INTRODUCTORY WORDS (JEREMIAH 50:1). Jeremiah 50:1 ‘The word that YHWH spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by the hand of Jeremiah the prophet: The importance of these words is underlined by the fact that Jeremiah wrote them with his own hand (‘by the hand of Jeremiah t... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH'S JUDGMENT ON BABYLON AND HIS PROMISES CONCERNING THE RESTORATION OF THE REMNANT OF HIS PEOPLE (JEREMIAH 50:1 TO JEREMIAH 51:64). The series of prophecies against the nations had commenced with the prophecy against Egypt, the greatest nation of the area south of the Euphrates. It now finishes w... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FALL OF BABYLON WILL LEAD ON TO THE SPIRITUAL RESTORATION OF ISRAEL (JEREMIAH 50:2). What is to come on Babylon is to be a warning to God's people not to trust in Babylon or enjoy its debauchery and its false religious ideas. Rather they are to take heed to YHWH's words and return to Him in rep... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD'S CALL TO HIS ERRANT PEOPLE TO FLEE FROM BABYLON BECAUSE THE WRATH OF YHWH IS COMING ON IT (JEREMIAH 50:6). Israel's plight is described as resulting from her backslidden condition, a plight seen by onlookers as totally deserved because of her disobedience to God. Now, however, she is called on... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REASON WHY BABYLON IS TO BE DESTROYED (JEREMIAH 50:11). We now learn the reason why Babylon is to be destroyed. It is because of YHWH's wrath at (His sense of aversion to) her sins. In the first place she was exulting in having brought God's people into subjection, exacting from them heavy trib... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CALL FOR ITS DESTRUCTION (JEREMIAH 50:14). In view of the heinousness of her sins God will exact vengeance on Babylon, by exacting from her what she has exacted from others. And this was not only a message to Babylon, but to all who overrode others. Today it is a warning to all whose main inter... [ Continue Reading ]
THOSE WHO MISUSE GOD'S PEOPLE WILL BE PUNISHED ACCORDINGLY WHILST THE RESTORATION OF HIS PEOPLE IS SURE (JEREMIAH 50:17). Babylon's great crime lay in what it had done to God's people. Like Assyria before it, its armies had descended on hapless Israel/Judah like a pack of lions separating off one o... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH CALLS ON THE NATIONS TO FULFIL HIS WILL AS REGARDS BABYLON (JEREMIAH 50:21). We should note here how personal God's involvement is seen to be in the judgment coming on Babylon. It is in accordance with His commands (Jeremiah 50:22). It is He Who has laid a snare for, and has ensnared Babylon (J... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH WILL ACT ON BEHALF OF HIS PEOPLE (JEREMIAH 50:33). One reason why it was necessary to bring judgment on Babylon was because otherwise God's people would not be released. While they had a certain amount of freedom, there were apparently strict regulations which prevented them from returning to t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMING JUDGMENT ON BABYLON IN ACCORDANCE WITH YHWH'S PURPOSE (JEREMIAH 50:35). The opening verses could be called ‘the Song of the Sword'. The sword is mentioned five times. Jeremiah 50:35 “A sword is upon the Chaldeans, The word of YHWH, And upon the inhabitants of Babylon, And upon her p... [ Continue Reading ]
THE INVADERS FROM THE NORTH BEFORE WHOM BABYLON WILL QUAIL AND WHO WILL FINALLY TAKE BABYLON (JEREMIAH 50:41). We must not judge ancient descriptions in terms of modern geography. They had no atlases to guide them. To the Jews Egypt and North Africa was the South. The Great Sea (the Mediterranean),... [ Continue Reading ]