John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 10:16

"The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance: Jehovah of hosts is his name." — Jeremiah 10:16 (ASV)

We have said before that superstitions cannot be rejected from the heart and boldly, unless the true God is known. For the heathens, even when they disapproved of the opinions of the common people, yet reasoned on both sides, knew nothing certain, and had no sure faith. It is, therefore, necessary that we should first have a knowledge of the true God. Hence, the Prophets, whenever they spoke of idols, also spoke of the true God, for it would have served little purpose to condemn these follies unless they represented God in His own real dignity. For this reason, the Prophet says again that God, who is the portion of Israel, is not like idols.

He calls God the portion of Israel so that he might preserve the people in the pure truth of the law which they had learned and with which they had been favored. Thus, he draws the attention of the Israelites away from all the inventions of men or of the heathens. The portion then of Israel is not like idols—how so? For he is the former of all things, that is, the creator of heaven and earth.

Then he says, Israel is the rod of his inheritance. Rod may be taken for a measuring rod, and I think it should be understood this way, for he mentions inheritance. He took the comparison from common practice, as people are accustomed to measure fields and possessions by a rod. He therefore says, Israel is the rod, that is, the measuring rod, of his inheritance. He concludes by saying, Jehovah of hosts is his name.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that as You have been pleased to show Yourself so plainly to us, and as You are pleased to confirm us in Your truth, O grant that we may not turn aside either to the right hand or to the left, but depend entirely on Your word, and so cling to You that no errors of the world may draw us aside. May we constantly persevere in that faith which we have learned from Your Law and Your Prophets, and especially from Your gospel, where You have made Yourself more clearly known to us, through Christ Jesus, until we at last enjoy Your full and perfect glory, when we shall be transformed into it in that inheritance, which has been purchased for us by the blood of Your only-begotten Son. Amen.