“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”
(Jeremiah 17:5)
The people of Judah received repeated warnings from God concerning their rebellion, yet they didn’t listen. Specifically here Jeremiah alerts them about the danger of misplaced trust. In addition, the law of Moses contained severe threats against their sins. But instead of turning to the Lord in repentance, they continued to seek security in human strength.
They trusted in alliances, armies, and earthly power. Even when God plainly declared that such dependence would fail them, they persisted in relying on what Scripture calls “an arm of flesh.” In their distress they turned to Egypt for help, trusting in chariots and horses rather than in the Lord who had delivered them in former generations.
Trusting in human strength exposes a heart that has departed from God. The text describes such a person in two ways. First, his behavior toward man shows misplaced confidence, trusting in human strength. Second, his behavior toward God reveals separation: his heart departs from the Lord.[1]
A heart that clings to human security cannot simultaneously trust in God. If we place our confidence in human power, earthly resources, or worldly systems, our heart inevitably moves away from reliance on the Lord.
To trust in the creature rather than the Creator is to reject the proper order established by God. Because when the creature is elevated to the place of ultimate security, the heart abandons the One who alone can sustain life and blessing.
The prophet illustrates the condition of such a person by comparing him to a barren plant in the desert, a dry shrub standing in a lifeless wilderness. The rains may fall and the sun may shine, yet the plant remains fruitless and unrefreshed. It does not flourish even when favorable conditions appear. Though such a one may encounter opportunities, blessings, and moments of relief, these good things never produce true fruit within the soul. The heart remains dry because it is disconnected from the true source of life.
This warning is in direct contrast to the condition of those who trust in the Lord, whom the prophet goes on to describe as a tree planted beside abundant waters. Its roots stretch toward the river, drawing continual nourishment. Even in times of drought, it remains green and fruitful (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
One life rests upon the unstable support of human strength, while the other draws life from the unfailing provision of God. The former ends in barrenness, while the latter produces enduring fruit.
The call of this passage is ultimately a call to repentance. By turning away from reliance on the creature and directing our faith and trust toward God, we move from barrenness of soul to a spiritually fruitful, abundant life.
Contemplations:
- Confessing my tendency to trust in human strength. Lord, I confess that my heart is often drawn toward the security of human solutions rather than resting in You. When I face difficulty, I quickly look for earthly support, believing that human wisdom or strength or resources will protect me. Forgive me for trusting in what cannot truly save and teach my heart to rest in You instead.
- Acknowledging my wayward heart. Father, Your Word says that trusting in the creature reveals a heart departing from You. I see how easily my thoughts drift toward self-reliance and confidence in worldly means, something that happens quietly and gradually. Draw my heart back to You so that my trust remains anchored in Your faithfulness.
- Admitting my spiritual barrenness without You. Lord, when I depend upon myself or other people, my soul becomes dry and fruitless because apart from Your sustaining grace I cannot flourish. Just as the desert shrub cannot live without water, I cannot live without Your presence. Let this truth humble me and lead me to seek You continually.
- Seeking a heart that trusts You alone. God, I desire a heart that instinctively turns toward You in every circumstance. When anxiety rises or uncertainty surrounds me, help me remember that You alone are my refuge. Teach me to rely on Your wisdom, Your power, and Your promises instead of placing confidence in earthly things.
Prayer (Confession)
Holy and righteous Lord, I acknowledge the truth of Your Word that declares a curse on those who trust in human strength and turn their hearts away from You, realizing that this warning exposes a weakness within my own soul.
You alone are the source of life, wisdom, and security, yet I have often looked elsewhere for stability. When my circumstances look uncertain, I often turn first to human solutions rather than seeking Your guidance. I have trusted in my own understanding, relied upon earthly resources, and placed confidence in people who are as frail as I am.
Forgive me for the ways I have allowed my heart to drift from You. Your Word reveals that to trust in the creature is to depart from the Lord. This tendency reflects the lingering corruption of my fallen nature. Left to myself, I easily forget that every good and perfect gift comes from Your hand.
Lord, I confess that reliance on human strength leaves my soul barren. Like the shrub in the desert, a life built upon earthly supports cannot produce lasting fruit. And when I consider these things, I see how often my confidence in temporary support has led to anxiety, disappointment, and spiritual dryness.
Have mercy on me and restore my wandering heart. Teach me to place my confidence where it belongs—in You alone. Let my trust rest not in wealth, influence, intelligence, or human approval, but in Your unfailing faithfulness.
Renew my understanding so that I remember the weakness of the creature and the sufficiency of the Creator. Remind me daily that human strength fails, but Your power never diminishes. When I am tempted to depend on earthly resources, draw my thoughts back to the certainty of Your promises.
Create within me a heart that quickly turns toward You in prayer and dependence. Let every trial remind me that my safety is found only in Your care. Help me walk through life with humility, acknowledging that apart from You I can do nothing.
May my confidence increasingly be fixed upon Your character, Your wisdom, and Your covenant mercy. As You correct my misplaced trust, lead me into deeper reliance upon You so that my life may bear fruit for Your glory.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Jer. 17:5:
Psalm 146:3; Isa. 2:22; Psalm 118:8; Isaiah 31:1-3
[1] Jonathan Edwards, “Trusting in the Creature,” in Jonathan Edwards Sermons, ed. Wilson H. Kimnach (New Haven, CT: The Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University, 1729), Je 17:5–6.
