Day 235 – Reading – Jeremiah 49 – 50

Read today’s Scriptures … ANYWHERE you find yourself this summer. Stay in the WORD!

Jeremiah 49.

The next nation to be addressed is Ammon. (Jordan, today) They, along with Moab, were descendants of Abraham’s nephew, Lot.  They seized the land of the eastern tribes of Israel, Gad, Reuben, and 1/2 of Manasseh when the northern kingdom was taken captive by Assyria. 

Five years after Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, he defeated Ammon.  As with Moab, God promised that a remnant of the Ammonites would return to their land, partially under Cyrus, but fully in the Kingdom of the Messiah.

• Behold, I will bring terror upon you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts, from all who are around you, and you shall be driven out, every man straight before him with none to gather the fugitives.  
• But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites, declares the LORD.”

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Edom is addressed next by the LORD, through Jeremiah.  The Edomites descended through Abraham, as Jacob/Israel’s older twin brother, Esau.  From before birth, there had been contention between these two brothers, then between the two nations.  They lived south of the Dead Sea.  They, too, were defeated by Babylon after Israel went into captivity.  There is NO PROPHECY of a future restoration.

• “For I have stripped Esau bare; I have uncovered his hiding places, and he is not able to conceal himself.
• His children are destroyed … and he is no more.

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NEXT is Damascus, which was the capital of Syria.  Nebuchadnezzar conquered it on its way south, before reaching Jerusalem.  Here, many evils against the northern kingdom of Israel were planned. That was the reason for its fall. 

• “I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-Hadad.”

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Kedar and Hazor (not the one North/west of Galilee) are addressed next.  They were areas in the Arabian desert east of Judah, and descendants of Ishmael.  Nebuchadnezzar conquered them shortly before seizing Jerusalem. 

• “Thus says the LORD: Rise up, advance against Kedar! Destroy the people of the east! Their tents and flocks shall be taken … their camels led away.   
• Terror on every side! Flee, wander far away, dwell in the depths!   
• For Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, has made a plan against you and formed a purpose against you. 

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Elam was east of Babylon, between the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers.  They were subjugated by Babylon, but later incorporated into the Persian forces when Cyrus conquered Babylon.  Its capital was Susa, and it became the center of the Persian Empire under Darius.  They were to be destroyed and scattered to the four quarters of heaven…. to every nation. (There are lots of Persians in the US today.)  

• I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them … and destroy their king and officials.
• But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares the LORD.”

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Jeremiah 50.

And now, to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans.

God’s judgment focuses mainly on the Persian conquest of Babylon, first by Cyrus, and then later, more violently, near the coming of the Messiah in glory.

• Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed, Babylon’s images are put to shame, her idols (dung pellets) are dismayed.  Out of the north a nation has come up against her, which shall make her land a desolation…

Then, Cyrus releases the Jews. 

• “In those days and in that time, declares the LORD, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come, and they shall seek the LORD their God. 
• They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten. 
• “Flee from the midst of Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chaldeans… 
  
• How the “Hammer of the whole earth” is cut down and broken! 
• How Babylon has become a horror among the nations!
• Woe to them, for their day has come, the time of their punishment.
• Declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, VENGEANCE FOR HIS TEMPLE!

 

• Behold, I am against you, O proud one, declares the Lord GOD of hosts, for your day has come, the time when I will punish you
• The Proud One shall stumble and fall, … and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour all…

 

• A sword against the Chaldeans,
• Against the inhabitants of Babylon and her officials and her wise men!
• A sword against the diviners,
• A sword against her warriors,
• A sword against her horses and chariots and her foreign troops,
• A sword against all her treasures, may they be plundered!
• A drought against her waters.
• For it is a land of images, and they are mad over idols.

 

• At the sound of the capture of Babylon, the earth shall tremble, and her cry shall be heard among the nations.

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WHEW!  Yes, God used Babylon to judge His own people, but… they ARE His own people, and He will get vengeance on those who mistreat them. And for His Holy Temple.

What can I learn from today’s reading?  Yes, God may use evil people, companies, and countries to discipline His children, even today, with you and me.  They may not be Babylon, but they may seem like a “hammer” pounding on us, or taking away the things and people we love.  What do do?  Turn, turn to God, humble ourselves, confess our sin, and seek His Face (His will).