A Knock on Wood

You’ve probably heard or maybe even used the phrase “Knock on wood” before. In the South it’s used to keep from jinxing ourselves. We might say “Things are going great, knock-on wood.” Where did this phrase come from? Most likely it was a custom originated by Celtic people who believed spirits or fairies lived in trees. Knocking on the wood was a way to alert them of a need or maybe even to distract an evil spirit. Knocking on wood was, therefore, good luck.

In our text today we have a knock-on wood. A “knock” is an insult, a criticism. The Lord Himself gives a knock on the wooden idols of the day. He criticizes the practice of idolatry. As we read this we can see that Jeremiah has extensive knowledge of the practice of idolatry. He witnessed it firsthand. Idolatry had become so common in the land that Jeremiah could speak extensively about the practice. Isaiah does the same thing (Isa. 40:18-20).

1. Idolatry is a foolish practice (1-5).

A. A warning to all of Israel (1-2).

Notice Jeremiah includes all of Israel in his warning. The Northern Kingdom was already gone. The people were scattered. The Southern Kingdom would be defeated soon. But God has not abandoned the North or the South. He is still speaking to the entire house of Israel.

He says “Learn not the way of the nations.” Israel was so infatuated with the pagan nations that they copied everything they did. They even learned to fear what the pagan nations feared. We have an example of this in verse 2.

“Dismayed” means to be afraid. The pagans feared the signs they saw in the heavens. This could be a shooting star, an eclipse, comets, etc. They believed the gods were communicating to them from the heavens. They thought signs they saw in the heavens were a warning about some catastrophic event that was on its way. Therefore, when they saw these things they would engage vigorously in idol worship to protect themselves.

In our culture:

Some people are infatuated with horoscopes.

Some are infatuated with UFOS

Some are infatuated with meteors

God’s people are not to react the way the world reacts. We know the One who created the heavens. The stars belong to Him. We don’t have to look to the stars, we look to the One who made the stars.

B. The construction of an idol (3-4).

Jeremiah says the customs of the people are vanity. In other words, what they do to protect themselves is worthless.

Jeremiah lays out the process, step by step of building an idol.

The cut a tree down from the forest.

They carve it into some sort of image.

They decorate it with silver or gold.

They nail it down, so it won’t tip over.

The last part is probably sarcasm. It proves the point of how foolish idolatry is. The idol can’t even stand on its own.

I want to mention a couple of things about the process:

1. The idol was more of a burden than a help. Look at all the effort that went into creating the idol.

2. The idol is made of material that is less valuable than humans. Humans are more valuable than trees, silver or gold.

C. The weakness of idols (5).

The sarcasm continues in verse 5. Jeremiah says your idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field. I started to title this sermon “Scarecrows in a Cucumber Field.” The only people fooled by scarecrows are birds. A scarecrow doesn’t protect a field from anything that can reason.

How are the idols like scarecrows? He tells us in verse 5.

They cannot speak.

They have to be carried.

They cannot walk.

Then he returns to the command to not be afraid of the false gods. He says the idols can’t do anything at all. They can’t do good, and they can’t do evil.

They can’t reward or protect you.

They can’t punish you.

I want to mention superstitions here because I have known many in the south who would never worship an idol but they are superstitious. Superstition is just as silly as idolatry.

You can step on a crack and it will not break your mother’s back.

You can break a mirror and you won’t have seven years of bad luck.

A black cat can cross the road in front of you and it will not ruin your day.

Eating greens and black-eyed peas on New Year’s doesn’t help you have a better year.

2. The Greatness of God (6-16).

A. God is unique (6-8).

The idols cannot be compared to God. God is great. His name, His fame/reputation is great. It’s well documented what God has done. He is the King of all nations, not just Israel. He rules over the entire earth. Jeremiah says you can search the entire earth and you will find no one as great as God.

He asks the question “Who would not fear You?” He says the Lord deserves to be feared. The idols don’t deserve this.

They have very little intrinsic worth: wood, metals.

They have accomplished nothing at all.

When given the opportunity to worship idols or God the choice should be crystal clear. God is far greater than any of the idols.

Look at verse 8. This is harsh. He says the people who worship the idols are stupid and foolish because they are getting their instruction from wood. They are literally talking to a tree. What instruction can a tree give? How can one become wise from a tree?

B. God is eternal (9-11).

Jeremiah mentions the high quality of materials used on the idols.

Silver is brought from Tarshish (Spain).

Gold was imported from Uphaz. We’re not sure where that as.

Skilled craftsmen and goldsmith give detail to the idols.

Clothing of violet and purple are draped on the idols. These were expensive colors. They were used for the priestly garments of Israel (Exodus 28).

What is clear is these idols did not exist before the people built them. They may be beautiful, but they will age. They are not eternal. They will not always be beautiful.

Look at verse 10.

The Lord is the True God. In contrast the idols are false.

The Lord is the Living God. In contrast the idols are dead.

The Lord is the everlasting God. In contrast the idols are temporary.

There is another contrast as well. God told Israel not to be afraid of the idols (2). They could do nothing. Now look at the end of verse 10. The earthquakes at the wrath of the God and the nations cannot endure His indignation.

Now look at verse 11. By the way, this is the only verse in Jeremiah written in Aramaic. Some think that means it was added later by a scribe. I don’t think that’s the case at all. There are other reasons it could have been written in Aramaic.

It could have been an Aramaic Proverb. For that reason, it was kept in its original form.

It could have been written in Aramaic to highlight it. Many people in Jeremiah’s culture spoke both Hebrew and Aramaic as the languages are similar.

It’s a powerful verse. The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth. The eternal God will rid the world of all idols that were created by man. Idols have a beginning with man and an end with God. But God is eternal.

C. There is only one God who should be feared (12-16).

By His power God created the earth.

By His wisdom He established the earth.

By His understanding He stretched out the heavens.

God has the ability to do what He pleases. He is not like the powerless idols.

He speaks and the rain falls.

He causes the water to evaporate.

He makes the lightning.

He causes the wind to blow.

Verse 13 shows that God has control over the weather. This was important to the growth of crops. The pagans built idols to worship so their crops would grow. Their work was in vain. God controls the weather.

In verses 14-15 we see that the idols are an embarrassment to the people who worship them.

The idols and those who worship them are without knowledge.

The idols have no breath in them.

The idols are worthless.

The idols are a delusion.

Please understand Jeremiah is attacking a religion. Many would be upset with Jeremiah today. They would say he needs to respect their religion. He doesn’t respect it at all.

In verse 16 we see the God who should be feared. The portion of Jacob is the God of Israel.

He is the creator of all things.

Israel is His people.

The LORD of Hosts is name.

3. Judah should prepare to be exiled (17-22).

A. Judah should submit to the discipline of the Lord (17-18).

Look at what God will do in verse 18.

He is slinging out the inhabitants of the land. They will be taken to Babylon.

He will bring distress on the nation.

The people will feel it.

The false prophet’s words were not true. There was no peace. The Lord was going to discipline His people.

Jeremiah tells the people in verse 17 to pack their bags. They are leaving Jerusalem.

There are times we can only endure what the Lord has chosen to do. When those times come the best thing we can do is submit to Him. We may not like it. But there is nothing we can do about it.

B. Jeremiah is broken (19-21).

There is no gloating from Jeremiah. Look at verse 19. He is hurt. He’s grieving. But he says he knows he has to endure the affliction. Jeremiah is going to be exiled as well. But he doesn’t seem to be that concerned about himself. His concern appears to be for the people.

Look at verses 20-21. Jeremiah likens himself to a mother whose tent has been destroyed and children have been taken from her.

Look at who is blamed in verse 21. The leaders are blamed. They were stupid. They did not seek the Lord. The destruction of the nation and the scattering of the people is blamed on the leaders of Judah. Their rejection of leaders like Jeremiah and their acceptance of the false prophets led to the demise of the nation.

C. Babylon is coming (22).

As Babylon made its way from the North word would begin to spread. The rumors would be shared. Fear would begin to mount. Suddenly the Babylonian army would appear and destroy the cities of Judah. When they were finished the land would be like a barren wilderness fit for wild jackals and other scavengers.

4. Jeremiah prays (23-25).

A. He leans on God (23).

He admits that man cannot gain the blessing of God by himself. We are fools by nature. We do not know God’s way. On our own we will always choose what is wrong. The humility of Jeremiah is a beautiful thing in this verse. We ought to learn from it.

God, I can’t do it.

God, I don’t know how.

God, I am weak.

That’s a great way to pray.

B. He asks God for discipline not destruction.

He asks the Lord that the Babylonian captivity be a disciplining process. “Correct me, but in justice”. He’s asking the Lord not to lose patience with him or the people. He is aware that the Lord is able to completely destroy the people, he asks Him not to.

C. He asks the Lord to judge the ungodly nations (25).

Jeremiah did not see Babylon as a great nation. He knew they were ungodly. God’s use of that nation was not a stamp of approval on them. It was Jeremiah’s desire that the Lord judge Babylon and nations like it because they did not call on the name of the Lord.

But he also desired they be punished because of what they did to the people of God.

They devoured Jacob.

They consumed him.

They laid waste his habitation.

God would judge the Babylonians. It wouldn’t be long before the Persian Empire took them over. This is a great lesson for us. God has the right to use even ungodly nations to accomplish His will. He then also has the right to punish the ungodly nations He uses.

This is why we should never assume God is on someone’s side simply because they are victorious. The ungodly often prosper in this world. God’s ways are above our ways and His understanding is above our understanding.

We live in a culture filled with idolatry. There is a lot we can learn from these passages. The most important thing we can learn is that it is foolish to fear or trust in a god created by man. There is one God. He should be feared and trusted. He has made Himself known through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. To worship any other is idolatry and will lead to destruction.