I know, LORD, that a person’s way of life is not his own; no one who walks determines his own steps. Discipline me, LORD, but with justice — not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing. Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t recognize you and on the families that don’t call on your name, for they have consumed Jacob; they have consumed him and finished him off and made his homeland desolate.
Jeremiah 10:23-25
Jeremiah’s prayers are so short but so packed full of meaning!
“I know, LORD, that a person’s way of life is not his own; no one who walks determines his own steps.“
Israel isn’t listening to Jeremiah’s warnings! Only God can make Israel call on His name. Jeremiah can’t do this.
Discipline me, LORD, but with justice — not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing.
Israel is already being disciplined, that is why they are in exile, they deserve worse, but God is patient and just.
Jeremiah starts off Chapter 10 with a warning for Israel: Do not follow the ways of the nations, for their gods are useless idols made by man. Then he gives praise to the God, for “the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at his wrath, and the nations cannot endure his rage.” [Jeremiah 10:10 CSB] Here he repeats the Psalms (LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger; do not discipline me in your wrath. Psalm 6:1) begging God for Mercy.
Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t recognize you and on the families that don’t call on your name, for they have consumed Jacob; they have consumed him and finished him off and made his homeland desolate.
Again repeating Psalms (Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that don’t call on your name, for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland. Psalm 79:6-7) Jeremiah begs God for Justice and wrath against the enemies of God, all the peoples who profane God’s holiness, who do not call on His name, who does not remember His works, who does not recognize God.
“Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of the heavens. The vessels from his house were brought to you, and as you and your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them, you praised the gods made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or understand. But you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in his hand and who controls the whole course of your life.
Daniel 5:23
His wrath is coming. And peoples and nations who refuse to recognize him will be judged. But “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13”
Gloriously Broken 