Messages to the Nations

Read: Jeremiah 46-51

Except for the last chapter, these closing chapters of Jeremiah include words specific to nations that surrounded our ancestors at that time, with a pretty consistent theme: y’all is about to get destroy’d! Those that have held tight to their gods and their idols will not escape the wrath of God.

  • Jeremiah 46: A Message About Egypt. But you try many medicines in vain;
    there is no healing for you.
  • Jeremiah 47: A Message About the Philistines. The Lord is about to destroy the Philistines,
    the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor.
  • Jeremiah 48: A Message About Moab. The fall of Moab is at hand; her calamity will come quickly.
  • Jeremiah 49:1-6: A Message About Ammon. Unfaithful Daughter Ammon, you trust in your riches and say, ‘Who will attack me?’ I will bring terror on you from all those around you.
  • Jeremiah 49:7-22: A Message About Edom. Edom will become an object of horror; all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff because of all its wounds.
  • Jeremiah 49:23-27: A Message About Damascus. I will set fire to the walls of Damascus; it will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.
  • Jeremiah 49:28-33: A Message About Kedar and Hazor. Hazor will become a haunt of jackals, a desolate place forever. No one will live there; no people will dwell in it.
  • Jeremiah 49:34-39: A Message About Elam. I will scatter them to the four winds, and there will not be a nation where Elam’s exiles do not go. Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come.
  • Jeremiah 50-51: A Message About Babylon. Babylon will be captured; Bel will be put to shame, Marduk filled with terror. All who pass Babylon will be appalled; they will scoff because of all her wounds.

“Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant;
do not be dismayed, Israel.
I will surely save you out of a distant place,
your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security,
and no one will make him afraid.
Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant,
for I am with you,” declares the Lord.
“Though I completely destroy all the nations
among which I scatter you,
I will not completely destroy you.
I will discipline you but only in due measure;
I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”
Jeremiah 46:27-28

The Lord disciplines those he loves and we, in turn, as parents discipline our children. The difference, of course, is we are mere mortals.  When they grow up and become adults, we release them back to God in hope that He will discipline in due measure far better than I ever could.

Watching Israel and Judah “grow up” must have been hard for God. His chosen people so often chose their own way. As a parent, it hurts to see my children make mistakes, to make choices that I know can’t be good, but I must trust that God has a plan; I have to believe he will go before them and complete his work in them. I pray he will save them out of a distant place so they can have peace and security.

Finished

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.’” The words of Jeremiah end here. Jeremiah 51:63-64

The words of Jeremiah end dramatically with the image of the weight of the words crushing Babylon–the great oppressor will be no more! We know without a doubt that God will make all things right in the end. Our purpose in this human existence is to help guide as many as possible back to Christ. From our families to friends we haven’t met yet, Lord help us discover how we can best live out our purpose.

Thoughts about serving others

This link includes a list of posts about Serving the Least, the Lost, and the Lonely.

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Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.

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