What does "every man is senseless" teach about human wisdom without God? Setting the Scene Jeremiah 10:14 says, “Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his molded images are a lie, and there is no breath in them.” God is exposing the utter folly of idolatry. The skilled artisan pours energy into crafting a statue, yet the finished product is lifeless. In that light, human cleverness—no matter how refined—proves “senseless” when it disconnects from the living God. What “Every Man Is Senseless” Reveals • “Every man” leaves no exceptions. Apart from God’s revelation, even the brightest mind falls under the same indictment. • “Senseless” (Hebrew: בַּעַר, ba‘ar) pictures cattle-like brutishness—functioning without true understanding. • “Devoid of knowledge” underscores total bankruptcy of spiritual insight. Human perception alone cannot grasp ultimate reality. • The verse links senselessness to idolatry. Wherever the heart clings to created things—ideas, technology, success—reason degrades into futility. Why Human Wisdom Crumbles Without God 1. Source Failure • Knowledge must start with God: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Without that foundation, the structure collapses. 2. Exchange of Glory • Romans 1:21-22: “Claiming to be wise, they became fools.” When people trade God’s glory for substitutes, intelligence reverses into irrationality. 3. Moral Darkness • Ephesians 4:18: “They are darkened in their understanding… because of the blindness of their hearts.” Sin blinds the intellect. 4. Divine Contrast • 1 Corinthians 1:20-25 shows God deliberately overturning human boastfulness: “The foolishness of God is wiser than men.” The cross unmasks how short-sighted human wisdom really is. Supporting Scriptures • Proverbs 3:5-7—leaning on our own understanding leads us astray. • Psalm 14:1—the fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” • Isaiah 44:9-20—a vivid satire of craftsmen who worship the idols they carve. • Jeremiah 51:17—echoes the same wording as 10:14, stressing universal senselessness. Takeaway for Us • Intellectual gifts are blessings, yet they must submit to God’s truth or they become empty. • Any pursuit—science, art, career—turns idolatrous if it replaces reliance on the Creator. • Genuine wisdom begins by acknowledging our limits and seeking the Lord’s counsel through His Word (James 1:5). • The remedy for senselessness is not more information but transformation: “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). Relying on Him reorients every thought, restores sanity to our reasoning, and guards us from the futility Jeremiah exposes. |
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