\\INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 10\\

This chapter shows that there is no comparison to be made between God
and the idols of the Gentiles; represents the destruction of the Jews
as near at hand; and is closed with some petitions of the prophet. It
begins by way of preface with an exhortation to hear the word of the
Lord, and a dehortation not to learn the way of the Heathens, or be
dismayed at their signs, since their customs were in vain, \\#Jer 10:1-3\\
which lead on to expose their idols, and set forth the greatness and
glory of God. Their idols are described by the matter and makers of
them, \\#Jer 10:3,4,9\\ and from their impotence to speak, to stand, to
move, or do either good or evil, \\#Jer 10:4,5\\, but, on the other
hand, God is described by the greatness of his name and power, and by
the reverence that belongs unto him; in comparison of whom all the wise
men of the nations are brutish, foolish, and vain, \\#Jer 10:6-8\\, by
the epithets of true, living, and everlasting, and by the terribleness
of his wrath, \\#Jer 10:10\\, by his power and wisdom, in making the
heavens and the earth, in causing thunder and lightning, wind and rain,
when the gods that have no share in these shall utterly perish,
\\#Jer 10:11-13\\ their makers being brutish, and brought to shame; and
they falsehood and breathless vanity, the work of errors, and so shall
come to ruin, \\#Jer 10:14,15\\, but he, who is Jacob's portion, and
whose inheritance Israel is, is not like them; being the former of all
things, and his name the Lord of hosts, \\#Jer 10:16\\ and next follows
a prophecy of the destruction of the Jews; wherefore they are bid to
gather up their wares, since in a very little time, and at once, the
Lord would fling them out of the land, and bring them into distress,
\\#Jer 10:17,18\\, upon which the prophet expresses his sympathy with
his people in trouble, and the part of grief he took and bore with
them, \\#Jer 10:19\\, the particulars of his distress, through the
desolation of the land, and the captivity of the people, with the cause
and authors of it, by whose means these things were brought upon them,
are mentioned, \\#Jer 10:20,21\\, and the Chaldean army, the
instruments of their ruin, are represented as just at hand, \\#Jer 10:22\\,
when the prophet, directing himself to God, acknowledges the impotence
of man in general to help and guide himself, deprecates correction in
anger to himself in particular, and prays that the wrath of God might
be poured down upon the Heathens, by whom his people were devoured,
consumed, and made desolate, \\#Jer 10:23-25\\.