Jeremiah 10

King of Nations

King of nations — sovereign over every people, not Israel only

Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. Jeremiah 10:6–7

Idols are carried around by the people who made them, but Jehovah has no equal and rules all nations. John heard the redeemed sing the song of the Lamb with the same question: who shall not fear thee, O Lord?

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• alluded to by Revelation 15:3-4 — The song of Moses and the Lamb: 'Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?'

The Living God, Everlasting King

But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Jeremiah 10:10

Unlike a dead idol, Jehovah is alive and His reign never ends. Jehovah is the premortal Christ, whose kingdom will never end.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it

• alluded to by 1 Thessalonians 1:9 — Converts turned from idols 'to serve the living and true God.'
• the same title in Luke 1:32-33 — Of Jesus: 'of his kingdom there shall be no end.'

Jehovah the Creator

He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. Jeremiah 10:12–13

The 'he' who made the earth and heavens is the LORD of verse 10. Restoration scripture teaches that Jesus Christ is the Creator of heaven and earth.

• a parallel account in Jeremiah 51:15-16 — The same words about the Creator are repeated.
• interpreted by Mosiah 3:8 — Jesus Christ is 'the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning.'
• interpreted by John 1:3 — All things were made by Him, the Word.

Portion of Jacob, Former of All Things

Portion of Jacob — the God who is Israel's own inheritance; LORD of hosts — Jehovah of heaven's armies

The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name. Jeremiah 10:16

Israel's 'portion,' its true treasure, is not an idol but the God who formed everything, whose name is the LORD of hosts. Christ, as Jehovah, is both the Creator and the inheritance of His covenant people.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• a parallel account in Jeremiah 51:19 — Repeats 'The portion of Jacob... he is the former of all things... The LORD of hosts is his name.'

Bearing the grief

Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it. Jeremiah 10:19

Jeremiah, speaking for wounded Jerusalem, resolves to bear a grief he did not choose. The words softly echo the Suffering Servant who 'hath borne our griefs.' The speaker here is the prophet or the nation, not the Messiah.

• alludes to Isaiah 53:4 — 'Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.'