Sean, Joseph, Dustin and I got together at 8am this morning in our apartment for devotions. Afterwards we split up and our apartment went back to sleep. I'm not sure what Dustin did. Before my final computer science lecture this afternoon, I walked around with a camera, and ended up at strawberry creek.

The portion of the creek I explored is very close to the building my lecture is in.

After lecture (given by our head GSI), we got back our second midterms. I eventually figured out I got around a B on this test... I did better on the first midterm (that was harder), but on this one I made small mistakes that took away a lot of points.

I think I'm doing better in my upper division economics class, but I'm taking that class pass/no pass.

From lecture, I went to stacks and studied for a few hours, before going home, eating dinner, then going to princeton review to study.

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Devotion time questions:

Jeremiah 10:1-5

Jeremiah describes the “ways of the nations” and “customs of the people,” outlining why they are not to be learned nor feared. What are “the ways of the nations” and “customs of the people” I need to identify? Why should they not be learned nor feared?

The nations worshipped things of the heavens and the earth, but not the true God. They would worship the sun, moon, stars, and objects fashioned by their own hands, but not the living God.

Jeremiah emphasises the point that anything we might worship aside from God is inanimate. We should not fear, or give supreme reverence to, anything but God, for nothing that is of this material world or created by ourselves has the power to help or harm us.

He compared the idols that the nations worshipped to being, "Like a scarecrow in a melon patch." To move the idol, the people had to carry it from place to place, and to keep the idol from falling over, they had to fasten it with nails, yet they still tried to consider that object a god to be feared.

Though the nations are terrified of these idols, Jeremiah instructs the people to think clearly for themselves and realize that the idol is powerless.

Jeremiah exhorts the Israelites not to fear idols, for “they can do no harm nor can they do any good.” Why might the people have feared idols?

One possible reason is cultural pressures and conforming to the way the world around them was. If all the nations around them seemed to be worshiping idols and holding false gods in high regard, and if those same nations were powerful and wealthy, then Israel could be influenced negatively just as we can be influenced by what the people around us pursue and worship in life.

Another reason might be pride and lack of trust in the living God. In times of difficulty, the people might turn to their own wisdom and understanding rather than God, since their own idols are physical, tangible things they could put their faith in.

In Exodus 32, when the people saw that Moses hadn't returned after such a long time on the mountain, they gathered together and decided to create a golden calf idol to worship. Rather than continue to trust that the same God that led them out of Egypt would continue to lead them, they decided to turn from God towards something more immediately tangible: something they had control over in a situation they did not.

In what way is idolatry a fear-driven pursuit?

When confronted with difficult situations in life that cause us to cling to something, many people put their trust in things that are tangible, or idols that are, in reality, powerless to help them. In a way, idols are often things that people "escape" to when they cannot deal with things on their own. The example of Israel at Mount Sinai shows this, since the people felt powerless without Moses, and decided to make a golden calf to "lead them". They worshiped the golden calf as an escape from their powerlessness.

In the same way, some examples of modern day idols that people might pursue are money, fame, alcohol, etc...

What idols do I have in my life and what fears motivate me to hold onto them?

Thoughts omitted here.

What words are used to describe idols in this passage? What words are used to describe God? Compare the two lists and consider if they are accurate descriptions. Reflect on your own perception of God and the idols in your life. How does my own perception measure up to Jeremiah’s understanding of God?

Idols

• Worthless
  
• Cannot speak
  
• Cannot walk
  
• Can do no harm
  
• Can do no good
  
• Fraud

God

• Great
  
• Mighty in power
  
• True God
  
• Living God
  
• Eternal King
  
• Power
  
• Wisdom
  
• Understanding

My personal perception or list seems to be more mixed at times, giving more credit to things of the world than they deserve, and taking credit from God. With Jeremiah, the distinction between these two things is very clear: idols are worthless and only God is worthy. I need to attribute to God more of what he deserves, and remove from my perception of idols and worldly things what they cannot provide.

In the midst of his words describing the sober judgment of God, reflect on Jeremiah’s personal anguish as the prophet of God for his people. Who are the prophets placed in my life who experience personal anguish and yet persevere to give me the word of God?

It could not have been easy delivering words of correction, judgement, and predicting impending destruction, yet Jeremiah faithfully ministers these things to the Israelites.

God has placed parents, pastors, and leaders in my life who persevere in correcting and ministering to me, even when it is hard to do so.

Who are the people God has called me to anguish over and persevere to give them His word?

Thoughts omitted here.

Consider the beginning of Jeremiah’s prayer in verse 23. What would it mean for me to recognize “that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for a man to direct his steps”? Are there areas of my life that I need to stop calling my own and allow God to direct my steps? In what ways have I allowed God to direct my life, and what fruit has been born as a result?

It means that I am not the driver or author of my life, but instead I am the passenger who needs to trust God to guide my life correctly. If left to my own judgement and will, my life would quickly hurdle down the wrong path and towards disaster, for nothing we desire that is apart from God can be good. Though things might seem right to me, I need to put everything in God's hands in order to do what is actually right, and this might oppose my personal beliefs or desires.

I need to put more trust in God regarding the future, both short term and long term. In terms of academics, career, family, friends, residence, and everything else that I need to think about in life, I need to put more trust in God and less in myself.

Thoughts omitted here.

"...the event is often overruled so as to be quite contrary to our intention and expectation. We are not masters of our own way, nor can we think that every thing should be according to our mind; we must therefore refer ourselves to God and acquiesce in his will."
Matthew Henry

In allowing God to direct our lives, it also means being receptive and responsive towards his correction. Those he leads and loves, he will also correct.