“Now with all our heart,
We follow you!
We fear you!
We seek your presence!
Do not put us to shame!
Deal with us
In your patience!
Deal with us
In your abundant mercy!”
Azariah pointed out that they were going to follow God with all their heart. They feared him and were seeking his presence. However, they did not want to be put to shame. They wanted God’s patience and mercy to come to them.
“Everyone is stupid
Without knowledge.
Goldsmiths are put to shame
By their idols.
Their images are false.
There is no breath in them.
They are worthless.
They are a work of delusion.
At the time of their punishment,
They shall perish.
Not like these is Yahweh.
He is the portion of Jacob.
He formed all things.
Israel is the tribe of his inheritance.
Yahweh of hosts is his name.”
Jeremiah contends that the idols are useless because the people who made them were stupid without any kind of knowledge. These goldsmiths will be put to shame because they have created false images without any breath in them. They are worthless works of delusion that will perish at the time of punishment. Yahweh, on the other hand, has formed all things. His portion and inheritance is the tribe of Jacob or Israel. He, of course, is called Yahweh of hosts.
“Therefore thus says Yahweh God.
‘My servants shall eat.
But you shall be hungry.
My servants shall drink.
But you shall be thirsty.
My servants shall rejoice.
But you shall be put to shame.
My servants shall sing
From gladness of the heart.
But you shall cry
Out of pain of the heart.
You shall wail
For anguish of spirit.’”
Yahweh pointed out that his servants would be fine. However, the others were in trouble. Yahweh’s servants would eat, drink, and rejoice, while the others would be hungry, thirsty, and put to shame. The servants of Yahweh would sing with gladness in their heart. The others would have a painful cry from the heart. They would wail because of their bruised spirit.
“Yahweh God helps me.
Therefore I have not been disgraced.
Therefore I have set my face
Like a flint.
I know that I shall not be put to shame.
He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
It is Yahweh God who helps me.
Who will declare me guilty?
All of them will wear out
Like a garment.
The moth will eat them up.”
Second Isaiah says that this suffering servant will be vindicated. God would help him, so that he can suffer for God’s sake. This servant had a hard flint like face, because he knew that he would not be put to shame. Yahweh was near to him. Who was going to contend with this servant? Where were his adversaries? He would stand together with Yahweh. Let them try to confront him, because God would help him. No one will declare him guilty. All of them will wear out like a moth eaten old garment. Thus this is suffering for God with a clear purpose.
“All who make idols
Are nothing.
The things they delight in
Do not profit.
Their witnesses neither see
Nor know.
Thus they will be put to shame.
Who fashions a god?
Who casts an image?
Can they do any good?
Look!
All its devotees shall be put to shame.
The artisans are merely human.
Let them all assemble!
Let them stand up!
They shall be terrified.
They shall all be put to shame.”
Second Isaiah has a strong condemnation of those who make false idols. They are nothing. They delight in things that bring them no good. They and their devotees will be put to shame, which is repeated again twice. Who fashions these gods and casts their images? Can they do any good? They are just mere humans. Let them stand up together and be shamed. In fact, the biggest punishment for these idol makers was their own shame.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 