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(Jer.10:2). This “says the Lord: do not learn by the way of tongues, and do not be afraid of the signs of heaven. “The paths of tongues” calls ancient beauty. He called astronomy and astrology “heavenly signs,” which he does not allow to follow, but commands to believe in the Lord of the sky. He also ridicules the construction of idols, and says that some are built from wood, others from gold and silver, and that to build them they need a hammer, nails and other tools; the skills and hands of those who know the matter are also needed, that in one place silver is mined, in another gold. (Jer.10:9) Carthage is called “Tarshish”. The silver there is especially praised; Even today rich people covet African silver. Therefore, it is unfair to revere what is such by nature; it can neither bring benefit nor harm. So the Prophet, having shown how ridiculous idols are, composes a song to the God of all: Jer.10:6. There is nothing like You, Lord: great art Thou, and great is the name in the fortress. (Jer.10:7). “Who will not fear You, O king of tongues?” Here the Prophet disparaged the arrogance of the Jews; for Jacob did not say, “The people of God are the part of the Lord,” but he called the God of all nations King of all nations, foretelling to the pagans their future knowledge of God. “Among all the wise tongues, and in all their kingdoms, there is not one like You.” Then the Prophet again brings out the pagan gods among them, and shows that their composition is borrowed from art and essence, and again returns to the hymn of God. Jeremiah 10:10. The Lord God is true, He is the God living "and the King is everlasting". Idols, says the Prophet, have no life, but God is the giver of life, and the God of the living, and the eternal King. “The earth will be shaken by His wrath, and the nations will not endure His rebuke.” So blessed David “says: look upon the earth and make it shake” (Ps. 103:32). Then the Prophet commands to say to the so-called gods: Jer.10:11. Gods who did not create heaven and earth shall perish from the earth, and from these who are under heaven. It is God's nature to create, and not to be created from another. Therefore, if the Son was created, he is not God; if He is the Creator and Creator of all things, then He is truly God. For the Prophet says about Him the following: Jer.10:12. The Lord created the earth in His fortress, He created “the universe in His wisdom, and with His understanding spread out the sky.” This is peculiar to God, and not to be created from another. He gives rain, makes thunderclaps (Jer.10:13) “raises up the clouds from the last of the earth,” because, as He pleases, He lifts up the sea water, and from it the clouds are formed. Jer.10:13. Create sparkles in the rain; because lightning is a sign of rain. “And He brought forth the wind from His treasures. His treasure is His will: I “as He spoke, and was: He commanded, and was created” (Ps. 149:5). “And whatever the Lord pleases, create in heaven and on earth” (Ps. 134:6). Therefore, the true God is the Creator of all this. But most people have fallen into foolishness, and some create gods, others worship what they have made. The prophet also predicts the end of this delusion; for having said: Jer.10:15. The vain essence of the matter is worthy of laughter, those. idols, added: “during their visit they will perish.” The apostolic preaching completely destroyed the memory of them, and we see the fulfillment of the prophecy. Jer.10:16. There is no calico part for Jacob, for he who created all things is His heritage, “and Israel is the rod of His heritage: the Lord of hosts is His name.” It is not this charm that you have been taught, says God; because from ancient times I chose you, and especially worthy of My care for you. Jer.10:17. Gathering from outside the estate yours “dwelling in the elect.” Having summoned the Patriarch of their land of Chaldeans, he resettled them in Palestine, and freed his family, who were enslaved in Egypt, and brought them there. This was also made clear by the prophetic word: “gathering together from without” your possessions “dwelling among the elect,” i.e. He who chose you from other nations gave you the chosen land. Jer.10:18. Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will cast away the inhabitants of this land in sorrow, and I will confuse them, let them be convicted. If only they would do good; then their path would have been regulated. But since they flow to harm; then they become darkened so that they stop their disastrous course. (Jer.10:19). “Woe is found in your contrition: your wound is painful. The Prophet calls sin “contrition”; and “grief” is punishment. Your wickedness, he says, was followed by punishment, and you received a painful ulcer. Then, on behalf of the city, he composes a lamentable song, teaching him in what words he should express his lament for his sin, and says: “Truly this disease exists and has taken hold of me,” i.e. the sinful ulcer became the cause of disaster for me. Jeremiah 10:20. My tabernacle is desolate and destroyed: and all my skin is torn to pieces. Tabernacle He names not only the divine church, but also houses, towers, and fortifications. My sons and my sheep have gone away from me, and “there is no place for them, no place for my tabernacle, no place for my skins.” Suddenly I was abandoned by everyone. The Prophet also speaks about teachers of wickedness. Jer.10:21. The shepherds were overwhelmed and did not seek the Lord. Shepherds names kings and priests; for both of them became the authors of error. The history of the kingdoms and the book of Chronicles reveal this more clearly. “For this reason” all their flock did not understand, but “they were quickly scattered. “Pasture” here does not mean pasture, but the grazing flocks, and says that the foolishness of those who shepherd became the reason for the sheep to go astray. Jer.10:22. The voice of hearing, behold, comes, and the great coward from the land of the north, let him lay the cities of Judah in desolation, and in a state of destruction. By “strufas” he means those huge Libyan animals, which many call strophocamylae [ostriches]; because this animal loves the desert. Then the Prophet explains Who is leading Nebuchadnezzar. Jer.10:23. We know, Lord, because man cannot bear his way, man will go lower, and he will direct his path, and “correct his procession.” He would not have rushed at us, says the Prophet, if this had been displeasing to the Lord. And even if he rushed; I would not have done what I wanted if Your right hand had provided for us. For I know what Sennacherib suffered. Therefore, we beg You, let it not be He who punishes us for our wickedness, but You Yourself, punish us and impose fatherly punishment on us. For this is what the Prophet says in the following words: Jer.10:24. Punish us, Lord, especially in court, and not in rage, and make us not belittled. (Jer.10:25) “Pour out Your wrath on tongues that do not know You, and on nations that have not called Your name. For you have eaten Jacob, and consumed him, and devastated his pasture.” So, from what was said above and from what was added, it is clear that what was said: “Lord,” “for man cannot bear his way,” and you do not subordinate the freedom of our will to natural slavery, and you do not subject our deeds to the necessity of fate, but clearly teaches us that the Lord God holds the helm of the whole world, and rules it wisely, and bestows blessings, and justly punishes when, after great patience, he sees those who are stagnant in slyness.