Can a Man make for Himself gods? (Jeremiah 16:20)

 Can a Man make for Himself gods? (Jeremiah 16:20)

This question in Jeremiah’s prophecy comes at the end of a strong prediction of judgment on the people for their idolatry. Their forefathers pursued false gods, and now the current generation has immersed itself in idolatry even more fully.

But the question stands: Can a man make for himself gods? And the answer is yes, and no.

Of course humanity has delved into idolatry throughout history. The prophets have multiple illustrations of the foolishness of picking out a piece of wood, cutting it in half, burning half for warmth while he fashions the other half into an idol before which he will bow and worship. Over the one half, he roasts a rabbit. Out of the other half, he carves a rabbit and worships it. 

This is clearly a violation of the second commandment, which prohibits the making of a graven image for God. And yet these “craftsmen” would form a god from their own imaginations and depict it in physical form

And so today, we have our material gods formed from human hands, lavishing time and attention upon these objects and, in a real sense, worshipping them. But all of these things will rust, like a car; or leak, like a boat

But it is not only material gods that are a problem. There are also non-material gods, depicted in the first commandment: “Thou shall  have no other gods before Me.” These can be ideas or ideals that we prize above God; philosophies and principles - all of which may be dear to us.

Religious freedom and freedom of speech are among these. Democracy or capitalism might be high ideals. Limited government or fiscal restraint may be highly valued. And these things are not necessarily wrong, just as cars and boats are not necessarily wrong. But they are not to be worshipped. I don’t even like the word “enshrined,” as some of these concepts are described when found in our Founding documents. God is God alone, and He alone is to be worshipped.

Our little verse, Jeremiah 16:20, has been only half quoted. The first half is a critical question: “Can a man make himself gods?” The second half is the reply: “Yet they are not gods!” Contrary to expectation, they cannot deliver or save. They have no eternal value. They are subject to change. Unlike the living God whom we worship.