August 24 - Jeremiah 50, 51:1-32
This entire passage is a message from Jeremiah against Babylon. It tells how and why God will destroy Babylon. However, there is a distinct message to Israel that is woven into this prophecy against Babylon. Through all of this, we see God's plan being carried out. It causes me to think about Romans 8:28.
When the time came for Babylon to be defeated, the Israelites had realized their sins, and they were ready to repent and cry out to God for forgiveness. (50:5) God did not just wait 70 years, and then, let them return to the land. He was waiting for them to cry out in sincere repentance. When He saw that their hearts were changed, and they wanted to renew the relationship with Him in the right way, He began the overthrow of Babylon, so that His people could return to the Land. God's timing is always right. Many times, He is waiting on us, before He takes the next step.
As for Babylon, they would be overthrown by the Medes and the Persians. (51:11) They were being punished for their pride, because God has promised to bring down the proud. They were being punished for their idolatry. God was coming against them for their cruelty to Israel, and the way they treated His Temple. (51:11b) Over and over, we are told that they were being treated as they had treated others. This may seem strange to some people, because God had used them to punish His people, and that was a part of His plan. Why would He punish them for doing His work? The answer is that God did not force them to conquer Israel and destroy the Temple. They chose to do it out of pride and arrogance. He allowed them to do what was in their hearts. Since He knows everything in advance, He knew what they would do, and that it would be an appropriate punishment for His people. That is how He works today. We have the choice of what we will do, and we will receive the consequences of our actions. In the case of Babylon, it was destroyed never to be rebuilt or inhabited again. (50:39) This is amazing! One of the most powerful cities has never been reconstructed, because of the judgment of God. That is the power of God, and we should never want to go against God's will for fear of His punishment. It is good to have a healthy fear of God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 51:33-64 and 52.
When the time came for Babylon to be defeated, the Israelites had realized their sins, and they were ready to repent and cry out to God for forgiveness. (50:5) God did not just wait 70 years, and then, let them return to the land. He was waiting for them to cry out in sincere repentance. When He saw that their hearts were changed, and they wanted to renew the relationship with Him in the right way, He began the overthrow of Babylon, so that His people could return to the Land. God's timing is always right. Many times, He is waiting on us, before He takes the next step.
As for Babylon, they would be overthrown by the Medes and the Persians. (51:11) They were being punished for their pride, because God has promised to bring down the proud. They were being punished for their idolatry. God was coming against them for their cruelty to Israel, and the way they treated His Temple. (51:11b) Over and over, we are told that they were being treated as they had treated others. This may seem strange to some people, because God had used them to punish His people, and that was a part of His plan. Why would He punish them for doing His work? The answer is that God did not force them to conquer Israel and destroy the Temple. They chose to do it out of pride and arrogance. He allowed them to do what was in their hearts. Since He knows everything in advance, He knew what they would do, and that it would be an appropriate punishment for His people. That is how He works today. We have the choice of what we will do, and we will receive the consequences of our actions. In the case of Babylon, it was destroyed never to be rebuilt or inhabited again. (50:39) This is amazing! One of the most powerful cities has never been reconstructed, because of the judgment of God. That is the power of God, and we should never want to go against God's will for fear of His punishment. It is good to have a healthy fear of God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 51:33-64 and 52.