Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Aug 16 2019 - Jeremiah 10:1-16 – Idols are not like our God

Much of today's passage is devoted to describing idols. The craftsman takes a piece of wood from the forest and labours in shaping it to represent a god. It is then adorned with precious metals – hammered silver brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz – before being adorned with blue and purple garments made by skilled workers. Finally it is fastened to some sort of stand or plinth – without nails it would topple over. It's "like a scarecrow in a cucumber field," says Jeremiah (v.5). It cannot speak or move but is carried by those who worship it. You don't need to fear such 'gods'.

Jeremiah is addressing a people who have adopted the practices of the peoples around them (v.1). They are full of superstitious fears – that if they do not placate this or that god, if they do not offer right sacrifices then they will suffer bad harvests or disease. When they see "signs in the heavens" – perhaps gathering storms before the harvest is ripe – they are filled with fear and rush off to prostrate themselves to their scarecrow. There is no need to fear such things, says Jeremiah, these idols are worthless and helpless; they cannot bring blessing or trouble to those devoted to them.

But what a contrast there is with the Lord, the living and true God. He was not made by the hands of human craftsmen – or conjured up by the ingenuity of human priests or theologians.

He is the living God, the eternal King…
God made the earth by his power;
    he founded the world by his wisdom
    and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. (vv.10,12)

He is the God who made us and who has set his love on his foolish and wayward people (see v.16). He is a God who sees and hears and acts. He is a God to be feared for:

When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar;
    he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning with the rain
    and brings out the wind from his storehouses. (v.13)

The "signs in the heavens" are his signs, whether lightning and thunder or the darkening clouds that bring the longed for rain. He created the rainbow and sets it in the sky to assure us that in judgment he always remembers mercy. He is a God who keeps his covenant promises.

Many people today are enslaved by all sorts of superstitious fears. They follow their horoscopes, fearful of what the coming day or week may bring. Many still prostrate themselves before idols of their own making. The living God has freed us from such fears. He sent his Son into the world to show us the depth of his love and to win us back to himself. He is the God who alone sees and hears and acts. He is the God who stoops to save and who lifts us up.

Verse 11 of this passage has a message for the nations: "Tell them this: 'These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.'" The Book of Jeremiah was written in Hebrew, but this message is written in Aramaic, the common language of the empire in Jeremiah's day. It is the message from the living God for a world cowering in fear. It is the message entrusted now to us: "Put away your worthless idols and come to know the living God who has made himself known in the Lord Jesus Christ. Exchange his peace for your fear."

Father God, we thank you that you are not an idol of our own making but the living God who created all things and who made us that we should know and love you. Thank you for the Lord Jesus who has set us free from fear and, by his death and resurrection, forgiven us all our sins and given us life that even death cannot destroy. Help us by your Spirit to tell others, in words they can understand, of your great love that they too may turn to the living God from idols and live lives freed from fear.

Aug 16 2020 - 1 Peter 4:7-5:14 – Be alert

In our day and culture, the devil has been reduced to a cartoon character; a red guy with horns and a tail – a fictional figure of fun.

Not long ago, we were remembering the 50th anniversary of the death of C S Lewis. To mark this anniversary, the BBC broadcast readings from his book, The Screwtape Letters, as their Book of the Week. In the preface to that book, Lewis wrote, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”

Lewis quotes Luther: “The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn.” And adds the following from Thomas More: “The devil … the prowde spirite … cannot endure to be mocked.” By all means laugh at the devil, but don’t laugh at the idea of the evil one.

Peter warns us that the devil is all too real and, as always, he is out to destroy the work of God. Peter pictures him as "prowl[ing] around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Peter sees his hand behind the sufferings that Christians were experiencing; their persecution at the hands of the Roman authorities was demonic (he describes Rome as "Babylon" 5:13). When experiencing such trials they are to recognise them for what they are and, rather than abandoning the faith, stand firm, resisting the devil's schemes.

Nor are they called to stand alone against such an adversary. Peter encourages his readers: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (5:6-7). There is one far mightier than the devil. Christians are to remember that even in times of severe trial they remain safe in the mighty hand of God. "So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good... And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. The power belongs to him for ever and ever. Amen" (4:19; 5:10).

God always has the last word. Christ has defeated the devil and has broken his stranglehold upon the human race. We have been called into fellowship with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. He will complete the work that he has begun in us by his Spirit and will bring us safe to glory.

But in the meantime, be alert. Watch out for the devil's schemes; place no confidence in yourself; trust in the almighty power of God; keep on doing good in the face of evil.

Lord Jesus, we praise you that through your death and resurrection, the prince of this world has been judged and defeated. But help us to recognise that he has not ceased to do his evil work. Help us to see where he is at work and to resist his schemes. We recognise our own weakness and how easily we are led astray. We recognise that the evil one find allies in our own heart and our own desires; we cannot withstand him in our own strength. Fill us with your Spirit that we may serve you alone. Strengthen us that we may fight against his work in this world and increase the boundaries of your kingdom. Restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast. The power and the glory are yours for ever and ever. Amen

Peter Misselbrook