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Jeremiah 10:1
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Idols and the True God

1 Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel.
2 Thus says the Lord:
a“Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;
Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven,
For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. 
3 For the customs of the peoples are1 futile;
For aone cuts a tree from the forest,
The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. 
4 They decorate it with silver and gold;
They afasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not topple. 
5 They are upright, like a palm tree,
And athey cannot speak;
They must be bcarried,
Because they cannot go by themselves.
Do not be afraid of them,
For cthey cannot do evil,
Nor can they do any good.” 
6 Inasmuch as there is none alike You, O Lord
(You are great, and Your name is great in might), 
7 aWho would not fear You, O King of the nations?
For this is Your rightful due.
For bamong all the wise men of the nations,
And in all their kingdoms,
There is none like You. 
Commentaries:
Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?
<< Jeremiah 9:26   Jeremiah 10:2 >>

What Does Jeremiah 10:1 Mean?

In light of Jeremiah 10:1, where the Lord speaks directly to the house of Israel, a clear warning emerges against adopting the idolatrous practices of the Gentiles. Halloween, rooted in the traditions of the Celts, descendants of Israelites, exemplifies such heathen customs. The Gentiles, lacking God's revelation, created futile worship practices, unlike Israel, to whom God revealed His law. Following their ways, as with Halloween, adds nothing of God or godliness to character. Such practices, devoid of divine truth, are deemed worthless and a waste of time. Israel is called to heed this word and reject customs that do not align with the truth given by God.




Jeremiah 10:1-5

Jeremiah 10:1-5 reveals a principle that we need to consider in terms of Halloween. The context is the heathen practice of idolatry. In this sense, it is ironic that Halloween comes primarily from the Celts, descendants of the Israelites.

God commands us not to learn the way of the Gentiles, the nations who do not have the revelation of God. The Israelites were different from all the nations chiefly because God had revealed Himself to them and given them His law (Deuteronomy 4:5-8; Amos 3:1-2). The Gentiles invented their own futile, meaningless ways of worship because they did not have the truth.

This is the first reason why we should not keep Halloween. It adds nothing good, that is, nothing of God or godliness, to our character. Being devoid of God's truth, it is simply worthless and a waste of time.

Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Halloween

Related Topics: Celtic Origin of Halloween | False Religion | False Worship | Gentiles, Way of the | Halloween | Halloween, Celtic Origin of | Heathen, Way of the | Idol | Idolatrous Religious Influence | Idolatry | Pagan Holidays | Pagan Religious Practices | Worship, False | Worshipping in Vain




Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Jeremiah 10:1:

Jeremiah 10:1-5


 
<< Jeremiah 9:26   Jeremiah 10:2 >>

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