SOAP 08/12/2015; Jeremiah 10:14-15

Today's reading: Jeremiah 10, 11, 12; John 14

S) "¹⁴ Every man is stupid, devoid of knowledge;
Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols;
For his molten images are deceitful,
And there is no breath in them.
¹⁵ They are worthless, a work of mockery;
In the time of their punishment they will perish."

Jeremiah 10:14-15 (NASB)

O) This was not metaphorical, although it had a limited audience. When He said "every man" He was referring to those who had put their trust in idols, the work of their own hands. God knew, when His judgment was executed and the Babylonian armies came, the people would be put to shame for being deceived by their idolatry. Not only were these idols a mockery to the LORD, but they were actually a mockery to the people who worshiped them. When the calamity came, their idols proved to be worth even less than the gold that was in them. When their punishment came, no amount of gold would save them, and certainly no idols were alive to help them.

A) The first thing that came to mind when I read these verses, was the way our culture today has idolized the sciences. There is a blind belief of anyone who has enough letters after his name, and people take theories as proof, because the majority believes them. Some of them may even be true, but more and more the sciences look like a new religion, and the god is the process (if not the scientists themselves). However, science is deceitful, because it cannot solve the problem of sin, death, or hopelessness, or grief. This is why the gospel has persisted for two thousand years. It is truth, and in it the living God is found, and in Him is found redemption, life, hope, and peace.

P) Father, Your grace is sufficient for me. As great as knowledge is, as much help as science has given us, nothing is as important as the gospel. Give me the conviction to speak the truth with boldness, as well as love. Let people hear the gospel constantly on my lips, and recognize that You are alive, just as You always have been. In You, let them see redemption, life, hope, and peace. Be glorified in my life. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.