Jeremiah 50:1-3
This chapter speaks to the judgment that will befall the nation of Babylon. This nation was the tool by which all the other nations judgment came including Israel. Now, they would be judged. Bel and Marduk are one in the same, the gods of Babylon. They would be brought to shame. This great nation and kingdom of the world is a godless nation and would be judged for its deeds. Judgment always seems to come from the North and Babylon was once the nation coming from that direction; they would now be attacked from the north and be laid waste.
Jeremiah 50:4-5
Suddenly, Jeremiah's attention is turned toward Israel. The nation would once again be reunited as it was in Solomon's day. They will seek the Lord together with tears of sorrow over their sin and rebellion. When they come and bind themselves to the Lord it won't be the old covenant; it will be similar, everlasting and won't be forgotten.
Jeremiah 50:6-7
Israel and Judah, or God's children, are portrayed as lost sheep in need of a shepherd for their old shepherds either failed to lead them at all of led them astray. Like lost sheep they roamed and wandered and forgot their resting place. This is such a fit analogy of any of God's children across the ages. We roam and wander and mess up and realize we've wandered off the pasture in which God set us. We've left His care and forgot our resting place.
Jeremiah 50:8-10
Israel was to flee the Babylonians, they were about to fall. It was under Cyrus that the Lord would bring the Medes and the Persians to bear against Babylon. The Medes were Northeast of Babylon. The skill of these warriors will seem superior as the will of the Lord is as work bringing His judgment.
Jeremiah 50:11-13
How quickly this nation seemed to move from world super power to nothing; they were the greatest of nations and God moved them to the least. Why? Because they celebrated it the demise of Israel, they celebrated in their sin and corruption. The nation would be destroyed and become a barren wilderness, a desert. The fall and absence of Babylon will become a testimony to the Lord.
Jeremiah 50:14-16
Babylon grew comfortable and complacent and forgot the lessons of Nebuchadnezzar (See Daniel). Their position as a kingdom only happened at the will of the Lord, for His purpose. The Lord now calls for their destruction as judgment against them. The enemy would attack Babylon as they once attacked others. This is the vengeance of the Lord; they were to do to Babylon as she had done to others. Those in exile, in captivity, were freed to return home.
Jeremiah 50:17-20
Verse seventeen documents the status of Israel as a scattered flock. The northern kingdom was destroyed by Assyria. Babylon crushed Judah. All the Jews were scattered, and the existence of the nation seemed to be in peril.
Because of this status, and because of God's faithfulness to His promises, He would punish Babylon and bring Israel back to their land. Like a scattered flock that has come home, they would graze on the pastures of Carmel and Bashan. These are both prominent mountains on the north side of the Jezreel valley. In that day, if one sought to find the guilt of Israel the search would be fruitless and futile. It wouldn't be found because there is one. The sins were forgive, the guilt washed away and the remnant spared.
We are so blessed to know this same cleansing. It's not former sin or forgiven sin that is still visible and on display. It's gone, forgiven, washed away and cannot be found. There simply isn't any record of it associated with us. This was accomplished for us on the cross by Christ. The death he suffered was the penalty for out sins; then overcoming death, He is the firstfruits of the resurrection. We, in trusting in this work, get to follow Him into eternity, forgiven, washed and having eternal life.
Jeremiah 50:21-28
Merathaim means 'double rebellion' and is a pun derived from the Akkadian word meaning the marshy region where the Tigris and Euphrates meet the Persian Gulf. Pekod is an area in southeastern Mesopotamia. The word means punishment. Judgment was coming to the land by way of battle – it was the noise of great destruction. The hammer of the earth was originally Assyria (Is 10:5) and now Babylon. As the Assyrian kingdom fell, so would Babylon.
The trap the Lord set is one of allowing this wicked and godless nation do that which resided in their heart. They opposed the Lord and were captured and He brought His wrath down on them. The destruction would be complete and the fugitives would give testimony to what the Lord had done.
Jeremiah 50:29-32
Summon – encamp – repay the Lord commands. Babylon has defied the Lord and the subsequent result will be her young soldiers dying in the streets. We can be assured this isn't something they ever considered as being possible. They were complacent and arrogant and it was time for punishment. The fire kindled is similar language with that of the judgment against Jerusalem (17:27). Much of the language against Babylon is a reversal of what they brought against Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 50:33-34
The oppression and captivity of Judah is reversed, not by the weakness of the captors or the strength of captives, but by the hand of the redeemer. The Lord is strong and He is Lord Almighty meaning 'captain of the Lord's army'. He doesn't just defend their cause but does so vigorously. As the situation of Israel is reversed, so is that of Babylon. They become the oppressed.
Jeremiah 50:35-38
In this batch of reversals we see the sword is set forth against:
- The Babylonian in general.
- The wise men
- The false prophets (they become fools)
- The warriors (become filled with terror)
- The horses and chariots
- The foreigners (will be weaklings – Hebrew 'like women')
- The treasures they plundered from others
- Drought would be brought on waters drying them up
- The land of idols will go mad because they are madly in love with their idols.
Jeremiah 50:39-40
From generation to generation, it will never be inhabited. Never is a long time. It is also interesting to note the presence of mystery Babylon in the end times. Obviously, it can't be this Babylon, but another type of Babylon. The destruction is likened to Sodom and Gomorrah which can't even be found it's destruction was so complete.
Jeremiah 50:41-46
As Babylon was once the great army coming from the north, now another great army comes from the north against them. Babylon had become arrogant and complacent and the Medo-Persians are fierce and cruel, without mercy. When the king hears the reports, his hands hang limp, from fear; not just by what he heard but also from the weakness of the drunken party, from the writing on the wall and the words of Daniel (Dan 5). His hands hang limp when he sees the prophecy come true. The same phrase was once used in regard to Jerusalem as Babylon laid siege on her (Jer 6:24).
Some of the following verses sound familiar because they are very similar to the oracle against Edom (Jer 49:19-21). The once great kingdom is now chased away from their own land in fear. And who can challenge, who can take a stand? It is God who sends this another as judgment against Babylon. No nation stands against God, His ways, His desires and His judgments. With that, the fate is established and the world will hear of this and cry out. What will they cry? Isaiah told us in Isaiah 21:9….
Look, here comes a man in a chariot
with a team of horses.
And he gives back the answer:
'Babylon has fallen, has fallen!
All the images of its gods
lie shattered on the ground!' "
©2019 Doug Ford
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