Freethought & Rationalism Archive

DerekK · 12-18-2007, 10:10 AM

Has anybody here ever seen a critique, or a fundamentalist/inerrantist defense, of the 22nd verse of Jeremiah chapter 5?

" "Do you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it." "

Is the obvious falsity of such a (purported) claim by The Deity just explained away as hyperbole or exaggeration? I mean, I'm pretty sure the folks in Louisiana and Indonesia would be much happier if this verse were true, but it's certainly not.

I stumbled across the verse the other day because some Christian made one of those "motivational" posters out of it, and I almost sprayed milk out of my nose when I read it. It's so absurd, I was actually surprised I'd not run across it before in one of those big "Biblical contradictions and irrationalities" lists.

In any case, it might be a good stumper reference, next time someone has the unfortunate luck to be speaking in person with an evangelical Christian...

Toto · 12-18-2007, 10:44 AM

You might as well ask why there are still floods when God sent a rainbow to indicate that he had repented of his desire to destroy his creation.

I'm sure the fundamentalist can come up with a good reason why his god decided to drown a lot of tourists who went to heathen lands for frivolity and probably fornication, or to flood out those Mardi Gras revelers. But this verse shows him that his god will not drown him!

studylight

Quote:

We must fear the Lord and his greatness, Jeremiah 5:22. Upon this account he demands our fear: Shall we not tremble at his presence, and not be afraid of affronting him, or trifling with him, who in the kingdom of nature and providence gives such incontestable proofs of his almighty power and sovereign dominion? Here is one instance given of very many that might be given: he keeps the sea within compass. Though the tides flow with a mighty strength twice every day, and if they should flow on awhile would drown the world, though in a storm the billows rise high and dash to the shore with incredible force and fury, yet they are under check, they return, they retire, and no harm is done. This is the Lord's doing, and, if it were not common, it would be marvellous in our eyes. He has placed the sand for the bound of the sea, not only for a meer-stone, to mark out how far it may come and where it must stop, but as a mound, or fence, to put a stop to it. A wall of sand shall be as effectual as a wall of brass to check the flowing waves, when God is pleased to make it so; nay, that is chosen rather, to teach us that a soft answer, like the soft sand, turns away wrath, and quiets a foaming rage, when grievous words, like hard rocks, do but exasperate, and make the waters cast forth so much the more mire and dirt. This bound is placed by a perpetual decree, by an ordinance of antiquity (so some read it), and then it sends us as far back as to the creation of the world, when God divided between the sea and dry land, and fixed marches between them, Genesis 1:9,10 (which is elegantly described, Psalms 104:6-26, &c., and Job 38:8-41, &c.), or to the period of Noah's flood, when God promised that he would never drown the world again, Genesis 9:11. An ordinance of perpetuity--so our translation takes it. It is a perpetual decree; it has had its effect all along to this day and shall still continue till day and night come to an end. This perpetual decree the waters of the sea cannot pass over nor break through. Though the waves thereof toss themselves, as the troubled sea does when it cannot rest, yet can they not prevail; though they roar and rage as if they were vexed at the check given them, yet can they not pass over. Now this is a good reason why we should fear God; for, (1.) By this we see that he is a God of almighty power and universal sovereignty, and therefore to be feared and had in reverence. (2.) This shows us how easily he could drown the world again and how much we continually lie at his mercy, and therefore we should be afraid of making him our enemy. (3.) Even the unruly waves of the sea observe his decree and retreat at his check, and shall not we then? Why are our hearts revolting and rebellious, when the sea neither revolts nor rebels?

Primitive reasoning.

12-18-2007, 10:10 AM	#1
DerekK Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 22	Jeremiah 5 Has anybody here ever seen a critique, or a fundamentalist/inerrantist defense, of the 22nd verse of Jeremiah chapter 5? " "Do you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it." " Is the obvious falsity of such a (purported) claim by The Deity just explained away as hyperbole or exaggeration? I mean, I'm pretty sure the folks in Louisiana and Indonesia would be much happier if this verse were true, but it's certainly not. I stumbled across the verse the other day because some Christian made one of those "motivational" posters out of it, and I almost sprayed milk out of my nose when I read it. It's so absurd, I was actually surprised I'd not run across it before in one of those big "Biblical contradictions and irrationalities" lists. In any case, it might be a good stumper reference, next time someone has the unfortunate luck to be speaking in person with an evangelical Christian...

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.