Jewels of Wisdom: Jeremiah 10:2 - A Call to Holiness: Why Separation Matters

Jeremiah 10:2 gives us a powerful command from YAH:

"Thus says YAH: 'Do not learn the way of the nations, and do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, because the nations are dismayed at them.'" (Jeremiah 10:2)

In this single verse, we find several key principles that remain relevant to us today. GOD calls His people to be distinct, separate, and holy, and warns against cultural assimilation and the cultural appropriation of other nations’ customs and traditions, especially when those traditions involve idolatry, eating unclean foods, dressing provocatively, acts of uncleanliness, dishonoring parents and elders, and celebrating holidays. We, as a nation, must remain holy, distinct, and separate from all other nations.

The Importance of Separation

The main message of Jeremiah 10:2 is the importance of separation. GOD’S people are not to blend in with the surrounding cultures. We are called to a higher standard, a set-apart existence. This principle of separation runs throughout the scriptures:

• Leviticus 20:26: "Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I YAH am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine."
• Deuteronomy 7:3-6: "You shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. For they will turn your hearts away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of YAH will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you. But rather, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherim, and burn their carved images in the fire. For you are a people holy to YAH your GOD; YAH your GOD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth."

GOD’S people are to be distinct, not for the sake of pride or isolation, but because our identity and purpose are rooted in Him. He is holy, and we are to reflect His holiness.

Avoiding Cultural Assimilation

Jeremiah 10:2 specifically warns against "learning the way of the nations." This speaks to the danger of cultural assimilation, where our people adopt the practices, values, and beliefs of the cultures around us, especially christianity, judaism, and islam. This assimilation often leads to a dilution and pollution of our faith and a departure from GOD’S commands.

• Exodus 23:32: "You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods."
• Deuteronomy 12:29-31: "When YAH your GOD cuts off from before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, be careful that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?' You shall not worship YAH your GOD in that way, for every abominable act which YAH hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as offerings to their gods.” Today, our people murder our children through abortion, a sinful act instituted by this nation to diminish us. We also have inquired after the gods of this land, so much so that our people have replaced our Elohim with the stock of a tree with a man hanging on it. We, as a nation, call upon this idol for deliverance and salvation. We have a hatred towards GOD and refuse to serve Him, worship Him, or obey his laws.

The Sin of Idolatry

The most significant danger in cultural assimilation is the adoption of idolatry. Idolatry is the worship of anything or anyone other than the one true GOD. Jeremiah 10:10 declares that GOD is the only true GOD. Serving idols, including jesus christ, is a direct violation of the first commandment and a betrayal of GOD'S covenant. Jeremiah 10:2 warns against being "dismayed at the signs of heaven" because the nations were engaging in astrological idolatry, seeking guidance and meaning from the creation rather than the Creator.

• Exodus 20:3-5: "You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in the heavens above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, YAH your GOD, am a jealous GOD, inflicting the punishment of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.”
• Jeremiah chapter 10:10-16: "YAH is the only true GOD. He is the living GOD and the everlasting King. When He shows His anger, the earth shakes. None of the nations can stand up to his fury.  (11) You people of Israel should tell those nations this: These gods did not make heaven and earth. They will disappear from the earth and from under the heavens. (12)  YAH is the one who by His power made the earth. He is the one who by His wisdom established the world. And by His understanding, He spread out the skies. (13) When His voice thunders, the heavenly ocean roars. He makes the clouds rise from the far-off horizons. He makes the lightning flashout in the midst of the rain. He unleashes the wind from the places where He stores it. (14) All these idolaters will prove to be stupid and ignorant. Every goldsmith will be disgraced by the idol he made. For the image he forges is merely a sham. There is no breath in any of those idols. (15) They are worthless, mere objects to be mocked. When the time comes to punish them, they will be destroyed. (16) YAH, who is the inheritance of Jacob’s descendants, is not like them. He is the one who created everything. And the people of Israel are those He claims as His own. His name is YAH of Heaven’s Armies."
• Deuteronomy 4:15-19: "So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day YAH spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire, so that you do not act corruptly and make a carved image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky, the likeness of anything that crawls on the ground, or the likeness of any fish that is in the water below. And beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which YAH your GOD has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven."
• Psalm 115:4-8: "Their idols are mere silver and gold, fashioned by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak; and eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear; and noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel; and feet, but cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound from their throats. Those who make them will be like them, as will all who trust in them."

While the specific images and forms of idolatry may change, the laws remains the same. GOD’S people, the children of Israel, are to avoid any practice or belief that gives ultimate allegiance to something other than our GOD, the GOD of the Hebrews. This includes not only overt idolatry but also the subtle ways in which worldly values and customs can creep into our lives and hearts. We are to test all things, hold fast to what is good, and abstain from every form of evil.

I hope this blog post has been helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. Shalom