event to affect greater Los Angeles since the magnitude 6.3 Long Beach Earthquake of 1933, and it prompted an extensive reevaluation and update of the building codes. Direct damage to buildings and other structures exceeded $0.5 billion (1971 dollars).

Interchange (Interstate 5 and State Route 14) was also badly damaged in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. The San Fernando Valley was a recently developed suburban area in 1971. More than 90% of its houses and other buildings were constructed after the first earthquake design requirements had been incorporated into the local building code in 1933. The greatest number of earthquake-related fatalities occurred in the collapse of several 1920s and 1930s concrete-frame buildings at a hospital.” End of article.
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As we read further, Jeremiah states, the nations cannot endure God’s indignation. Yes, in America we do not endure this indignation relentlessly, but when catastrophes have arisen they have been grueling to endure for those who have experienced them. God is sovereign however, and we are not to question even if we fall victim to a catastrophe as we are all sinners deserving of His earthly wrath. God has been gracious to America causing us to give thanks with a grateful heart through His many bestowed blessings upon our country that witnesses little ongoing devastations.

This portion of Scripture is to point out who truly rules over all and it is not things made by man’s hands! As verse 11 proclaims false gods did not make the heavens and earth; therefore, they will completely perish someday. There will be no nothing made by man’s hands in heaven!

Verse 12 continues in praise for God’s attributes as we review creation’s story originally recorded in Genesis. He formed the earth by His power. Why is He telling these people who know the Scriptures these things? Because the unredeemed and lukewarm believers can influence us away from His omnipotence as we see by the number of theistic-evolutionists today. These false teachers explain Genesis from an allegorical perspective. This is the apostasy of lies. It is sad to note that TE is now taught in Nazarene Universities. We are warned to have nothing to do with anyone who does not present God’s Word as it is written down to every jot and tittle. Bible teachers must hold true to the most ancient of manuscripts—the most accurately translated Bibles, those not adding cultural and ecumenical twists.

Billy Graham is theistic-evolutionist friendly as he stated, “How you believe doesn’t affect the doctrine. Either at a certain moment in evolution God breathed into one particular ape-man who was Adam, or God could have taken a handful of dust and blowed and created a man just like that” (“Cooperative Evangelism at Harringay,” United Church Observer, July 1966).

It is sad today that most theologians speak out of both sides of their mouth and this is a perfect illustration. They have lost the faith that comes by continually hearing and adhering to the Word of God.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theistic_evolution  

“Many Christian denominations support or accept theistic evolution. For example, on 12 February 2006, the 197th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth was commemorated by “Evolution Sunday” where the message that followers of Christ do not have to choose between biblical stories of creation and evolution was taught in classes and sermons at many Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Unitarian, Congregationalist, United Church of Christ, Baptist and community churches.”

The world was established by His wisdom, not His folly. It takes little to recognize His wisdom in creation. Isn’t it interesting that all beings have eyes and ears opposite each other and a nose in between with one mouth. Now if evolution is true, how did such a wise way of creation come from absolutely nothing that owns absolutely no intelligence? Absolutely nothing would be far lower in aptitude than the most brain damaged person who ever lived. How did such creative harmony with artistic productive functioning arise? We know researching the intricate eye spells intelligence beyond measure, extending above anything simple man can contrive. It is a silly game to play in this realm of stupidity.

God by His almighty hand “stretched out the heavens” rightly concludes verse 12. But wait…God is not finished with presenting His truths as He continues to explain His omnipotence. His voice resembles a tumult of waters in the heavens. This would be a massive noise beyond our finite and earthly audio attainment. Who can even begin to imagine the clamor our God can produce? His power is limitless and the noise that follows. By listening to Niagara Falls, we may gain a tiny note of the acoustics that resound in God’s secluded heavenly home. Unfortunately, I am sure the comparison is totally lacking.

We are also taught here that “He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth.” It is obvious to ask how much water is stored in a single cloud. The facts are mind-boggling. “One inch of rain over one square mile equals 17.4 million gallons of water weighing 143 million pounds (about 72,000 tons), or the weight of a train with 40 boxcars. The precise mechanics of how a cloud forms and grows is not completely understood…” Man can explain little of God’s might. He cannot enlighten regarding the great amount of moisture in our atmosphere, nor how roaming fluffy clouds can carry millions of gallons of water.

No meteorologist is needed to elucidate why we encounter such a range of weather conditions; God performs it all at His proscribed will. “He makes lightning for the rain.” It doesn’t control itself, neither falls by atmospheric will, only God! How big is your God?

“He brings wind out from the storehouses.” It may not be a scientific analogy, but it is visual truth. We experienced stalwart winds last night in our valley that kept me awake, all brought in by the hand of our Lord!

“Man is stupid and void of knowledge;” verse 14. How apropos with the above statements that should bring us to our knees in acknowledgement of who He is and how stupid we are! Aren’t we grateful He understands that we but dust. Men can’t even begin to comprehend the universe; yet, he boasts in his complete ignorance of how things are designed. Yes, I am stupid and void of erudition! My extremely limited data is comparable to a retrieved drop of water from the ocean, while all the rest of the drops in the oceans, represent his interminable knowledge.

This verse again returns us to man worshipping silly images of men or whatever deceives man. For anyone to believe that an image has the power of a god or something of heaven is absolute nonsense. We are never to look at things made by man’s hands with excessive ah or admiration. Everything of this earth is passing away, only that which is of God will survive, meaning only us who have put our true trust in the living Savior.

Our pastor was recently stating how even carrying a wooden cross in one’s pocket is as a fetish. We don’t need things made by man’s hands to cause us to dwell on our great God. We have the living God living within us if we are truly saved from our sins by Christ’s shed blood. Yes, we take communion which is a symbol of His sacrificial death, but we don’t need to constantly carry grape juice and bread around with us in our pockets to continually remind us. The symbols are to allow us to focus on Him in remembrance of His work during worship; not for us to view them as the literal body and blood. Which they obviously are not, as Christ is exalted above all the heavens absent from the flesh He held on earth, dwelling in His glorified body. We no longer know Him according to His former earthly flesh; 2 Corinthians 5:16. His earthly flesh no longer exists and He moves as living commanding God of all in the heavens. God is spirit. He also, however, appears as a slain lamb as seen throughout Revelation. He was commanding, controlling God when on the earth but dwelt in flesh that decays. No such thing is part of Him this day and forever.

When many a year younger, I used to view the Bible as a fetish as I had great fear consuming me due to demonic activity I witnessed in a church. I believed if I set an open Bible out, it would protect me from demons. However, even though it holds the words of God, it is still made by man’s hands and cannot protect me from evil. It is the Words of Life in the book that protect me as I claim and rest in God’s truths. When Christ was tempted by satan, He didn’t throw a scroll holding the Words of Scripture penned by Him. He quoted the truth held in the OT scrolls, His words of truth. It’s the quoting, believing, memorizing and submitting to the Word that are the components of our protective armor. Many people have Bibles in their homes that are never opened; they seem to believe that owning one is somehow redeeming. They never yield themselves to the true One who redeems and protects.

Biblical common sense is what a believer submits to. As verse 14 reveals there is no breath in things made by man’s hands therefore we attribute no power to them. Only God deserves our complete devotion and admiration.

At times, I ponder on Jeremiah’s life and wonder if he ever wished he dwelt in a different era where the people were not so compromising with surrounding societies. When I evoke memories of several decades ago, when the church was a separate entity, minus the consuming ways of the world, sometimes I wish I could journey back to that time period of marked distinction between Christians and non.

There was a time even in general society when respect for Biblical principles was everywhere present. I was reading a historical periodical for the Canyon County community as Alan’s Aunt Ruth had written an interesting article on the beginnings of the JC Penny store in Nampa, Idaho. Another article struck my eye as well as it dealt with a former public school teacher for the county. It spoke of her faith in Christ which she passed on to the students as she taught them the Bible daily. The account spoke of no hindrance to her daily exhortations as that was when it was proper to have Bible teaching in our learning institutions, which had been legal since the establishment of our nation. Christianity was considered part of normal life in America not that long ago in its past. Of course today, no Bibles are permitted in school as lies of heritage abound. Historical correctness does not establish the rules of our day.

Sometimes it is pleasant to reminisce of these former times of public respect for our Savior as Jeremiah possibly contemplated on a time when the Jews truly respected the Creator of all.

Verse 16 of Jeremiah 10 continues proclamation of the omnipotence of our Lord and God as it states He is the Maker of all. Israel is the tribe of His inheritance and the Lord of Hosts is His name. Lord of Hosts refers to His sovereignty over myriads of angles, countless stars, all creation. There is nothing outside of His complete control. All that is happening is allowed by His reigning hand, under His grace, that desires the salvation of all men. Though we too dwell in an evil period, God is still on the throne awaiting the time of judgment and end of rebellion.

Israel is still the apple of His eye and Jerusalem will be where Christ sets His kingdom. His eyes are continually set on His disobedient ones who have rejected the Savior, but someday Israel will make Christ Lord as well as her surrounding nations.

“Pick up your bundle” is a phrase that informs the people that they will not be able to take everything with them including the kitchen sink; well, actually not their wash basin, when removed from their land; verse 17. It is a visual that labels them vagabond, slave, and worthless human; those that have to be removed from their home in bonds to a distant place. Then God says they will be slung out, it is like the throwing of stones out of one’s yard. They will be removed as valueless and useless rocks.

Before Christ enters our life, we are unproductive and worthless; we offer Him nothing but filthy rags of sin. Yet He takes us in, places a robe on us; adopting us as His royal children. This all performed when we call upon His name, being saved from a life of slavery and bondage.

In order to be saved, we need to see our lost state, which Israel did not; she refused. God would have saved then immediately from their destined slavery state, if they had repented. In the hymn, At the Cross, it testifies in the first verse how Christ died “for such a worm as I.” At least this hymn did originally state this, until people complained that such a phrase damaged one’s self-esteem. In my newer hymnal, the words of At the Cross have been changed and not to protect any innocent ones, to this “for sinners such as I.” It makes unredeemed men appear nicer so they can feel so much better about their lost state. Yes, we are sinners, but a true picture of our helpless state can rightly be presented by a worm. These modernists of our time cast old Isaiah’s truth aside as the Jews did. However, this is truly how God sees us as the Jews are called worms and we are no better; Isaiah 41:14. God also informs them, in this same verse of Isaiah, that He is One who redeems worms and He will redeem them. We were worthless worms before our Redeemer performed that great salvation work in our lives. Isaiah is akin to Jeremiah, though a hundred years previous, as he too revealed the Babylonian invasion and captivity. He was sawed in two for this truthful proclamation. I like to state repeatedly so it is engraved in our memories the admonishment of 2 Peter 3:2. This verse commands us to remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets, and this includes Isaiah and Jeremiah.

The Jews were to be placed under siege by the Babylonians as they did not listen and heed God’s true prophets. Any disobedient way we allow into our lives, places us under siege or bondage. We don’t actually have to be led away in bonds. Anything that possesses no eternal value that we enjoy can place us in chains. That’s why James implores—may your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. This laughter and joy was coming from cultural-fun, not through rejoicing in Christ’s holiness. We all must always ask, what is my source of joy; is it truly Christ and His most holy ways?

“That they may be found” what an interesting phrase amongst this destined sorrow through distress; verse 18. No, God never gave up on them nor does He give up on us. This punishment was for the good of these Jews. It was for their repentance. All discipline seems terrible, yet it leads us forward in our walk with Christ. It directs us into greater maturity as we read in Hebrews chapter 12.

Jeremiah is being empathizing as he uses the first person pronoun to speak of their incurable state in verse 19. Jeremiah seems to want them to know how they will feel when all is destroyed, how they will react in their helplessness, being unassisted.

We change subjects in verse 21 to focus in on the shepherds or their spiritual leaders. Today, we often times use the term shepherds for spiritual leaders too and so did Christ. Christ told Peter to shepherd those who came to saving knowledge.

These shepherds here in Jeremiah were neither close to God nor His Word and were misleading the people with false doctrine. God says they are stupid. Whenever pastors don’t hold to God’s holy and inerrant Word alone, they are acting in stupidity. Many unbiblical ways have entered our churches through compromising pastors. Whatever is trendy, the shepherds will follow and sometimes for social acceptance amongst believers or fellow pastors.

Raffles, drawings, craft and bake sales…all fund raisers—were never to be part of fundamental churches! Pastors, many decades ago, felt such activities were blasphemous to the church’s calling. Unfortunately, they are all the rage today and loved by pastors because the world participates in all this. Christians believe they spell success for promotions. However, we are only to give to church needs because we love Christ. We are to sacrifice as He lays it on our hearts and because we want to obey Him. Unfortunately, this is considered outmoded for today’s churches that desire to make people feel they must give because of all the work it took to put on a sale. How can such motives be truly blessed of God?

Also, if there is a Scriptural legitimate need, it is simply to be brought before the church as we are to make our needs known. We are not commissioned to bring a homemade quilt forward and say “You might win this by buying a raffle ticket at the table out front.” This is just another form of the sinful lottery. Taking a collection is the only example presented for the New Testament church as needs arise. Christ hated people buying and selling at a place of prayer; Matthew 21:12-13.

Because of the compromise in Jeremiah’s time, the followers (or flocks) of these shepherds would be scattered. They were scattered in theology due to stupid teaching and example and they would be scattered when the Babylonians came as well. Tickling the people’s ears by telling them compromise is good got these shepherds nowhere. Those who teach do receive a stricter judgment; James 3:1. God lays it on the line with these spiritual leaders as He did concerning the Sadducees and Pharisees in the New Testament who were headed for the lake of fire.

Verse 23 is key in reminding us that our lives are ultimately directed by the Lord above; our way is not in ourselves nor do we direct our own path or steps. Proverbs 20:24 basically states the same, saying man’s steps are ordained by the Lord and how then can man understand his way? Acts 17:28 tells us that every person in the world lives, moves and has their existence in God. No one could stand, move, see, hear, bat an eyelid, and on and on apart from their creator!

The steps of these Jews were going to be directed to a place not of their choice! God is the one who ultimately has control of all lives. A place of slavery is not a road one would personally choose, but God knows what is best and what will bring these people to their knees in humility.

The humility of Jeremiah and his sinful state is expressed in verse 23. Don’t we all need God’s mercy daily? Jeremiah was a godly, uncompromising man, but he knew he was a sinner deserving of God’s wrath as we all fall into this category of truth.

Jeremiah had a heart possessing a desire to be close to God. He moved through the grace and forgiveness of the Lord, yet desired righteousness and justice to dwell in all the earth. He was obedient and wanted all to bow before the Lord in this same cooperation. He desired the justice of God poured upon those nations who did not fear Him and those who would level Israel. Verse 25 is speaking in past tense so I assume he means Assyria as they made the northern kingdom a wasteland. Egypt also had always been a thorn in Israel’s side as well as Moab and Phoenicia. Though these nations were thorns imparted due to Israel’s sin, Jeremiah still desires justice as they do not worship the King of kings.

All this travels back to the fact that God will bless those nations that care for Israel and will curse those who do not (Genesis 12:3 & Galatians 3:8); even those positioned to spank Israel. Though the land of Israel is deep in sin today, the same curse still applies and I am thankful America is still standing in aid of her to a degree.

To illustrate this perhaps better, suppose God desired to purify His church in America through allowing an enemy into its boarders. Let’s say, we decided to surrender to this ruthless destructive nation that was invading the land through terrorist bombings though we had the power to overcome. America felt it should be sympathetic to their cause as this nation believed America had always been malicious to them, desiring their oil or whatever. Suppose this new nation that took possession closed or destroyed all our truth-held churches. By performing this ill-will, all the chaff and lukewarm believers suddenly held no interest in meeting together knowing it could mean death for them if they were discovered. As a result, the remnant church became on-fire even through great persecution, resulting in many being saved and wishy-washy believers and ecumenicists becoming unheard of. Though this fictitious invading nation brought about a good result, God would still judge these people for their sin just as He did Assyria and Babylon; and later Germany for her atrocities to the Jews.

In the true God and everlasting King,

Val Lee

See  Jeremiah commentaries 1-9 at this link:  http://vallee7.wordpress.com/2009/03/27/jeremiah-the-message-and-messenger/