Jeremiah 46 – Against Egypt
Jeremiah 47 – Against Philistia
Jeremiah 48 – Against Moab
Jeremiah 49:1–6 – Against Ammon
Jeremiah 49:7–22 – Against Edom
Jeremiah 49:23–27 – Against Damascus
Jeremiah 49:28-33 – Against Kedar And Hazor
Jeremiah 49:34–39 – Against Elam
Jeremiah 50–51 – Against Babylonia
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Jeremiah 46 – Against Egypt. Jeremiah foretells of Nebuchadnezzar’s overrun of Egypt by the power of God, “for the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will offer sacrifice…there is no healing for you. The nations will hear of your shame; your cries will fill the earth (46:10-11). We know there are many Israelites in Egypt, a popular hiding place, so Jeremiah includes the assurance that God will remember them, “I will not completely destroy you” (46:28). God will punish, but likewise, his reward is great.
Jeremiah 47 – Against the Philistines. Terror throughout the land among the Philistines, “The Lord is about to destroy the Philistines” (47:4). In words that are brief and pointed, Jeremiah announces God’s avenging sword.
Jeremiah 48 – Against Moab. Jeremiah’s passionate words from the Lord against Moab, “Moab will be broken; her little ones will cry out” (48:4), “Put salt on Moab, for she will be laid waste” (48:9), “Although there are shouts, they are not shouts of joy” (48:33). For so long, the Moabites worshiped their gods, but “I will put an end to those who make offerings on the high places and burn incense to their gods, declares the Lord” (48:35). Jeremiah doesn’t announce these things with joy, “so my heart laments for Moab like the music of a pipe” (48:36). He says what has to be said. It is what the Lord called him to do and he is fully committed to the Lord. But Jeremiah sees the bigger picture when the rest are focused on their small worlds. So true today, so much we can learn from Jeremiah. The judgment against Moab concludes: “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in days to come” (48:47), just not for the high and mighty that currently run the country.
Jeremiah 49:1–6 – Against Ammon, the Ammonites. The days are coming when “Israel will drive out those who drove her out” (49:2). Such imagery: “Unfaithful Daughter Ammon, you trust in your riches and say ‘Who will attack me?'” (49:4). Lord, help us to read through these stories and learn, help us to abandon our pride and trust in earthly riches…only in you will we put our trust!
Jeremiah 49:7–22 – Against Edom. “The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the heights of the hill. Though you build your nest as high as the eagle’s, from there I will bring you down” (49:16). Pride and arrogance are central to the downfall of many.
Jeremiah 49:23–27 – Against brief message about Damascus: “Surely her young men will fall in the streets; all her soldiers will be silenced in that day” (49:26).
Jeremiah 49:28-33 – Kedar And Hazor will be destroyed as well, “Hazor will become a haunt of jackals, a desolate place forever. No one will live there; no people will dwell in it” (49:33).
Jeremiah 49:34–39 – Elam will be shattered, “yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come” (49:39), so there is some hope for a few.
Jeremiah 50–51 – A lengthy message about Babylon, Jeremiah wants there to be no doubt, this is a significant prophesy and his last words in this book. The great promise:
The Lord will punish Babylon as he punished Assyria, but God will forgive the remnant, those who he spares (50:20). The Lord will punish those who worship idols, how many times have we heard this? I wonder if we really hear the message. Although God used Nebuchadnezzar to punish the Israelites, he will punish Babylon even more, for they will be wiped out, only his remnant will continue.
The concluding words are really interesting. Jeremiah spoke to Seraiah (the staff officer, the brother of Jeremiah’s secretary), and told him to read all these words aloud then, “when you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates. Then say, ‘So will Babylon sink to rise no more because of the disaster I will bring on her. And her people will fall.'” (51:61-64). Jeremiah was known for the strength and accuracy of his words, no doubt had a reputation. I wonder how the message was received, if Seraiah followed through and survived?
I really wonder if we who live in such luxury can hear words that emphasize this earthly life is only temporary, our focus needs to be on greater things. It’s a challenge to live on earth while having our thoughts dwell on eternity, yet we must do both. We must do the work of God while we are here, to draw as many as possible to his place. Our time is brief, Lord help us to be effective.