Jeremiah 50:1-46

Instruments of God’s judgment often become objects of God’s judgment.  Babylon is certainly an example of this truth.  God used Nebuchadnezzar and the nation of Babylon to capture and destroy Israel and many of the surrounding nations as a judgment for their sin.  Babylon’s dominance should not be attributed to their own righteousness before God.  They were empowered by God to be able to judge the sinfulness of others just as other nations would be empowered by God to bring about judgment on Babylon.  The blessings of God do not come to us by our own merit so we must never allow His blessings to fill us with pride.  Our pride is what leads us to destruction so in the face of God’s blessings; humility and gratitude are the only proper response.

RETRIBUTION FOR BABYLON: When Babylon conquered the majority of the region and became one of the first world empires, they were especially cruel and exceptionally proud.  Those who lived in that day may have thought Babylon’s success was some sort of approval from God of their attitudes and actions.  This was simply not true.  Cruelty and pride are never blessed by God.  The trust was that Babylon was used to exact judgment on Israel and other nations but was also setting herself up as the object of God’s judgment.  Jeremiah reveals the victory of Babylon, the treachery of Babylon as well as God’s retribution for Babylon’s idolatry and sin.  This cruel and proud nation would become the object of cruelty from other nations and be utterly humiliated.  When God blesses us in any way it is important to guard our hearts from pride so we do not require humiliation under God’s wrath.


RESTORATION FOR ISRAEL: God’s eternal purposes for Israel were not changed by their disobedience and subsequent captivity in Babylon.  God’s discipline through Babylon had its desired effect and the nation of Israel began to turn to the Lord in repentance.  God responded to that repentance by promising them restoration.  With the demise of Babylon, there would be an opportunity for some of the refugees to return to Israel and begin to rebuild the nation that had been destroyed.  God had made many unconditional promises to the nation of Israel.  Their captivity in Babylon was not a demonstration of their having forfeit those promises; rather it was God’s means of preparing them for the fulfillment of those promises.  God’s judgment on His children is a demonstration of His commitment to them not an abandoning of them.  God’s discipline should always stimulate our repentance so we can experience God’s restoration.

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