Is Babylon symbolic of this world’s various oppressive systems that will eventually be destroyed? Let’s look at Jeremiah 51.
Though Babylon was an instrument of punishment against Judah, did they go too far, committing atrocities, desecrating the temple, and continuing in their idolatry?
This is what the Lord says: I am about to stir up a destructive wind against Babylon and against the population of Leb-qamai [Chaldea]. I will send strangers to Babylon who will scatter her and strip her land bare, for they will come against her from every side in the day of disaster.
Don’t let the archer string his bow; don’t let him put on his armor. Don’t spare her young men; completely destroy her entire army! Those who were slain will fall in the land of the Chaldeans, those who were pierced through, in her streets. For Israel and Judah are not left widowed by their God, the Lord of Hosts, though their land is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel. (Jer 51:1-5 HCSB)
Can circumstances change, so that one time God said not to flee Jerusalem, but now to flee Babylon?
Flee from Babylon, and each of you, escape with your life! Don’t be destroyed because of her guilt, for it’s time for the Lord’s vengeance. He is paying back what is due to her. Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine, therefore the nations have gone mad.
Suddenly, Babylon fell down and was shattered. Wail for her! Bring balm for her wound, perhaps she will be healed. We tried to heal Babylon, but she wouldn’t be healed. Leave her, and let each of us go to his own country. For her judgment has reached to the heavens, and is lifted up to the sky. The Lord will vindicate us. Come! Let us declare the work of the Lord our God in Zion. (Jer 51:6-10 ISV)
Who will destroy Babylon? Did the Medes and Persians invade Babylon from the north? Is a key statement: though abundant in treasures, Babylon’s end has come?
Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the Lord hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of his temple. Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the Lord hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.
O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness. The Lord of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee. (Jer 51:11-14 KJV)
How great is the one true God? Are molten images a lie, a work of mockery?
It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom, And by His understanding He stretched out the heavens. When He gives forth His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain And brings forth the wind from His storehouses.
All mankind is senseless, devoid of knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his graven image, For his molten images are a lie, And there is no breath in them. They are vanity, a work of mockery; In the time of their punishment they will perish. The portion of Jacob is not like these; For the Maker of all is He, And of the tribe of His inheritance; Yahweh of hosts is His name. (Jer 51:15-19 LSB)
Is judgment about to fall upon Babylon, not just for general sins, but also for atrocities committed against Zion?
He says, “You are My war-club, My weapon of war; And with you I shatter nations, And with you I destroy kingdoms. With you I shatter the horse and his rider, And with you I shatter the chariot and its rider, And with you I shatter man and woman, And with you I shatter the old man and youth, And with you I shatter the young man and virgin, And with you I shatter the shepherd and his flock, And with you I shatter the farmer and his team, And with you I shatter governors and officials.
“But I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all their evil that they have done in Zion before your eyes,” declares the Lord. (Jer 51:20-24 NASB)
Why does God call Babylon a destructive mountain, not even useful for stone masonry?
“I am against you, you destroying mountain, you who destroy the whole earth,” declares the Lord. “I will stretch out my hand against you, roll you off the cliffs, and make you a burned-out mountain. No rock will be taken from you for a cornerstone, nor any stone for a foundation, for you will be desolate forever,” declares the Lord. (Jer 51:25-26 NIV)
Would God be sending a coalition of nations, the Medo-Persian empire, against Babylon?
Set up a banner in the land, Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her, Call the kingdoms together against her: Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a general against her; Cause the horses to come up like the bristling locusts. Prepare against her the nations, With the kings of the Medes, Its governors and all its rulers, All the land of his dominion.
And the land will tremble and sorrow; For every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, To make the land of Babylon a desolation without inhabitant. The mighty men of Babylon have ceased fighting, They have remained in their strongholds; Their might has failed, They became like women; They have burned her dwelling places, The bars of her gate are broken.
One runner will run to meet another, And one messenger to meet another, To show the king of Babylon that his city is taken on all sides; The passages are blocked, The reeds they have burned with fire, And the men of war are terrified. (Jer 32:27-32 NKJV)
Is all this detail to offer reassurance of justice and rescue to those who have suffered under a brutal regime?
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Babylon is like wheat on a threshing floor, about to be trampled. In just a little while her harvest will begin.”
“King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has eaten and crushed us and drained us of strength. He has swallowed us like a great monster and filled his belly with our riches. He has thrown us out of our own country. Make Babylon suffer as she made us suffer,” say the people of Zion. “Make the people of Babylonia pay for spilling our blood,” says Jerusalem. (Jer 51:33-35 NLT)
While God brought Babylon to punish Judah, did they go too far, with excessive brutality and arrogance? Is this why He punishes Babylon as well?
Therefore Yahweh says: “Behold, I will plead your cause, and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea, and make her fountain dry. Babylon will become heaps, a dwelling place for jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant. They will roar together like young lions. They will growl as lions’ cubs.
When they are inflamed, I will make their feast, and I will make them drunk, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake up,” says Yahweh. “I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with male goats. (Jer 51:36-40 (WEB)
Does the pride of Babylon picture the arrogance of this world’s idolatrous and oppressive systems?
How Sheshach [Babylon] has been defeated, the pride of the whole earth taken captive! How Babylon has become a wasteland among the nations! The sea has risen over Babylon; its pounding waves overwhelm her. Her towns are devastated; her land is scorched and barren, a place where no one lives or dares to pass through. I will punish Bel [an idol] in Babylon; I will force him to vomit what he’s consumed. Then nations will no longer stream to him, and Babylon’s walls will collapse! (Jer 51:41-44 CEB)
Is leaving Babylon symbolic of separating ourselves from worldly ways?
Get out of Babylon, my people, and run for your lives, before I strike the city in my anger! Don't be afraid or lose hope, though year after year there are rumors of leaders fighting for control in the city of Babylon. The time will come when I will punish Babylon's false gods. Everyone there will die, and the whole nation will be disgraced, when an army attacks from the north and brings destruction. Then the earth and the heavens and everything in them will celebrate. Babylon must be overthrown, because it slaughtered the people of Israel and of many other nations. (Jer 51:45-49 CEV)
Will God punish Babylon and her images for desecrating the temple in Jerusalem?
“You who have escaped from the sword, go, do not stand still! Remember the Lord from far away, and let Jerusalem come into your mind: ‘We are put to shame, for we have heard reproach; dishonor has covered our face, for foreigners have come into the holy places of the Lord's house.’
“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will execute judgment upon her images, and through all her land the wounded shall groan. Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify her strong height, yet destroyers would come from me against her, declares the Lord. (Jer 51:50-53 ESV)
How much are our nations like Babylon, mighty, proud, and headed for destruction?
The sound of a cry from Babylon! The sound of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans! For the Lord is going to devastate Babylon; He will silence her mighty voice. Their waves roar like abundant waters; the tumult of their voice resounds, for a destroyer is coming against her, against Babylon. Her warriors will be captured, their bows shattered, for the Lord is a God of retribution; He will certainly repay.
I will make her princes and sages drunk, along with her governors, officials, and warriors. Then they will fall asleep forever and never wake up. This is the King’s declaration; Yahweh of Hosts is His name. This is what Yahweh of Hosts says: Babylon’s thick walls will be totally demolished, and her high gates consumed by fire. The peoples will have labored for nothing; the nations will exhaust themselves only to feed the fire. (Jer 51:54-58 HCSB)
What act did Jeremiah perform to illustrate Babylon’s fall?
This is the message that Jeremiah the prophet delivered to Neriah’s son Seraiah, the grandson of Mahseiah, when he went with King Zedekiah of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Seraiah was the quartermaster. Jeremiah wrote on a single scroll all the disasters that would come on Babylon, all these things that were written about Babylon.
Jeremiah told Seraiah, “When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, and say, ‘Lord, you have declared about this place that you would destroy it so that there wouldn’t be an inhabitant in it, neither human nor animal, because it will be a wasteland forever.’
When you finish reading this scroll, tie a rock around it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates. Then say, ‘Babylon will sink like this and won’t rise from the disaster that I’m bringing on her. Her people will be exhausted.’” This concludes the writings of Jeremiah. (Jer 51:59-64 ISV)
Is this also symbolic of the fall of the final Babylon at Christ’s return?
And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (Rev 14:8 KJV)
Is Babylon symbolic of this world’s various oppressive systems that will eventually be destroyed? You decide!
Against Babylon (Jeremiah 50)
No matter how powerful and arrogant an empire becomes, can God make it fade to nothing? Let’s look at Jeremiah 50.
What did God say about a nation from the north, the Medes attacking Babylon?
This is what the Lord said concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians through the prophet Jeremiah: Tell the nations; proclaim it far and wide! Set up a flag; proclaim it far and wide! Hold nothing back; just shout it: “Babylon is captured; Bel is shamed; Marduk is panic-stricken. Her images are shamed; her idols are panic-stricken.” A nation from the north has risen up against her. It will decimate her land, and no one will live in it. Every living thing will flee. (Jer 50:1-3 CEB)
Will Israel and Judah eventually embrace the new covenant? Were they like lost sheep?
The Lord said: People of Israel and Judah, when these things happen you will weep, and together you will return to your land and worship me, the Lord your God. You will ask the way to Zion and then come and join with me in making an agreement [covenant] you won't break or forget.
My people, you are lost sheep abandoned in the mountains by their shepherds. You don't even remember your resting place. I am your true pastureland, the one who gave hope to your ancestors. But you abandoned me, so when your enemies found you, they felt no guilt as they gobbled you up. (Jer 50:4-7 CEV)
Would Babylon be conquered? Will the end times Babylon also be conquered?
“Flee from the midst of Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as male goats before the flock. For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a gathering of great nations, from the north country. And they shall array themselves against her. From there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed. Chaldea shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, declares the Lord. (Jer 50:8-10 ESV)
As God used Babylon to punish Judah, will He also punish Babylon and make it desolate?
Because you rejoice, because you sing in triumph—you who plundered My inheritance—because you frolic like a young cow treading grain and neigh like stallions, your mother will be utterly humiliated; she who bore you will be put to shame. Look! She will lag behind all the nations—a dry land, a wilderness, an Arabah. Because of the Lord’s wrath, she will not be inhabited; she will become a desolation, every bit of her. Everyone who passes through Babylon will be horrified and scoff because of all her wounds. Line up in battle formation around Babylon, all you archers! Shoot at her! Do not spare an arrow, for she has sinned against the Lord. (Jer 50:11-13 HCSB)
In being used by God to punish Judah, had Babylon not learned who God is?
Deploy the troops all around Babylon. All who bend the bow, shoot at her and spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the Lord. Raise a battle cry against her on every side. She has surrendered, her pillars have fallen, her walls are thrown down. For this is the vengeance of the Lord. Take vengeance on her; as she has done, do to her. Eliminate from Babylon the one who plants seeds and the one who uses the sickle at harvest time. Because of the oppressor’s sword, let each one turn toward his own people and flee to his own land.” (Jer 50:14-16 ISV)
Had the tribes of Israel been conquered first by Assyria and then by Babylon?
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. (Jer 50:17 KJV)
Will God pardon the remnant of Israel and Judah, because no sin will be found? How is that possible except in Jesus?
Therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I am going to punish the king of Babylon and his land, just as I punished the king of Assyria. And I will return Israel back to his pasture, and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan, and his desire will be satisfied in the hill country of Ephraim and Gilead. In those days and at that time,’ declares Yahweh, ‘search will be made for the iniquity of Israel, but there will be none; and for the sins of Judah, but they will not be found; for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.’ (Jer 50:18-20 LSB)
Was Babylon also to be completely destroyed because they fought against the Lord?
“Against the land of Merathaim [double bitterness], go up against it, And against the inhabitants of Pekod [punishment]. Kill and completely destroy them,” declares the Lord, “And do according to everything that I have commanded you. The noise of battle is in the land, And great destruction.
How the hammer of the whole earth Has been cut off and broken! How Babylon has become An object of horror among the nations! I set a trap for you and you were also caught, Babylon, While you yourself were not aware; You have been found and also seized Because you have engaged in conflict with the Lord.”
The Lord has opened His armory And has brought out the weapons of His indignation, For it is a work of the Lord God of armies In the land of the Chaldeans. Come to her from the farthest border; Open up her barns, Pile her up like heaps of grain And completely destroy her, Let nothing be left to her.
Put all her bulls to the sword; Let them go down to the slaughter! Woe be upon them, for their day has come, The time of their punishment. There is a sound of fugitives and refugees from the land of Babylon, To declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God, Vengeance for His temple. (Jer 50:21-28 NASB)
Had Babylon defied the Lord? Had she been an arrogant city? Have our nations been arrogant?
“Summon archers against Babylon, all those who draw the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her for her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets; all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,” declares the Lord.
“See, I am against you, you arrogant one,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty, “for your day has come, the time for you to be punished. The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up; I will kindle a fire in her towns that will consume all who are around her.” (Jer 50:29-32 NIV)
Would God plead the case for Israel and Judah against their oppressors?
Thus says the Lord of hosts: “The children of Israel were oppressed, Along with the children of Judah; All who took them captive have held them fast; They have refused to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong; The Lord of hosts is His name. He will thoroughly plead their case, That He may give rest to the land, And disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. (Jer 50:33-34 NKJV)
Is the lack of repentance from idolatry one reason that God is about to punish Babylon?
“The sword of destruction will strike the Babylonians,” says the Lord. “It will strike the people of Babylon—her officials and wise men, too. The sword will strike her wise counselors, and they will become fools. The sword will strike her mightiest warriors, and panic will seize them.
The sword will strike her horses and chariots and her allies from other lands, and they will all become like women. The sword will strike her treasures, and they all will be plundered. A drought will strike her water supply, causing it to dry up. And why? Because the whole land is filled with idols, and the people are madly in love with them. (Jer 50:35-38 NLT)
Is Babylon still a ruin to this very day, inhabited by wild animals?
Therefore the wild animals of the desert with the wolves will dwell there. The ostriches will dwell therein. It will be inhabited no more forever, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation. As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and its neighbor cities,” says Yahweh, “so no man will dwell there, neither will any son of man live therein. (Jer 50:39-40 WEB)
Would Babylon be conquered from the north, by the Medes?
Look! An army is on the move from the northern regions. A powerful nation and many kings are coming from the ends of the earth. Equipped with bow and spear, they are cruel and show no mercy. Their horsemen sound like the roaring sea, arrayed in battle formation against you, Daughter Babylon. The king of Babylon has heard reports of them and is panic-stricken; distress overwhelms him, pain like that of a woman in labor. (Jer 50:41-43 CEB)
Who does God say is ultimately responsible for Babylon’s destruction?
Babylonia, I will attack you like a lion from the forest, attacking sheep in a meadow along the Jordan. In a moment the flock runs, and the land is empty. Who will I choose to attack you? I will do it myself! No one can force me to fight or chase me away.
Listen to my plans for you, people of Babylonia. Your children will be dragged off, and your country destroyed. The sounds of your destruction will be heard among the nations, and the earth will shake. (Jer 50:44-46 CEV)
Is there an end time Babylon that will experience a similar fate?
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more; (Rev 18:21 ESV)
No matter how powerful and arrogant an empire becomes, can God make it fade to nothing? You decide!
What did God say about a nation from the north, the Medes attacking Babylon?
This is what the Lord said concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians through the prophet Jeremiah: Tell the nations; proclaim it far and wide! Set up a flag; proclaim it far and wide! Hold nothing back; just shout it: “Babylon is captured; Bel is shamed; Marduk is panic-stricken. Her images are shamed; her idols are panic-stricken.” A nation from the north has risen up against her. It will decimate her land, and no one will live in it. Every living thing will flee. (Jer 50:1-3 CEB)
Will Israel and Judah eventually embrace the new covenant? Were they like lost sheep?
The Lord said: People of Israel and Judah, when these things happen you will weep, and together you will return to your land and worship me, the Lord your God. You will ask the way to Zion and then come and join with me in making an agreement [covenant] you won't break or forget.
My people, you are lost sheep abandoned in the mountains by their shepherds. You don't even remember your resting place. I am your true pastureland, the one who gave hope to your ancestors. But you abandoned me, so when your enemies found you, they felt no guilt as they gobbled you up. (Jer 50:4-7 CEV)
Would Babylon be conquered? Will the end times Babylon also be conquered?
“Flee from the midst of Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as male goats before the flock. For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a gathering of great nations, from the north country. And they shall array themselves against her. From there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed. Chaldea shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, declares the Lord. (Jer 50:8-10 ESV)
As God used Babylon to punish Judah, will He also punish Babylon and make it desolate?
Because you rejoice, because you sing in triumph—you who plundered My inheritance—because you frolic like a young cow treading grain and neigh like stallions, your mother will be utterly humiliated; she who bore you will be put to shame. Look! She will lag behind all the nations—a dry land, a wilderness, an Arabah. Because of the Lord’s wrath, she will not be inhabited; she will become a desolation, every bit of her. Everyone who passes through Babylon will be horrified and scoff because of all her wounds. Line up in battle formation around Babylon, all you archers! Shoot at her! Do not spare an arrow, for she has sinned against the Lord. (Jer 50:11-13 HCSB)
In being used by God to punish Judah, had Babylon not learned who God is?
Deploy the troops all around Babylon. All who bend the bow, shoot at her and spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the Lord. Raise a battle cry against her on every side. She has surrendered, her pillars have fallen, her walls are thrown down. For this is the vengeance of the Lord. Take vengeance on her; as she has done, do to her. Eliminate from Babylon the one who plants seeds and the one who uses the sickle at harvest time. Because of the oppressor’s sword, let each one turn toward his own people and flee to his own land.” (Jer 50:14-16 ISV)
Had the tribes of Israel been conquered first by Assyria and then by Babylon?
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. (Jer 50:17 KJV)
Will God pardon the remnant of Israel and Judah, because no sin will be found? How is that possible except in Jesus?
Therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I am going to punish the king of Babylon and his land, just as I punished the king of Assyria. And I will return Israel back to his pasture, and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan, and his desire will be satisfied in the hill country of Ephraim and Gilead. In those days and at that time,’ declares Yahweh, ‘search will be made for the iniquity of Israel, but there will be none; and for the sins of Judah, but they will not be found; for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.’ (Jer 50:18-20 LSB)
Was Babylon also to be completely destroyed because they fought against the Lord?
“Against the land of Merathaim [double bitterness], go up against it, And against the inhabitants of Pekod [punishment]. Kill and completely destroy them,” declares the Lord, “And do according to everything that I have commanded you. The noise of battle is in the land, And great destruction.
How the hammer of the whole earth Has been cut off and broken! How Babylon has become An object of horror among the nations! I set a trap for you and you were also caught, Babylon, While you yourself were not aware; You have been found and also seized Because you have engaged in conflict with the Lord.”
The Lord has opened His armory And has brought out the weapons of His indignation, For it is a work of the Lord God of armies In the land of the Chaldeans. Come to her from the farthest border; Open up her barns, Pile her up like heaps of grain And completely destroy her, Let nothing be left to her.
Put all her bulls to the sword; Let them go down to the slaughter! Woe be upon them, for their day has come, The time of their punishment. There is a sound of fugitives and refugees from the land of Babylon, To declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God, Vengeance for His temple. (Jer 50:21-28 NASB)
Had Babylon defied the Lord? Had she been an arrogant city? Have our nations been arrogant?
“Summon archers against Babylon, all those who draw the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her for her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets; all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,” declares the Lord.
“See, I am against you, you arrogant one,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty, “for your day has come, the time for you to be punished. The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up; I will kindle a fire in her towns that will consume all who are around her.” (Jer 50:29-32 NIV)
Would God plead the case for Israel and Judah against their oppressors?
Thus says the Lord of hosts: “The children of Israel were oppressed, Along with the children of Judah; All who took them captive have held them fast; They have refused to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong; The Lord of hosts is His name. He will thoroughly plead their case, That He may give rest to the land, And disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. (Jer 50:33-34 NKJV)
Is the lack of repentance from idolatry one reason that God is about to punish Babylon?
“The sword of destruction will strike the Babylonians,” says the Lord. “It will strike the people of Babylon—her officials and wise men, too. The sword will strike her wise counselors, and they will become fools. The sword will strike her mightiest warriors, and panic will seize them.
The sword will strike her horses and chariots and her allies from other lands, and they will all become like women. The sword will strike her treasures, and they all will be plundered. A drought will strike her water supply, causing it to dry up. And why? Because the whole land is filled with idols, and the people are madly in love with them. (Jer 50:35-38 NLT)
Is Babylon still a ruin to this very day, inhabited by wild animals?
Therefore the wild animals of the desert with the wolves will dwell there. The ostriches will dwell therein. It will be inhabited no more forever, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation. As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and its neighbor cities,” says Yahweh, “so no man will dwell there, neither will any son of man live therein. (Jer 50:39-40 WEB)
Would Babylon be conquered from the north, by the Medes?
Look! An army is on the move from the northern regions. A powerful nation and many kings are coming from the ends of the earth. Equipped with bow and spear, they are cruel and show no mercy. Their horsemen sound like the roaring sea, arrayed in battle formation against you, Daughter Babylon. The king of Babylon has heard reports of them and is panic-stricken; distress overwhelms him, pain like that of a woman in labor. (Jer 50:41-43 CEB)
Who does God say is ultimately responsible for Babylon’s destruction?
Babylonia, I will attack you like a lion from the forest, attacking sheep in a meadow along the Jordan. In a moment the flock runs, and the land is empty. Who will I choose to attack you? I will do it myself! No one can force me to fight or chase me away.
Listen to my plans for you, people of Babylonia. Your children will be dragged off, and your country destroyed. The sounds of your destruction will be heard among the nations, and the earth will shake. (Jer 50:44-46 CEV)
Is there an end time Babylon that will experience a similar fate?
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more; (Rev 18:21 ESV)
No matter how powerful and arrogant an empire becomes, can God make it fade to nothing? You decide!
Against Nations (Jeremiah 49)
What judgments did Jeremiah predict for surrounding nations, and what would God say about our modern nations? Let’s look at Jeremiah 49.
Against Ammon
Had Ammon seized territory from Gad, east of the Jordan River, while Israel was in exile?
Of the children of Ammon. Yahweh says: “Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then does Malcam [an idol, a king, Molech] possess Gad, and his people dwell in its cities? (Jer 49:1 WEB)
What is the modern name of the city of Rabbah, the capital of Ammon?
Therefore, the time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will sound the battle alarm against Rabbah [Amman], the capital city of the Ammonites. The city will be demolished, and its neighboring villages will be burned to the ground. Then Israel will repossess the land seized by its captors, says the Lord. Weep, you people of Heshbon; Ai has been destroyed. Wail, you daughters of Rabbah; put on funeral clothing, cry your eyes out, run for shelter. Milcom will surely go into exile, together with his priests and ministers. (Jer 49:2-3 CEB)
Is the arrogance that comes with wealth a deceptive delusion of safety?
You rebellious Ammonites trust your wealth and ask, “Who could attack us?” But I warn you not to boast when your strength is fading. I, the Lord All-Powerful, will send neighboring nations to strike you with terror. You will be scattered, with no one to care for your refugees. Yet someday, I will bring your people back home. I, the Lord, have spoken. (Jer 49:4-6 CEV)
Against Ammon
Had Ammon seized territory from Gad, east of the Jordan River, while Israel was in exile?
Of the children of Ammon. Yahweh says: “Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then does Malcam [an idol, a king, Molech] possess Gad, and his people dwell in its cities? (Jer 49:1 WEB)
What is the modern name of the city of Rabbah, the capital of Ammon?
Therefore, the time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will sound the battle alarm against Rabbah [Amman], the capital city of the Ammonites. The city will be demolished, and its neighboring villages will be burned to the ground. Then Israel will repossess the land seized by its captors, says the Lord. Weep, you people of Heshbon; Ai has been destroyed. Wail, you daughters of Rabbah; put on funeral clothing, cry your eyes out, run for shelter. Milcom will surely go into exile, together with his priests and ministers. (Jer 49:2-3 CEB)
Is the arrogance that comes with wealth a deceptive delusion of safety?
You rebellious Ammonites trust your wealth and ask, “Who could attack us?” But I warn you not to boast when your strength is fading. I, the Lord All-Powerful, will send neighboring nations to strike you with terror. You will be scattered, with no one to care for your refugees. Yet someday, I will bring your people back home. I, the Lord, have spoken. (Jer 49:4-6 CEV)
Against Edom
What does God have to say about Edom, south of the Dead Sea?
Concerning Edom. Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths, O inhabitants of Dedan! For I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time when I punish him. If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? If thieves came by night, would they not destroy only enough for themselves?
But I have stripped Esau bare; I have uncovered his hiding places, and he is not able to conceal himself. His children are destroyed, and his brothers, and his neighbors; and he is no more. Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me.” (Jer 48:7-11 ESV)
Would the capital city of Edom be punished and desolate?
“For this is what the Lord says: If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, can you possibly remain unpunished? You will not remain unpunished, for you must drink it too. For by Myself I have sworn”— this is the Lord’s declaration —“Bozrah will become a desolation, a disgrace, a ruin, and a curse, and all her cities will become ruins forever.” (Jer 49:12-13 HCSB)
Was Edom, a nation of terror, to become the least of nations?
I’ve heard a message from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Gather together and come up against her, and rise up to fight. Indeed, I’ll make you the least of the nations, despised among men. The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you. You who live in hidden places in the rocks, who hold on to the heights of the hill, although you make your nest high like the eagle, I’ll bring you down from there,” declares the Lord. (Jer 49:14-16 ISV)
Were Sodom and Gomorrah, once in this region, a warning?
Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it. Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me? (Jer 49:17-19 KJV)
Did Teman, the grandson of Esau, give his name to a region in Edom?
Therefore hear the counsel of Yahweh which He has counseled against Edom, and His purposes which He has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: surely they will drag them off, even the little ones of the flock; surely He will make their pasture desolate because of them. The earth has quaked at the noise of their downfall. There is an outcry! The noise of it has been heard at the Red Sea. Behold, He will mount up and swoop like an eagle and spread out His wings against Bozrah; and the hearts of the mighty men of Edom in that day will be like the heart of a woman in labor. (Jer 49:20-22 LSB)
What does God have to say about Edom, south of the Dead Sea?
Concerning Edom. Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths, O inhabitants of Dedan! For I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time when I punish him. If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? If thieves came by night, would they not destroy only enough for themselves?
But I have stripped Esau bare; I have uncovered his hiding places, and he is not able to conceal himself. His children are destroyed, and his brothers, and his neighbors; and he is no more. Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me.” (Jer 48:7-11 ESV)
Would the capital city of Edom be punished and desolate?
“For this is what the Lord says: If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, can you possibly remain unpunished? You will not remain unpunished, for you must drink it too. For by Myself I have sworn”— this is the Lord’s declaration —“Bozrah will become a desolation, a disgrace, a ruin, and a curse, and all her cities will become ruins forever.” (Jer 49:12-13 HCSB)
Was Edom, a nation of terror, to become the least of nations?
I’ve heard a message from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Gather together and come up against her, and rise up to fight. Indeed, I’ll make you the least of the nations, despised among men. The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you. You who live in hidden places in the rocks, who hold on to the heights of the hill, although you make your nest high like the eagle, I’ll bring you down from there,” declares the Lord. (Jer 49:14-16 ISV)
Were Sodom and Gomorrah, once in this region, a warning?
Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it. Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me? (Jer 49:17-19 KJV)
Did Teman, the grandson of Esau, give his name to a region in Edom?
Therefore hear the counsel of Yahweh which He has counseled against Edom, and His purposes which He has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: surely they will drag them off, even the little ones of the flock; surely He will make their pasture desolate because of them. The earth has quaked at the noise of their downfall. There is an outcry! The noise of it has been heard at the Red Sea. Behold, He will mount up and swoop like an eagle and spread out His wings against Bozrah; and the hearts of the mighty men of Edom in that day will be like the heart of a woman in labor. (Jer 49:20-22 LSB)
Against Damascus
Is much of this prophecy against Syrian cities yet to be fulfilled?
Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, For they have heard bad news; They despair. There is anxiety at the sea, It cannot be calmed. Damascus has become helpless; She has turned away to flee, And panic has gripped her; Distress and labor pains have seized her Like a woman in childbirth. How the city of praise has not been deserted, The town of My joy! Therefore, her young men will fall in her streets, And all the men of war will perish on that day,” declares the Lord of armies. “I will set fire to the wall of Damascus, And it will devour the fortified palace of Ben-hadad.” (Jer 49:23-27 NASB)
Is much of this prophecy against Syrian cities yet to be fulfilled?
Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, For they have heard bad news; They despair. There is anxiety at the sea, It cannot be calmed. Damascus has become helpless; She has turned away to flee, And panic has gripped her; Distress and labor pains have seized her Like a woman in childbirth. How the city of praise has not been deserted, The town of My joy! Therefore, her young men will fall in her streets, And all the men of war will perish on that day,” declares the Lord of armies. “I will set fire to the wall of Damascus, And it will devour the fortified palace of Ben-hadad.” (Jer 49:23-27 NASB)
Against Kedar and Hazor
Are Kedar and Hazor, allied nomadic and semi-nomadic clans of Arabia, descended from Ishmael, also warned of a Babylonian invasion?
Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked: This is what the Lord says: “Arise, and attack Kedar and destroy the people of the East. Their tents and their flocks will be taken; their shelters will be carried off with all their goods and camels. People will shout to them, ‘Terror on every side!’ “Flee quickly away! Stay in deep caves, you who live in Hazor,” declares the Lord. “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has plotted against you; he has devised a plan against you. (Jer 49:28-30 NIV)
Would that Babylonian invasion be for them total devastation?
“Arise, go up to the wealthy nation that dwells securely,” says the Lord, “Which has neither gates nor bars, Dwelling alone. Their camels shall be for booty, And the multitude of their cattle for plunder. I will scatter to all winds those in the farthest corners, And I will bring their calamity from all its sides,” says the Lord. “Hazor shall be a dwelling for jackals, a desolation forever; No one shall reside there, Nor son of man dwell in it.” (Jer 49:31-33 NKJV)
Are Kedar and Hazor, allied nomadic and semi-nomadic clans of Arabia, descended from Ishmael, also warned of a Babylonian invasion?
Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked: This is what the Lord says: “Arise, and attack Kedar and destroy the people of the East. Their tents and their flocks will be taken; their shelters will be carried off with all their goods and camels. People will shout to them, ‘Terror on every side!’ “Flee quickly away! Stay in deep caves, you who live in Hazor,” declares the Lord. “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has plotted against you; he has devised a plan against you. (Jer 49:28-30 NIV)
Would that Babylonian invasion be for them total devastation?
“Arise, go up to the wealthy nation that dwells securely,” says the Lord, “Which has neither gates nor bars, Dwelling alone. Their camels shall be for booty, And the multitude of their cattle for plunder. I will scatter to all winds those in the farthest corners, And I will bring their calamity from all its sides,” says the Lord. “Hazor shall be a dwelling for jackals, a desolation forever; No one shall reside there, Nor son of man dwell in it.” (Jer 49:31-33 NKJV)
Against Elam
What did God say to Elam, between Iraq and Iran on the northern shore of the Persian Gulf? Though He disciplined them severely, did God promise later restoration?
This message concerning Elam came to the prophet Jeremiah from the Lord at the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah. This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “I will destroy the archers of Elam—the best of their forces. I will bring enemies from all directions, and I will scatter the people of Elam to the four winds. They will be exiled to countries around the world.
I myself will go with Elam’s enemies to shatter it. In my fierce anger, I will bring great disaster upon the people of Elam,” says the Lord. “Their enemies will chase them with the sword until I have destroyed them completely. I will set my throne in Elam,” says the Lord, “and I will destroy its king and officials. But I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Jer 49:34-39 NLT)
Were representatives of these nations present at Pentecost?
How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes (Acts 2:8-10 WEB)
What judgments did Jeremiah predict for surrounding nations, and what would God say about our modern nations? You decide!
What did God say to Elam, between Iraq and Iran on the northern shore of the Persian Gulf? Though He disciplined them severely, did God promise later restoration?
This message concerning Elam came to the prophet Jeremiah from the Lord at the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah. This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “I will destroy the archers of Elam—the best of their forces. I will bring enemies from all directions, and I will scatter the people of Elam to the four winds. They will be exiled to countries around the world.
I myself will go with Elam’s enemies to shatter it. In my fierce anger, I will bring great disaster upon the people of Elam,” says the Lord. “Their enemies will chase them with the sword until I have destroyed them completely. I will set my throne in Elam,” says the Lord, “and I will destroy its king and officials. But I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Jer 49:34-39 NLT)
Were representatives of these nations present at Pentecost?
How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes (Acts 2:8-10 WEB)
What judgments did Jeremiah predict for surrounding nations, and what would God say about our modern nations? You decide!
Against Moab (Jeremiah 48)
In Moab, is there a lesson about national arrogance? Let’s begin in Jeremiah 48.
Is this prophecy concerning the kingdom of Moab, east of the Dead Sea, the people descended from Lot’s son, Moab, known for Balak and Balaam, and child sacrifice to the idol Chemosh?
This message was given concerning Moab. This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: (Jer 48:1a NLT)
What specific cities east of the Dead Sea are mentioned?
“What sorrow awaits the city of Nebo; it will soon lie in ruins. The city of Kiriathaim will be humiliated and captured; the fortress will be humiliated and broken down. No one will ever brag about Moab again, for in Heshbon there is a plot to destroy her. ‘Come,’ they say, ‘we will cut her off from being a nation.’ The town of Madmen, too, will be silenced; the sword will follow you there.
Listen to the cries from Horonaim, cries of devastation and great destruction. All Moab is destroyed. Her little ones will cry out. Her refugees weep bitterly, climbing the slope to Luhith. They cry out in terror, descending the slope to Horonaim. (Jer 48:1b-5 NLT)
Does trusting in national achievements and wealth save a country from devastation?
Flee! Save your lives! Be like the juniper bush in the wilderness. For, because you have trusted in your works and in your treasures, you also will be taken. Chemosh will go out into captivity, his priests and his princes together. The destroyer will come on every city, and no city will escape; the valley also will perish, and the plain will be destroyed, as Yahweh has spoken. (Jer 48:6-8 WEB)
What would God say to those who believe He should restrain from punishing a nation for its sins?
Give wings to Moab, and it would fly away because its towns lie in ruins, with no one left in them. Cursed is the one who is halfhearted in doing the Lord’s work. Cursed is the one who restrains the sword from bloodshed. (Jer 48:9-10 CEB)
Did either prosperity or a pagan god aid Moab in surviving a military attack?
Moab, you are like wine left to settle undisturbed, never poured from jar to jar. And so, your nation continues to prosper and improve. But now, I will send enemies to pour out the wine and smash the jars! Then you will be ashamed, because your god Chemosh cannot save you, just as Bethel could not help the Israelites. (Jer 48:11-13 CEV)
If the might and wealth of a nation like Moab could not save them, what about us?
“How do you say, ‘We are heroes and mighty men of war’? The destroyer of Moab and his cities has come up, and the choicest of his young men have gone down to slaughter, declares the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts. The calamity of Moab is near at hand, and his affliction hastens swiftly. Grieve for him, all you who are around him, and all who know his name; say, ‘How the mighty scepter is broken, the glorious staff.’ (Jer 48:14-17 ESV)
If God wants to punish even a glorious nation for gross sins, who is going to stop Him?
Come down from glory; sit on parched ground, resident of the daughter of Dibon, for the destroyer of Moab has come against you; he has destroyed your fortresses. Stand by the highway and look, resident of Aroer! Ask him who is fleeing or her who is escaping: What happened? Moab is put to shame, indeed dismayed. Wail and cry out! Declare by the Arnon that Moab is destroyed. (Jer 48:18-20 HCSB)
Would God judge many cities in our nations today? Do we exalt ourselves against the Lord?
Judgment has come to the plateau: to Holon and Jahzah, and against Mephaath, Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim, against Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon, against Kerioth, Bozrah, and all the towns in the land of Moab, both far and near. The strength of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken,” declares the Lord.
“Make him drunk for he has exalted himself against the Lord. Moab will wallow in his vomit, and he will be the object of mocking. Wasn’t Israel an object of mocking for you? Wasn’t he treated like a thief, so that whenever you spoke about him you shook your head in contempt? (Jer 48:21-27 ISV)
Did God encourage people to flee their homes, to live in caves for protection?
O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth. (Jer 48:28 KJV)
Is pride a weakness in very rich countries? Does such arrogance really accomplish anything? Will God mourn Moab?
We have heard of the pride of Moab—he is very proud—Of his haughtiness, his pride, his arrogance, and the exaltedness of his heart. I know his fury,” declares Yahweh, “But it is nothing; His idle boasts have accomplished nothing. Therefore I will wail for Moab, Even for all Moab will I cry out; I will moan for the men of Kir-heres.
More than the weeping for Jazer I will weep for you, O vine of Sibmah! Your branches stretched across the sea, They reached to the sea of Jazer; Upon your summer fruits and your grape harvest The destroyer has fallen. So gladness and joy are gathered up From the fruitful orchard, even from the land of Moab. And I have made the wine to cease from the wine presses; No one will tread them with shouting, The shouting will not be shouts of joy. (Jer 48:29-33 LSB)
Will God punish a nation worshiping idols, break them like an unwanted vessel, and make them a laughing stock?
From the outcry at Heshbon to Elealeh, to Jahaz they have raised their voice, from Zoar to Horonaim, and to Eglath-shelishiyah; for even the waters of Nimrim will become desolate. And I will put an end to Moab,” declares the Lord, “the one who offers sacrifice on the high place and the one who burns incense to his gods.
“Therefore My heart makes a sound like flutes for Moab; My heart also makes a sound like flutes for the men of Kir-heres. Therefore they have lost the abundance it produced. For every head is shaved bald, and every beard cut short; there are gashes on all the hands, and sackcloth around the waists. On all the housetops of Moab and in its public squares there is mourning everywhere; for I have broken Moab like an undesirable vessel,” declares the Lord. “How shattered it is! How they have wailed! How Moab has turned his back—he is ashamed! So Moab will become a laughingstock and an object of terror to all around him.” (Jer 48:34-39 NASB)
Is God even more specific regarding the sins and punishment of Moab? Does defying the Lord eventually cause a nation’s destruction?
This is what the Lord says: “Look! An eagle is swooping down, spreading its wings over Moab. Kerioth will be captured and the strongholds taken. In that day the hearts of Moab’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor. Moab will be destroyed as a nation because she defied the Lord. Terror and pit and snare await you, you people of Moab,” declares the Lord. “Whoever flees from the terror will fall into a pit, whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a snare; for I will bring on Moab the year of her punishment,” declares the Lord. (Jer 48:40-44 NIV)
Will God allow the descendants of Moab to return home in the latter days?
“Those who fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon Because of exhaustion. But a fire shall come out of Heshbon, A flame from the midst of Sihon, And shall devour the brow of Moab, The crown of the head of the sons of tumult. Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh [their main idol] perish; For your sons have been taken captive, And your daughters captive. “Yet I will bring back the captives of Moab In the latter days,” says the Lord. Thus far is the judgment of Moab. (Jer 48:45-47 NKJV)
Does God warn against national pride and arrogance? Is there a difference between love of nation and national pride?
And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NLT)
In Moab, is there a lesson about national arrogance? You decide!
Is this prophecy concerning the kingdom of Moab, east of the Dead Sea, the people descended from Lot’s son, Moab, known for Balak and Balaam, and child sacrifice to the idol Chemosh?
This message was given concerning Moab. This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: (Jer 48:1a NLT)
What specific cities east of the Dead Sea are mentioned?
“What sorrow awaits the city of Nebo; it will soon lie in ruins. The city of Kiriathaim will be humiliated and captured; the fortress will be humiliated and broken down. No one will ever brag about Moab again, for in Heshbon there is a plot to destroy her. ‘Come,’ they say, ‘we will cut her off from being a nation.’ The town of Madmen, too, will be silenced; the sword will follow you there.
Listen to the cries from Horonaim, cries of devastation and great destruction. All Moab is destroyed. Her little ones will cry out. Her refugees weep bitterly, climbing the slope to Luhith. They cry out in terror, descending the slope to Horonaim. (Jer 48:1b-5 NLT)
Does trusting in national achievements and wealth save a country from devastation?
Flee! Save your lives! Be like the juniper bush in the wilderness. For, because you have trusted in your works and in your treasures, you also will be taken. Chemosh will go out into captivity, his priests and his princes together. The destroyer will come on every city, and no city will escape; the valley also will perish, and the plain will be destroyed, as Yahweh has spoken. (Jer 48:6-8 WEB)
What would God say to those who believe He should restrain from punishing a nation for its sins?
Give wings to Moab, and it would fly away because its towns lie in ruins, with no one left in them. Cursed is the one who is halfhearted in doing the Lord’s work. Cursed is the one who restrains the sword from bloodshed. (Jer 48:9-10 CEB)
Did either prosperity or a pagan god aid Moab in surviving a military attack?
Moab, you are like wine left to settle undisturbed, never poured from jar to jar. And so, your nation continues to prosper and improve. But now, I will send enemies to pour out the wine and smash the jars! Then you will be ashamed, because your god Chemosh cannot save you, just as Bethel could not help the Israelites. (Jer 48:11-13 CEV)
If the might and wealth of a nation like Moab could not save them, what about us?
“How do you say, ‘We are heroes and mighty men of war’? The destroyer of Moab and his cities has come up, and the choicest of his young men have gone down to slaughter, declares the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts. The calamity of Moab is near at hand, and his affliction hastens swiftly. Grieve for him, all you who are around him, and all who know his name; say, ‘How the mighty scepter is broken, the glorious staff.’ (Jer 48:14-17 ESV)
If God wants to punish even a glorious nation for gross sins, who is going to stop Him?
Come down from glory; sit on parched ground, resident of the daughter of Dibon, for the destroyer of Moab has come against you; he has destroyed your fortresses. Stand by the highway and look, resident of Aroer! Ask him who is fleeing or her who is escaping: What happened? Moab is put to shame, indeed dismayed. Wail and cry out! Declare by the Arnon that Moab is destroyed. (Jer 48:18-20 HCSB)
Would God judge many cities in our nations today? Do we exalt ourselves against the Lord?
Judgment has come to the plateau: to Holon and Jahzah, and against Mephaath, Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim, against Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon, against Kerioth, Bozrah, and all the towns in the land of Moab, both far and near. The strength of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken,” declares the Lord.
“Make him drunk for he has exalted himself against the Lord. Moab will wallow in his vomit, and he will be the object of mocking. Wasn’t Israel an object of mocking for you? Wasn’t he treated like a thief, so that whenever you spoke about him you shook your head in contempt? (Jer 48:21-27 ISV)
Did God encourage people to flee their homes, to live in caves for protection?
O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth. (Jer 48:28 KJV)
Is pride a weakness in very rich countries? Does such arrogance really accomplish anything? Will God mourn Moab?
We have heard of the pride of Moab—he is very proud—Of his haughtiness, his pride, his arrogance, and the exaltedness of his heart. I know his fury,” declares Yahweh, “But it is nothing; His idle boasts have accomplished nothing. Therefore I will wail for Moab, Even for all Moab will I cry out; I will moan for the men of Kir-heres.
More than the weeping for Jazer I will weep for you, O vine of Sibmah! Your branches stretched across the sea, They reached to the sea of Jazer; Upon your summer fruits and your grape harvest The destroyer has fallen. So gladness and joy are gathered up From the fruitful orchard, even from the land of Moab. And I have made the wine to cease from the wine presses; No one will tread them with shouting, The shouting will not be shouts of joy. (Jer 48:29-33 LSB)
Will God punish a nation worshiping idols, break them like an unwanted vessel, and make them a laughing stock?
From the outcry at Heshbon to Elealeh, to Jahaz they have raised their voice, from Zoar to Horonaim, and to Eglath-shelishiyah; for even the waters of Nimrim will become desolate. And I will put an end to Moab,” declares the Lord, “the one who offers sacrifice on the high place and the one who burns incense to his gods.
“Therefore My heart makes a sound like flutes for Moab; My heart also makes a sound like flutes for the men of Kir-heres. Therefore they have lost the abundance it produced. For every head is shaved bald, and every beard cut short; there are gashes on all the hands, and sackcloth around the waists. On all the housetops of Moab and in its public squares there is mourning everywhere; for I have broken Moab like an undesirable vessel,” declares the Lord. “How shattered it is! How they have wailed! How Moab has turned his back—he is ashamed! So Moab will become a laughingstock and an object of terror to all around him.” (Jer 48:34-39 NASB)
Is God even more specific regarding the sins and punishment of Moab? Does defying the Lord eventually cause a nation’s destruction?
This is what the Lord says: “Look! An eagle is swooping down, spreading its wings over Moab. Kerioth will be captured and the strongholds taken. In that day the hearts of Moab’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor. Moab will be destroyed as a nation because she defied the Lord. Terror and pit and snare await you, you people of Moab,” declares the Lord. “Whoever flees from the terror will fall into a pit, whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a snare; for I will bring on Moab the year of her punishment,” declares the Lord. (Jer 48:40-44 NIV)
Will God allow the descendants of Moab to return home in the latter days?
“Those who fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon Because of exhaustion. But a fire shall come out of Heshbon, A flame from the midst of Sihon, And shall devour the brow of Moab, The crown of the head of the sons of tumult. Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh [their main idol] perish; For your sons have been taken captive, And your daughters captive. “Yet I will bring back the captives of Moab In the latter days,” says the Lord. Thus far is the judgment of Moab. (Jer 48:45-47 NKJV)
Does God warn against national pride and arrogance? Is there a difference between love of nation and national pride?
And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NLT)
In Moab, is there a lesson about national arrogance? You decide!
Against Philistia (Jeremiah 47)
Did God cause the Philistines, a coastal culture that arose from Crete and possibly the Aegean, to disappear from history as punishment? What does God think about our civilization? Let’s begin in Jeremiah 47.
What is the next nation that God had a message for?
This is the message from the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh conquered Gaza. (Jer 47:1 ISV)
How does God figuratively describe an invasion from the north, from Babylon?
Thus saith the Lord; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl. (Jer 47:2 KJV)
Which coastal cities specifically will be destroyed? From which island were the Philistines a remnant?
Because of the noise of the galloping hoofs of his valiant steeds, The quaking of his chariots, and the tumult of his wheels, The fathers have not turned back for their children, Because of the limpness of their hands, On account of the day that is coming To destroy all the Philistines, To cut off from Tyre and Sidon Every ally that is left; For Yahweh is going to destroy the Philistines, The remnant of the coastland of Caphtor [Crete]. (Jer 47:3-4 LSB)
What other coastal areas are also included in this destruction? Were shaving the head and self-mutilation customs of mourning?
Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has been destroyed. Remnant of their valley, How long will you gash yourself? (Jer 47:5 NASB)
Who commanded the divine sword to attack Ashkelon and the coast?
“‘Alas, sword of the Lord, how long till you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still.’ But how can it rest when the Lord has commanded it, when he has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the coast?” (Jer 47:6-7 NIV)
Where else is God’s punishment of nations described as like a sharp sword?
Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Rev 19:15 NKJV)
Did God cause the Philistines, a coastal culture that arose from Crete and possibly the Aegean, to disappear from history as punishment? What does God think about our civilization? You decide!
What is the next nation that God had a message for?
This is the message from the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh conquered Gaza. (Jer 47:1 ISV)
How does God figuratively describe an invasion from the north, from Babylon?
Thus saith the Lord; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl. (Jer 47:2 KJV)
Which coastal cities specifically will be destroyed? From which island were the Philistines a remnant?
Because of the noise of the galloping hoofs of his valiant steeds, The quaking of his chariots, and the tumult of his wheels, The fathers have not turned back for their children, Because of the limpness of their hands, On account of the day that is coming To destroy all the Philistines, To cut off from Tyre and Sidon Every ally that is left; For Yahweh is going to destroy the Philistines, The remnant of the coastland of Caphtor [Crete]. (Jer 47:3-4 LSB)
What other coastal areas are also included in this destruction? Were shaving the head and self-mutilation customs of mourning?
Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has been destroyed. Remnant of their valley, How long will you gash yourself? (Jer 47:5 NASB)
Who commanded the divine sword to attack Ashkelon and the coast?
“‘Alas, sword of the Lord, how long till you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still.’ But how can it rest when the Lord has commanded it, when he has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the coast?” (Jer 47:6-7 NIV)
Where else is God’s punishment of nations described as like a sharp sword?
Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Rev 19:15 NKJV)
Did God cause the Philistines, a coastal culture that arose from Crete and possibly the Aegean, to disappear from history as punishment? What does God think about our civilization? You decide!
Against Egypt (Jeremiah 46)
Does Jeremiah begin a series of prophecies about various nations? What could He say to our nations today? Let’s begin in Jeremiah 46.
What does God have to say to Egypt beginning with Pharaoh Neco?
That which came as the word of Yahweh to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations. To Egypt, concerning the military force of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was by the Euphrates River at Carchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck down in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: (Jer 46:1-2 LSB)
Did God prophecy through Jeremiah that the military force of Pharaoh Neco would be defeated?
“Set up the buckler and shield, And advance to the battle! Harness the horses, And mount the steeds, Take your stand with helmets on! Polish the spears, Put on the coats of armor! Why have I seen it? They are terrified, They are retreating, And their warriors are defeated And have taken refuge in flight, Without facing back. Terror is on every side!” Declares the Lord. Let not the swift man flee, Nor the warrior escape. In the north beside the river Euphrates They have stumbled and fallen. (Jer 46:3-6 NASB)
Though Egypt rises like the Nile in flood, would that nation be humiliated in battle?
“Who is this that rises like the Nile, like rivers of surging waters? Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers of surging waters. She says, ‘I will rise and cover the earth; I will destroy cities and their people.’ Charge, you horses! Drive furiously, you charioteers! March on, you warriors—men of Cush and Put who carry shields, men of Lydia who draw the bow.
But that day belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty—a day of vengeance, for vengeance on his foes. The sword will devour till it is satisfied, till it has quenched its thirst with blood. For the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will offer sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates. (Jer 46:7-10 NIV)
Is there a healing medicine that could cure Egypt of its shame?
“Go up to Gilead and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt; In vain you will use many medicines; You shall not be cured. The nations have heard of your shame, And your cry has filled the land; For the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty; They both have fallen together.” (Jer 46:11-12 NKJV)
Does God predict defeat for several Egyptian cities? Will the people say that Pharaoh is just a noisy do-nothing windbag?
Then the Lord gave the prophet Jeremiah this message about King Nebuchadnezzar’s plans to attack Egypt. “Shout it out in Egypt! Publish it in the cities of Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes! Mobilize for battle, for the sword will devour everyone around you. Why have your warriors fallen? They cannot stand, for the Lord has knocked them down.
They stumble and fall over each other and say among themselves, ‘Come, let’s go back to our people, to the land of our birth. Let’s get away from the sword of the enemy!’ There they will say, ‘Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is a loudmouth who missed his opportunity!’ (Jer 46:13-17 NLT)
Does God warn Egypt of coming national captivity and desolation?
“As I live,” says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Armies, “surely like Tabor among the mountains, and like Carmel by the sea, so he will come. You daughter who dwells in Egypt, furnish yourself to go into captivity; for Memphis will become a desolation, and will be burned up, without inhabitant. (Jer 46:18-19 WEB)
Was Egypt once beautiful with vast dense forests? Would the land be humiliated?
Egypt is a beautiful, yes, beautiful heifer, but a horsefly from the north is coming to bite her. Even her mercenaries are like well-fed calves; they too will retreat and run for cover; they won’t survive. The day of disaster has come to haunt them, the time of their punishment. Like the sound of a snake hissing as it slithers away is Egypt as armies approach in force; they come against her with axes, like woodcutters.
They destroy her dense forest, though it is vast, because they outnumber locusts and can’t be counted, declares the Lord. Daughter Egypt will be humiliated, handed over to people from the north. (Jer 46:20-24 CEB)
Will God restore Egypt after punishing her and her fake gods?
I am the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel. Soon I will punish the god Amon of Thebes and the other Egyptian gods, the Egyptian kings, the people of Egypt, and everyone who trusts in the Egyptian power. I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar and his army. But I also promise that Egypt will someday have people living here again, just as it had before. I, the Lord, have spoken. (Jer 46:25-26 CEV)
Will God also restore Israel and make an end of nations that destroyed them?
“But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.” (Jer 46:27-28 ESV)
Does God determine the appointed times and boundaries of occupants of a land?
From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. (Acts 17:26 HCSB)
Does Jeremiah begin a series of prophecies about various nations? What could He say to our nations today? You decide!
What does God have to say to Egypt beginning with Pharaoh Neco?
That which came as the word of Yahweh to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations. To Egypt, concerning the military force of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was by the Euphrates River at Carchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck down in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: (Jer 46:1-2 LSB)
Did God prophecy through Jeremiah that the military force of Pharaoh Neco would be defeated?
“Set up the buckler and shield, And advance to the battle! Harness the horses, And mount the steeds, Take your stand with helmets on! Polish the spears, Put on the coats of armor! Why have I seen it? They are terrified, They are retreating, And their warriors are defeated And have taken refuge in flight, Without facing back. Terror is on every side!” Declares the Lord. Let not the swift man flee, Nor the warrior escape. In the north beside the river Euphrates They have stumbled and fallen. (Jer 46:3-6 NASB)
Though Egypt rises like the Nile in flood, would that nation be humiliated in battle?
“Who is this that rises like the Nile, like rivers of surging waters? Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers of surging waters. She says, ‘I will rise and cover the earth; I will destroy cities and their people.’ Charge, you horses! Drive furiously, you charioteers! March on, you warriors—men of Cush and Put who carry shields, men of Lydia who draw the bow.
But that day belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty—a day of vengeance, for vengeance on his foes. The sword will devour till it is satisfied, till it has quenched its thirst with blood. For the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will offer sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates. (Jer 46:7-10 NIV)
Is there a healing medicine that could cure Egypt of its shame?
“Go up to Gilead and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt; In vain you will use many medicines; You shall not be cured. The nations have heard of your shame, And your cry has filled the land; For the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty; They both have fallen together.” (Jer 46:11-12 NKJV)
Does God predict defeat for several Egyptian cities? Will the people say that Pharaoh is just a noisy do-nothing windbag?
Then the Lord gave the prophet Jeremiah this message about King Nebuchadnezzar’s plans to attack Egypt. “Shout it out in Egypt! Publish it in the cities of Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes! Mobilize for battle, for the sword will devour everyone around you. Why have your warriors fallen? They cannot stand, for the Lord has knocked them down.
They stumble and fall over each other and say among themselves, ‘Come, let’s go back to our people, to the land of our birth. Let’s get away from the sword of the enemy!’ There they will say, ‘Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is a loudmouth who missed his opportunity!’ (Jer 46:13-17 NLT)
Does God warn Egypt of coming national captivity and desolation?
“As I live,” says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Armies, “surely like Tabor among the mountains, and like Carmel by the sea, so he will come. You daughter who dwells in Egypt, furnish yourself to go into captivity; for Memphis will become a desolation, and will be burned up, without inhabitant. (Jer 46:18-19 WEB)
Was Egypt once beautiful with vast dense forests? Would the land be humiliated?
Egypt is a beautiful, yes, beautiful heifer, but a horsefly from the north is coming to bite her. Even her mercenaries are like well-fed calves; they too will retreat and run for cover; they won’t survive. The day of disaster has come to haunt them, the time of their punishment. Like the sound of a snake hissing as it slithers away is Egypt as armies approach in force; they come against her with axes, like woodcutters.
They destroy her dense forest, though it is vast, because they outnumber locusts and can’t be counted, declares the Lord. Daughter Egypt will be humiliated, handed over to people from the north. (Jer 46:20-24 CEB)
Will God restore Egypt after punishing her and her fake gods?
I am the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel. Soon I will punish the god Amon of Thebes and the other Egyptian gods, the Egyptian kings, the people of Egypt, and everyone who trusts in the Egyptian power. I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar and his army. But I also promise that Egypt will someday have people living here again, just as it had before. I, the Lord, have spoken. (Jer 46:25-26 CEV)
Will God also restore Israel and make an end of nations that destroyed them?
“But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.” (Jer 46:27-28 ESV)
Does God determine the appointed times and boundaries of occupants of a land?
From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. (Acts 17:26 HCSB)
Does Jeremiah begin a series of prophecies about various nations? What could He say to our nations today? You decide!
Humility (Jeremiah 45)
Does God honor arrogance or humility? What is more important, great things or survival? Let’s look at Jeremiah 45.
What might God say to someone in depression because of troubles in this world?
This is the word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch son of Neriah when he wrote these words on a scroll at Jeremiah’s dictation in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: ‘You have said, “Woe is me, because the Lord has added misery to my pain! I am worn out with groaning and have found no rest.”’ (Jer 45:1-3 HCSB)
Should we seek great things for ourselves? Should we be satisfied that God would spare us in the midst of life’s woes?
Say this to him: ‘This is what the Lord says: “Look! What I’ve built I’m about to tear down, and what I’ve planted I’m about to pull up—and this will involve the entire land.” Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t seek them. Indeed, I’m about to bring disaster on all flesh,’ declares the Lord, ‘but your life will be spared wherever you go.’” (Jer 45:4-5 ISV)
Does God approve of disdain and looking down upon the poor or is humility important?
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. (Rom 12:16 KJV)
What did Paul write to the church in Philippi about humility?
doing nothing from selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind regarding one another as more important than yourselves, not merely looking out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Php 2:3–4 LSB)
Does God honor arrogance or humility? What is more important, great things or survival? You decide!
What might God say to someone in depression because of troubles in this world?
This is the word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch son of Neriah when he wrote these words on a scroll at Jeremiah’s dictation in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: ‘You have said, “Woe is me, because the Lord has added misery to my pain! I am worn out with groaning and have found no rest.”’ (Jer 45:1-3 HCSB)
Should we seek great things for ourselves? Should we be satisfied that God would spare us in the midst of life’s woes?
Say this to him: ‘This is what the Lord says: “Look! What I’ve built I’m about to tear down, and what I’ve planted I’m about to pull up—and this will involve the entire land.” Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t seek them. Indeed, I’m about to bring disaster on all flesh,’ declares the Lord, ‘but your life will be spared wherever you go.’” (Jer 45:4-5 ISV)
Does God approve of disdain and looking down upon the poor or is humility important?
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. (Rom 12:16 KJV)
What did Paul write to the church in Philippi about humility?
doing nothing from selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind regarding one another as more important than yourselves, not merely looking out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Php 2:3–4 LSB)
Does God honor arrogance or humility? What is more important, great things or survival? You decide!
Queen of Heaven (Jeremiah 44)
Have Christians adopted any titles from idolatry? Let’s look at Jeremiah 44.
Did God have anything to say to the refugees from Judah who fled to Egypt?
This is the message that came to Jeremiah for all the Judeans who were living in the land of Egypt, who were living in Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and in the land of Pathros, saying, “This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have seen the disaster that I brought on Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah. Look, they’re in ruins today, with no one living in them, because of the wickedness that they did, provoking me to anger by continuing to offer sacrifices and worship other gods that neither they nor you nor your ancestors had known. (Jer 44:1-3 ISV)
What had God warned the people not to do through his prophets?
Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods. Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day. (Jer 44:4-6 KJV)
Does God call Israel’s rebellion self-harm, as someone concerned for their welfare?
So now, thus says Yahweh, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, “Why are you doing great evil against yourselves, so as to cut off from you man and woman, infant and nursing baby, from among Judah, leaving yourselves without remnant, provoking Me to anger with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you are entering to sojourn, so that you might be cut off and become an imprecation [curse] and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?
Have you forgotten the evil of your fathers, the evil of the kings of Judah, and the evil of their wives, your own evil, and the evil of your wives, which they did in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? But they have not become contrite even to this day, nor have they feared nor walked in My law or My statutes, which I have put before you and before your fathers.”’ (Jer 44:7-10 LSB)
Does God just allow such behavior without consequences like a weak parent?
“Therefore this is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘Behold, I am going to set My face against you for a disaster, even to eliminate all Judah. And I will take away the remnant of Judah who have set their minds on entering the land of Egypt to reside there, and they will all meet their end in the land of Egypt; they will fall by the sword or meet their end by famine. From the small to the great, they will die by the sword and famine; and they will become a curse, an object of horror, an imprecation [curse], and a disgrace.
And I will punish those who live in the land of Egypt, just as I have punished Jerusalem, with the sword, with famine, and with plague. So there will be no survivor or refugee for the remnant of Judah who have entered the land of Egypt to reside there and then to return to the land of Judah, to which they are longing to return to live; for none will return except a few refugees.’” (Jer 44:11-14 NASB)
Did the people listen to Jeremiah and repent or stubbornly refuse?
Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, along with all the women who were present—a large assembly—and all the people living in Lower and Upper Egypt, said to Jeremiah, “We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord!
We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and were well off and suffered no harm. But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine.” (Jer 44:15-18 NIV)
Was worshipping the Queen of Heaven approved by God or not?
The women also said, “And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did we make cakes for her, to worship her, and pour out drink offerings to her without our husbands’ permission?” (Jer 44:19 NKJV)
Does God see all? How long until He can no longer bear all the disgusting things being done in our land?
Then Jeremiah said to all of them, men and women alike, who had given him that answer, “Do you think the Lord did not know that you and your ancestors, your kings and officials, and all the people were burning incense to idols in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
It was because the Lord could no longer bear all the disgusting things you were doing that he made your land an object of cursing—a desolate ruin without inhabitants—as it is today. All these terrible things happened to you because you have burned incense to idols and sinned against the Lord. You have refused to obey him and have not followed his instructions, his decrees, and his laws.” (Jer 44:20-23 NLT)
What did God say to those insisting on giving offerings to the Queen of Heaven, variously called Ishtar and Astarte?
Moreover Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, “Hear Yahweh’s word, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt! Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says, ‘You and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and with your hands have fulfilled it, saying, “We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of the sky, and to pour out drink offerings to her.” “‘Establish then your vows, and perform your vows.’ (Jer 44:24-25 WEB)
What would prove to the rebels of Judah living in Egypt, who is the one true God?
But listen to the Lord’s word, all you Judeans who live in the land of Egypt. I swear by my great name, says the Lord, that no one from Judah living in Egypt will utter my name again, even in the solemn pledge: “As surely as the Lord God lives.” I’m watching over them for harm and not for good. Everyone from Judah who is living in the land of Egypt will die by the sword and by famine, until all are gone. Those who actually survive war and return from Egypt to the land of Judah will be very few. Then the few remaining Judeans living in Egypt will know for certain whose word is true—mine or theirs! (Jer 44:26-28 CEB)
What sign would God give to let the people know that His warning was serious?
And here is how you will know that I will keep my threats to punish you in Egypt. I will hand over King Hophra of Egypt to those who want to kill him, just as I handed Zedekiah over to Nebuchadnezzar, who wanted to kill him. (Jer 44:29-30 CEV)
Would God be pleased if people took the name of an idol and gave it to Mary?
Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. (1 Co 10:6 ESV)
Have Christians adopted any titles from idolatry? You decide!
Did God have anything to say to the refugees from Judah who fled to Egypt?
This is the message that came to Jeremiah for all the Judeans who were living in the land of Egypt, who were living in Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and in the land of Pathros, saying, “This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have seen the disaster that I brought on Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah. Look, they’re in ruins today, with no one living in them, because of the wickedness that they did, provoking me to anger by continuing to offer sacrifices and worship other gods that neither they nor you nor your ancestors had known. (Jer 44:1-3 ISV)
What had God warned the people not to do through his prophets?
Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods. Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day. (Jer 44:4-6 KJV)
Does God call Israel’s rebellion self-harm, as someone concerned for their welfare?
So now, thus says Yahweh, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, “Why are you doing great evil against yourselves, so as to cut off from you man and woman, infant and nursing baby, from among Judah, leaving yourselves without remnant, provoking Me to anger with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you are entering to sojourn, so that you might be cut off and become an imprecation [curse] and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?
Have you forgotten the evil of your fathers, the evil of the kings of Judah, and the evil of their wives, your own evil, and the evil of your wives, which they did in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? But they have not become contrite even to this day, nor have they feared nor walked in My law or My statutes, which I have put before you and before your fathers.”’ (Jer 44:7-10 LSB)
Does God just allow such behavior without consequences like a weak parent?
“Therefore this is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘Behold, I am going to set My face against you for a disaster, even to eliminate all Judah. And I will take away the remnant of Judah who have set their minds on entering the land of Egypt to reside there, and they will all meet their end in the land of Egypt; they will fall by the sword or meet their end by famine. From the small to the great, they will die by the sword and famine; and they will become a curse, an object of horror, an imprecation [curse], and a disgrace.
And I will punish those who live in the land of Egypt, just as I have punished Jerusalem, with the sword, with famine, and with plague. So there will be no survivor or refugee for the remnant of Judah who have entered the land of Egypt to reside there and then to return to the land of Judah, to which they are longing to return to live; for none will return except a few refugees.’” (Jer 44:11-14 NASB)
Did the people listen to Jeremiah and repent or stubbornly refuse?
Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, along with all the women who were present—a large assembly—and all the people living in Lower and Upper Egypt, said to Jeremiah, “We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord!
We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and were well off and suffered no harm. But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine.” (Jer 44:15-18 NIV)
Was worshipping the Queen of Heaven approved by God or not?
The women also said, “And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did we make cakes for her, to worship her, and pour out drink offerings to her without our husbands’ permission?” (Jer 44:19 NKJV)
Does God see all? How long until He can no longer bear all the disgusting things being done in our land?
Then Jeremiah said to all of them, men and women alike, who had given him that answer, “Do you think the Lord did not know that you and your ancestors, your kings and officials, and all the people were burning incense to idols in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
It was because the Lord could no longer bear all the disgusting things you were doing that he made your land an object of cursing—a desolate ruin without inhabitants—as it is today. All these terrible things happened to you because you have burned incense to idols and sinned against the Lord. You have refused to obey him and have not followed his instructions, his decrees, and his laws.” (Jer 44:20-23 NLT)
What did God say to those insisting on giving offerings to the Queen of Heaven, variously called Ishtar and Astarte?
Moreover Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, “Hear Yahweh’s word, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt! Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says, ‘You and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and with your hands have fulfilled it, saying, “We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of the sky, and to pour out drink offerings to her.” “‘Establish then your vows, and perform your vows.’ (Jer 44:24-25 WEB)
What would prove to the rebels of Judah living in Egypt, who is the one true God?
But listen to the Lord’s word, all you Judeans who live in the land of Egypt. I swear by my great name, says the Lord, that no one from Judah living in Egypt will utter my name again, even in the solemn pledge: “As surely as the Lord God lives.” I’m watching over them for harm and not for good. Everyone from Judah who is living in the land of Egypt will die by the sword and by famine, until all are gone. Those who actually survive war and return from Egypt to the land of Judah will be very few. Then the few remaining Judeans living in Egypt will know for certain whose word is true—mine or theirs! (Jer 44:26-28 CEB)
What sign would God give to let the people know that His warning was serious?
And here is how you will know that I will keep my threats to punish you in Egypt. I will hand over King Hophra of Egypt to those who want to kill him, just as I handed Zedekiah over to Nebuchadnezzar, who wanted to kill him. (Jer 44:29-30 CEV)
Would God be pleased if people took the name of an idol and gave it to Mary?
Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. (1 Co 10:6 ESV)
Have Christians adopted any titles from idolatry? You decide!
Disobeying God (Jeremiah 43)
Was rebellion against God a frequent theme of Israel’s history? What about us? Let’s look at Jeremiah 43.
Did the people turn against Jeremiah and disobediently go to Egypt?
When Jeremiah had finished giving this message from the Lord their God to all the people, Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the other proud men said to Jeremiah, “You lie! The Lord our God hasn’t forbidden us to go to Egypt! Baruch son of Neriah has convinced you to say this, because he wants us to stay here and be killed by the Babylonians or be carried off into exile.” (Jer 43:1-3 NLT)
Who disobediently went to Egypt along with the leaders of the remnants?
So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice, to dwell in the land of Judah. But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the remnant of Judah, who had returned from all the nations where they had been driven, to live in the land of Judah— the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters, and every person who Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan; and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah. They came into the land of Egypt, for they didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice; and they came to Tahpanhes. (Jer 43:4-7 WEB)
As they entered Egypt, who did the Lord inform Jeremiah would come?
The Lord’s word came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes: Take some large stones and set them in the clay pavement in front of Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes while the people of Judah are watching. After that, say to the people: The Lord of heavenly forces, the God of Israel, proclaims: I’m sending for my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who will set his throne over these stones and will spread his canopy over them. (Jer 43:8-10 CEB)
What would King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon do to Egypt?
He will attack Egypt and kill many of its people; others will die of disease or be dragged away as prisoners. I will let him set Egypt's temples on fire, and he will either burn or carry off their idols. He will destroy the sacred monuments at the temple of the sun-god. Then Nebuchadnezzar will pick the land clean, just like a shepherd picking the lice off his clothes. And he will return safely home. (Jer 43:11-13 CEV)
Was Paul also a man like Jeremiah who did not shrink back from declaring God’s word? Do we?
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:26-27 ESV)
What warning is there for us in Israel’s frequent rebellions against God?
Watch out, brothers, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. For we have become companions of the Messiah if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start. As it is said: Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. (Heb 3:12-15 HCSB)
Was rebellion against God a frequent theme of Israel’s history? What about us? You decide!
Did the people turn against Jeremiah and disobediently go to Egypt?
When Jeremiah had finished giving this message from the Lord their God to all the people, Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the other proud men said to Jeremiah, “You lie! The Lord our God hasn’t forbidden us to go to Egypt! Baruch son of Neriah has convinced you to say this, because he wants us to stay here and be killed by the Babylonians or be carried off into exile.” (Jer 43:1-3 NLT)
Who disobediently went to Egypt along with the leaders of the remnants?
So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice, to dwell in the land of Judah. But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the remnant of Judah, who had returned from all the nations where they had been driven, to live in the land of Judah— the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters, and every person who Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan; and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah. They came into the land of Egypt, for they didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice; and they came to Tahpanhes. (Jer 43:4-7 WEB)
As they entered Egypt, who did the Lord inform Jeremiah would come?
The Lord’s word came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes: Take some large stones and set them in the clay pavement in front of Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes while the people of Judah are watching. After that, say to the people: The Lord of heavenly forces, the God of Israel, proclaims: I’m sending for my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who will set his throne over these stones and will spread his canopy over them. (Jer 43:8-10 CEB)
What would King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon do to Egypt?
He will attack Egypt and kill many of its people; others will die of disease or be dragged away as prisoners. I will let him set Egypt's temples on fire, and he will either burn or carry off their idols. He will destroy the sacred monuments at the temple of the sun-god. Then Nebuchadnezzar will pick the land clean, just like a shepherd picking the lice off his clothes. And he will return safely home. (Jer 43:11-13 CEV)
Was Paul also a man like Jeremiah who did not shrink back from declaring God’s word? Do we?
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:26-27 ESV)
What warning is there for us in Israel’s frequent rebellions against God?
Watch out, brothers, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. For we have become companions of the Messiah if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start. As it is said: Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. (Heb 3:12-15 HCSB)
Was rebellion against God a frequent theme of Israel’s history? What about us? You decide!
God's Guidance (Jeremiah 42)
May God one time say flee to Egypt, as He did with Jesus’ parents, and under different circumstances say do not go, as He did with Jeremiah? Do we ask God for guidance? Let’s look at Jeremiah 42.
Were the people wise enough to ask for God’s guidance? Are we?
Then all the commanders of the armies, along with Johanan son of Kareah, Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, approached Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the Lord your God on our behalf, on behalf of this entire remnant (for few of us remain out of the many, as you can see with your own eyes), that the Lord your God may tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.” (Jer 42:1-3 HCSB)
Was Jeremiah honest enough to tell the people all that God commands, or do we only want to hear smooth things?
Jeremiah the prophet told them, “I’ve heard, and I’m going to pray to the Lord your God just as you have requested. Whatever the Lord answers, I’ll tell you. I won’t withhold anything from you.” (Jer 42:4 ISV)
Did the people express their desire to do all that God would say through Jeremiah?
Then they said to Jeremiah, The Lord be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the Lord thy God shall send thee to us. Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the Lord our God. (Jer 42:5-6 KJV)
Did God encourage the people to stay in their current circumstances?
Now it happened that at the end of ten days the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah. Then he called for Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the military forces that were with him, and for all the people both small and great, and said to them, “Thus says Yahweh the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your supplication before Him: ‘If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down, and I will plant you and not uproot you; for I have relented of the calamity that I have done against you. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you are now fearing; do not be afraid of him,’ declares Yahweh, ‘for I am with you to save you and deliver you from his hand. I will also show you compassion, so that he will have compassion on you and return you to your own soil. (Jer 42:7-12 LSB)
What did God say would happen if the people decided to flee to Egypt?
But if you are going to say, “We will not stay in this land,” so as not to listen to the voice of the Lord your God, saying, “No, but we will go to the land of Egypt, where we will not see war, or hear the sound of a trumpet, or hunger for bread, and we will stay there”; then in that case listen to the word of the Lord, you remnant of Judah. This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “If you really set your minds to enter Egypt and go in to reside there, then the sword, of which you are afraid, will overtake you there in the land of Egypt; and the famine, about which you are anxious, will follow closely after you there in Egypt, and you will die there. So all the people who set their minds to go to Egypt to reside there will die by the sword, by famine, or by plague; and they will have no refugees or survivors from the disaster that I am going to bring on them.”’” (Jer 42:13-17 NASB)
Did God give a strong warning about what would happen if they would disobey Him and go down to Egypt?
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘As my anger and wrath have been poured out on those who lived in Jerusalem, so will my wrath be poured out on you when you go to Egypt. You will be a curse and an object of horror, a curse and an object of reproach; you will never see this place again.’ “Remnant of Judah, the Lord has told you, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be sure of this: I warn you today that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.’ I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the Lord your God in all he sent me to tell you. So now, be sure of this: You will die by the sword, famine and plague in the place where you want to go to settle.” (Jer 42:18-22 NIV)
Is God fooled by us when we promise something to Him insincerely?
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (Gal 6:7 NKJV)
May God one time say flee to Egypt, as He did with Jesus’ parents, and under different circumstances say do not go, as He did with Jeremiah? Do we ask God for guidance? You decide!
Were the people wise enough to ask for God’s guidance? Are we?
Then all the commanders of the armies, along with Johanan son of Kareah, Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, approached Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the Lord your God on our behalf, on behalf of this entire remnant (for few of us remain out of the many, as you can see with your own eyes), that the Lord your God may tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.” (Jer 42:1-3 HCSB)
Was Jeremiah honest enough to tell the people all that God commands, or do we only want to hear smooth things?
Jeremiah the prophet told them, “I’ve heard, and I’m going to pray to the Lord your God just as you have requested. Whatever the Lord answers, I’ll tell you. I won’t withhold anything from you.” (Jer 42:4 ISV)
Did the people express their desire to do all that God would say through Jeremiah?
Then they said to Jeremiah, The Lord be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the Lord thy God shall send thee to us. Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the Lord our God. (Jer 42:5-6 KJV)
Did God encourage the people to stay in their current circumstances?
Now it happened that at the end of ten days the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah. Then he called for Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the military forces that were with him, and for all the people both small and great, and said to them, “Thus says Yahweh the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your supplication before Him: ‘If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down, and I will plant you and not uproot you; for I have relented of the calamity that I have done against you. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you are now fearing; do not be afraid of him,’ declares Yahweh, ‘for I am with you to save you and deliver you from his hand. I will also show you compassion, so that he will have compassion on you and return you to your own soil. (Jer 42:7-12 LSB)
What did God say would happen if the people decided to flee to Egypt?
But if you are going to say, “We will not stay in this land,” so as not to listen to the voice of the Lord your God, saying, “No, but we will go to the land of Egypt, where we will not see war, or hear the sound of a trumpet, or hunger for bread, and we will stay there”; then in that case listen to the word of the Lord, you remnant of Judah. This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “If you really set your minds to enter Egypt and go in to reside there, then the sword, of which you are afraid, will overtake you there in the land of Egypt; and the famine, about which you are anxious, will follow closely after you there in Egypt, and you will die there. So all the people who set their minds to go to Egypt to reside there will die by the sword, by famine, or by plague; and they will have no refugees or survivors from the disaster that I am going to bring on them.”’” (Jer 42:13-17 NASB)
Did God give a strong warning about what would happen if they would disobey Him and go down to Egypt?
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘As my anger and wrath have been poured out on those who lived in Jerusalem, so will my wrath be poured out on you when you go to Egypt. You will be a curse and an object of horror, a curse and an object of reproach; you will never see this place again.’ “Remnant of Judah, the Lord has told you, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be sure of this: I warn you today that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.’ I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the Lord your God in all he sent me to tell you. So now, be sure of this: You will die by the sword, famine and plague in the place where you want to go to settle.” (Jer 42:18-22 NIV)
Is God fooled by us when we promise something to Him insincerely?
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (Gal 6:7 NKJV)
May God one time say flee to Egypt, as He did with Jesus’ parents, and under different circumstances say do not go, as He did with Jeremiah? Do we ask God for guidance? You decide!
Gedaliah Killed (Jeremiah 41)
Rather than hastily dismiss a threat, like Gedalia, is it wise to ask God for His protection and guidance? Let’s look at Jeremiah 41.
How did the murder plot against Gedaliah play out?
Now it came to pass in the seventh month that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family and of the officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. And there they ate bread together in Mizpah. Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men who were with him, arose and struck Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. Ishmael also struck down all the Jews who were with him, that is, with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans who were found there, the men of war. (Jer 41:1-3 NKJV)
How did Ishmael the murderer pretend to be innocent?
The next day, before anyone had heard about Gedaliah’s murder, eighty men arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria to worship at the Temple of the Lord. They had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes, and cut themselves, and had brought along grain offerings and frankincense. Ishmael left Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went. When he reached them, he said, “Oh, come and see what has happened to Gedaliah!” (Jer 41:4-6 NLT)
How did ten men bribe Ishmael into sparing their lives?
It was so, when they came into the middle of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah killed them, and cast them into the middle of the pit, he, and the men who were with him. But ten men were found among those who said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us; for we have stores hidden in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey.” So he stopped, and didn’t kill them among their brothers. Now the pit in which Ishmael cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had killed, by the side of Gedaliah (this was that which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel), Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with those who were killed. (Jer 41:7-9 WEB)
Did Ishmael take hostages? Did Johanan and some army officers rescue them?
Ishmael captured the rest of the people who were at Mizpah, including the daughters of the king and all those assigned to Gedaliah, Ahikam’s son, at Mizpah by Nebuzaradan the captain of the special guard. Then Ishmael, Nethaniah’s son, set out to cross over to the Ammonites with the hostages. Johanan, Kareah’s son, and all the army officers at his side heard of the terrible acts committed by Ishmael, Nethaniah’s son. So they mustered all their forces and went to fight him. They found Ishmael, Nethaniah’s son, at the great pool in Gibeon. When all those taken by Ishmael at Mizpah saw Johanan, Kareah’s son, and all his army officers with him, they were delighted. They rallied around Johanan, Kareah’s son, and returned home with him. But Ishmael, Nethaniah’s son, and eight of his men eluded Johanan and went to the Ammonites. (Jer 41:10-15 CEB)
Where did the rescued hostages want to flee to in case Babylon was angry? Did they ask God?
Johanan and the officers had rescued the women, children, and royal officials that Ishmael had taken prisoner after killing Gedaliah. Johanan led the people from Gibeon toward Egypt. They wanted to go there, because they were afraid of what the Babylonians would do when they found out that Ishmael had killed Gedaliah, the ruler appointed by King Nebuchadnezzar. On the way to Egypt, we stopped at the town of Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem. (Jer 41:16-18 CEV)
Did God tell Jesus’ parents to flee to Egypt during the persecution by Herod?
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Mat 2:13-15 ESV)
Rather than hastily dismiss a threat, like Gedalia, is it wise to ask God for His protection and guidance? You decide!
How did the murder plot against Gedaliah play out?
Now it came to pass in the seventh month that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family and of the officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. And there they ate bread together in Mizpah. Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men who were with him, arose and struck Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. Ishmael also struck down all the Jews who were with him, that is, with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans who were found there, the men of war. (Jer 41:1-3 NKJV)
How did Ishmael the murderer pretend to be innocent?
The next day, before anyone had heard about Gedaliah’s murder, eighty men arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria to worship at the Temple of the Lord. They had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes, and cut themselves, and had brought along grain offerings and frankincense. Ishmael left Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went. When he reached them, he said, “Oh, come and see what has happened to Gedaliah!” (Jer 41:4-6 NLT)
How did ten men bribe Ishmael into sparing their lives?
It was so, when they came into the middle of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah killed them, and cast them into the middle of the pit, he, and the men who were with him. But ten men were found among those who said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us; for we have stores hidden in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey.” So he stopped, and didn’t kill them among their brothers. Now the pit in which Ishmael cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had killed, by the side of Gedaliah (this was that which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel), Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with those who were killed. (Jer 41:7-9 WEB)
Did Ishmael take hostages? Did Johanan and some army officers rescue them?
Ishmael captured the rest of the people who were at Mizpah, including the daughters of the king and all those assigned to Gedaliah, Ahikam’s son, at Mizpah by Nebuzaradan the captain of the special guard. Then Ishmael, Nethaniah’s son, set out to cross over to the Ammonites with the hostages. Johanan, Kareah’s son, and all the army officers at his side heard of the terrible acts committed by Ishmael, Nethaniah’s son. So they mustered all their forces and went to fight him. They found Ishmael, Nethaniah’s son, at the great pool in Gibeon. When all those taken by Ishmael at Mizpah saw Johanan, Kareah’s son, and all his army officers with him, they were delighted. They rallied around Johanan, Kareah’s son, and returned home with him. But Ishmael, Nethaniah’s son, and eight of his men eluded Johanan and went to the Ammonites. (Jer 41:10-15 CEB)
Where did the rescued hostages want to flee to in case Babylon was angry? Did they ask God?
Johanan and the officers had rescued the women, children, and royal officials that Ishmael had taken prisoner after killing Gedaliah. Johanan led the people from Gibeon toward Egypt. They wanted to go there, because they were afraid of what the Babylonians would do when they found out that Ishmael had killed Gedaliah, the ruler appointed by King Nebuchadnezzar. On the way to Egypt, we stopped at the town of Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem. (Jer 41:16-18 CEV)
Did God tell Jesus’ parents to flee to Egypt during the persecution by Herod?
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Mat 2:13-15 ESV)
Rather than hastily dismiss a threat, like Gedalia, is it wise to ask God for His protection and guidance? You decide!
Jeremiah Protected (Jeremiah 40)
Would we choose to stay with the poor people of God rather than live in luxury surrounded by pagan customs? Let’s look at Jeremiah 40.
What did the Babylonian captain of the guard say to Jeremiah?
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he took him bound in chains along with all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon. The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, “The Lord your God pronounced this disaster against this place. The Lord has brought it about, and has done as he said. Because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you. Now, behold, I release you today from the chains on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you well, but if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, do not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think it good and right to go. (Jer 40:1-4 ESV)
After Nebuzaradan released Jeremiah, where did he choose to live, Babylon or Judah?
When Jeremiah had not yet turned to go, Nebuzaradan said to him: “Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people or go wherever you want to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him. Jeremiah therefore went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and he stayed with him among the people who remained in the land. (Jer 40:5-6 HCSB)
Who were some of the leaders who stayed in Judah with Gedaliah?
All the leaders of the forces who were in the field along with their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Ahikam’s son Gedaliah over the men, women, children, and the poor of the land who had not been taken into exile in Babylon. Those who came to Gedaliah at Mizpah included Nethaniah’s son Ishmael, Jonathan, Kareah’s son Jonathan, Tanhumeth’s son Seraiah, Ephai’s sons from Netophah; and Jezaniah, the son of a man from Maacah. They came along with their men. (Jer 40:7-8 ISV)
What did Gedaliah say to the remnant left in Judah regarding serving the Chaldeans?
And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken. (Jer 40:9-10 KJV)
Who came to Gedaliah and gathered in wine and summer fruit?
And also all the Jews, who were in Moab and among the sons of Ammon and in Edom and who were in all the other lands, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant for Judah and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan. Then all the Jews returned from all the places to which they had been banished and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered in wine and summer fruit in great abundance. (Jer 40:11-12 LSB)
What did Gedaliah do when told of a murder plot to kill him? Should he have sought advice from the Lord?
Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and said to him, “Are you well aware that Baalis the king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them. Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, “Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know! Why should he take your life, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered and the remnant of Judah would perish?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “Do not do this thing, for you are telling a lie about Ishmael.” (Jer 40:13-16 NASB)
Is living as exiles, looking for a country of their own, metaphorical for the experience of the faithful in this world?
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Heb 11:13-16 NIV)
Would we choose to stay with the poor people of God rather than live in luxury surrounded by pagan customs? You decide!
What did the Babylonian captain of the guard say to Jeremiah?
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he took him bound in chains along with all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon. The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, “The Lord your God pronounced this disaster against this place. The Lord has brought it about, and has done as he said. Because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you. Now, behold, I release you today from the chains on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you well, but if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, do not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think it good and right to go. (Jer 40:1-4 ESV)
After Nebuzaradan released Jeremiah, where did he choose to live, Babylon or Judah?
When Jeremiah had not yet turned to go, Nebuzaradan said to him: “Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people or go wherever you want to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him. Jeremiah therefore went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and he stayed with him among the people who remained in the land. (Jer 40:5-6 HCSB)
Who were some of the leaders who stayed in Judah with Gedaliah?
All the leaders of the forces who were in the field along with their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Ahikam’s son Gedaliah over the men, women, children, and the poor of the land who had not been taken into exile in Babylon. Those who came to Gedaliah at Mizpah included Nethaniah’s son Ishmael, Jonathan, Kareah’s son Jonathan, Tanhumeth’s son Seraiah, Ephai’s sons from Netophah; and Jezaniah, the son of a man from Maacah. They came along with their men. (Jer 40:7-8 ISV)
What did Gedaliah say to the remnant left in Judah regarding serving the Chaldeans?
And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken. (Jer 40:9-10 KJV)
Who came to Gedaliah and gathered in wine and summer fruit?
And also all the Jews, who were in Moab and among the sons of Ammon and in Edom and who were in all the other lands, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant for Judah and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan. Then all the Jews returned from all the places to which they had been banished and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered in wine and summer fruit in great abundance. (Jer 40:11-12 LSB)
What did Gedaliah do when told of a murder plot to kill him? Should he have sought advice from the Lord?
Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and said to him, “Are you well aware that Baalis the king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them. Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, “Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know! Why should he take your life, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered and the remnant of Judah would perish?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “Do not do this thing, for you are telling a lie about Ishmael.” (Jer 40:13-16 NASB)
Is living as exiles, looking for a country of their own, metaphorical for the experience of the faithful in this world?
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Heb 11:13-16 NIV)
Would we choose to stay with the poor people of God rather than live in luxury surrounded by pagan customs? You decide!
Babylon Invades (Jeremiah 39)
What happened as Babylon conquered Jerusalem? Was Zedekiah punished for not surrendering? Are we taught to come out of a symbolic Babylon? Let’s look at Jeremiah 39.
Did Babylon finally conquer Jerusalem as God had warned Judah?
In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city wall was broken through. Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon. (Jer 39:1-3 NIV)
What did king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon do to king Zedekiah of Judah?
So it was, when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, that they fled and went out of the city by night, by way of the king’s garden, by the gate between the two walls. And he went out by way of the plain. But the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had captured him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him. Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes in Riblah; the king of Babylon also killed all the nobles of Judah. Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon. (Jer 39:4-7 NKJV)
What did the Babylonians do to Jerusalem and most of the people?
Meanwhile, the Babylonians burned Jerusalem, including the royal palace and the houses of the people, and they tore down the walls of the city. Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took as exiles to Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city, those who had defected to him, and everyone else who remained. But Nebuzaradan allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind in the land of Judah, and he assigned them to care for the vineyards and fields. (Jer 39:8-10 NLT)
What did Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, command regarding the prophet Jeremiah?
Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon commanded Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard concerning Jeremiah, saying, “Take him and take care of him. Do him no harm; but do to him even as he tells you.” So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guard, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should bring him home. So he lived among the people. (Jer 39:11-14 WEB)
What did God promise Ebed-Melech the Cushite because he trusted in God?
The Lord’s word came to Jeremiah when he was still confined to the prison quarters: Go and say to Ebed-melech the Cushite that the Lord of heavenly forces, the God of Israel, proclaims: I’m about to fulfill my words concerning this city, for harm and not for good. You will witness it for yourself on that day. But on that day, declares the Lord: I will rescue you; you won’t be handed over to those you dread. I will defend you; you won’t die in battle. You will escape with your life, because you have trusted in me, declares the Lord. (Jer 39:15-18 CEB)
What does God teach us through John about a prophetic Babylon?
Then I heard another voice from heaven shout, “My people, you must escape from [come out of] Babylon. Don't take part in her sins and share her punishment. (Rev 18:4 CEV)
What happened as Babylon conquered Jerusalem? Was Zedekiah punished for not surrendering? Are we taught to come out of a symbolic Babylon? You decide!
Did Babylon finally conquer Jerusalem as God had warned Judah?
In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city wall was broken through. Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon. (Jer 39:1-3 NIV)
What did king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon do to king Zedekiah of Judah?
So it was, when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, that they fled and went out of the city by night, by way of the king’s garden, by the gate between the two walls. And he went out by way of the plain. But the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had captured him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him. Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes in Riblah; the king of Babylon also killed all the nobles of Judah. Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon. (Jer 39:4-7 NKJV)
What did the Babylonians do to Jerusalem and most of the people?
Meanwhile, the Babylonians burned Jerusalem, including the royal palace and the houses of the people, and they tore down the walls of the city. Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took as exiles to Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city, those who had defected to him, and everyone else who remained. But Nebuzaradan allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind in the land of Judah, and he assigned them to care for the vineyards and fields. (Jer 39:8-10 NLT)
What did Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, command regarding the prophet Jeremiah?
Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon commanded Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard concerning Jeremiah, saying, “Take him and take care of him. Do him no harm; but do to him even as he tells you.” So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guard, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should bring him home. So he lived among the people. (Jer 39:11-14 WEB)
What did God promise Ebed-Melech the Cushite because he trusted in God?
The Lord’s word came to Jeremiah when he was still confined to the prison quarters: Go and say to Ebed-melech the Cushite that the Lord of heavenly forces, the God of Israel, proclaims: I’m about to fulfill my words concerning this city, for harm and not for good. You will witness it for yourself on that day. But on that day, declares the Lord: I will rescue you; you won’t be handed over to those you dread. I will defend you; you won’t die in battle. You will escape with your life, because you have trusted in me, declares the Lord. (Jer 39:15-18 CEB)
What does God teach us through John about a prophetic Babylon?
Then I heard another voice from heaven shout, “My people, you must escape from [come out of] Babylon. Don't take part in her sins and share her punishment. (Rev 18:4 CEV)
What happened as Babylon conquered Jerusalem? Was Zedekiah punished for not surrendering? Are we taught to come out of a symbolic Babylon? You decide!
Muddy Cistern (Jeremiah 38)
Is abuse from a human government normal in this world? Was Jeremiah’s persecution a forerunner of Jesus’ mistreatment? Let’s begin in Jeremiah 38.
Which princes heard Jeremiah’s prophecy about surrendering to the Babylonians?
Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah had been telling the people. He had been saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Everyone who stays in Jerusalem will die from war, famine, or disease, but those who surrender to the Babylonians will live. Their reward will be life. They will live!’ The Lord also says: ‘The city of Jerusalem will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.’” (Jer 38:1-3 NLT)
Did the princes accuse Jeremiah of being a traitor? What punishment did they give him?
Then the princes said to the king, “Please let this man be put to death, because he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words to them; for this man doesn’t seek the welfare of this people, but harm.” Zedekiah the king said, “Behold, he is in your hand; for the king can’t do anything to oppose you.” Then they took Jeremiah and threw him into the dungeon of Malchijah the king’s son, that was in the court of the guard. They let down Jeremiah with cords. In the dungeon there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire. (Jer 38:4-6 WEB)
Who reported the unjust punishment of Jeremiah to king Zedekiah?
Ebed-melech the Cushite, a court official in the royal palace, got word that they had thrown Jeremiah into the cistern. Since the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate, Ebed-melech left the palace and said to the king: “My master the king, these men have made a terrible mistake in treating the prophet Jeremiah the way they have; they have thrown him into the cistern where he will die of starvation, for there’s no bread left in the city.” (Jer 38:7-9 CEB)
What did king Zedekiah immediately order to be done with Jeremiah?
Zedekiah answered, “Take 30 of my soldiers and pull Jeremiah out before he dies.” Ebedmelech and the soldiers went to the palace and got some rags from the room under the treasury. He used ropes to lower them into the well. Then he said, “Put these rags under your arms so the ropes won't hurt you.” After I did, the men pulled me out. And from then on, I was kept in the courtyard of the palace guards. (Jer 38:10-13 CEV)
What did Zedekiah ask and what was Jeremiah’s reply?
King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance of the temple of the Lord. The king said to Jeremiah, “I will ask you a question; hide nothing from me.” Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I tell you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I give you counsel, you will not listen to me.” Then King Zedekiah swore secretly to Jeremiah, “As the Lord lives, who made our souls, I will not put you to death or deliver you into the hand of these men who seek your life.” (Jer 38:14-16 ESV)
What did Jeremiah tell king Zedekiah would happen if he surrendered to the Babylonians?
Jeremiah therefore said to Zedekiah, “This is what the Lord, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If indeed you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive. But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be handed over to the Chaldeans. They will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape from them.’” (Jer 38:17-18 HCSB)
What was king Zedekiah’s fear and what did Jeremiah say in reply?
Then King Zedekiah told Jeremiah, “I’m afraid of the Judeans who have gone over to the Chaldeans. The Chaldeans may turn me over to them, and they may treat me harshly.” Jeremiah said, “They won’t turn you over. Obey the Lord in what I’m telling you, and it will go well for you and you will live. But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the Lord has shown me: Look, all the women who are left in the house of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon, and will say, ‘These friends of yours have mislead you and overcome you. Your feet have sunk down into the mire, but they have turned away.’ (Jer 38:19-22 ISV)
What would happen to king Zedekiah if he chose to disobey God in this matter?
So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire. (Jer 38:23 KJV)
What did king Zedekiah say to Jeremiah in secret and what happened then?
Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Let no man know about these words and you will not die. But if the officials hear that I have talked with you and come to you and say to you, ‘Tell us now what you said to the king and what the king said to you; do not hide it from us, and we will not put you to death,’ then you are to say to them, ‘I was presenting my petition before the king, not to make me return to the house of Jonathan to die there.’” Then all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him. So he told them in accordance with all these words which the king had commanded; and they ceased speaking with him since the conversation had not been overheard. So Jeremiah stayed in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem was captured. (Jer 38:24-28 LSB)
Did the abuse of Jeremiah foreshadow Pilate mistreating Jesus, who was also innocent?
As a result of this, Pilate made efforts to release Him; but the Jews shouted, saying, “If you release this Man, you are not a friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar!” Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement—but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Look, your King!” So they shouted, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king except Caesar.” So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified. (John 19:12-16 NASB)
Is abuse from a human government normal in this world? Was Jeremiah’s persecution a forerunner of Jesus’ mistreatment? You decide!
Which princes heard Jeremiah’s prophecy about surrendering to the Babylonians?
Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah had been telling the people. He had been saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Everyone who stays in Jerusalem will die from war, famine, or disease, but those who surrender to the Babylonians will live. Their reward will be life. They will live!’ The Lord also says: ‘The city of Jerusalem will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.’” (Jer 38:1-3 NLT)
Did the princes accuse Jeremiah of being a traitor? What punishment did they give him?
Then the princes said to the king, “Please let this man be put to death, because he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words to them; for this man doesn’t seek the welfare of this people, but harm.” Zedekiah the king said, “Behold, he is in your hand; for the king can’t do anything to oppose you.” Then they took Jeremiah and threw him into the dungeon of Malchijah the king’s son, that was in the court of the guard. They let down Jeremiah with cords. In the dungeon there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire. (Jer 38:4-6 WEB)
Who reported the unjust punishment of Jeremiah to king Zedekiah?
Ebed-melech the Cushite, a court official in the royal palace, got word that they had thrown Jeremiah into the cistern. Since the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate, Ebed-melech left the palace and said to the king: “My master the king, these men have made a terrible mistake in treating the prophet Jeremiah the way they have; they have thrown him into the cistern where he will die of starvation, for there’s no bread left in the city.” (Jer 38:7-9 CEB)
What did king Zedekiah immediately order to be done with Jeremiah?
Zedekiah answered, “Take 30 of my soldiers and pull Jeremiah out before he dies.” Ebedmelech and the soldiers went to the palace and got some rags from the room under the treasury. He used ropes to lower them into the well. Then he said, “Put these rags under your arms so the ropes won't hurt you.” After I did, the men pulled me out. And from then on, I was kept in the courtyard of the palace guards. (Jer 38:10-13 CEV)
What did Zedekiah ask and what was Jeremiah’s reply?
King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance of the temple of the Lord. The king said to Jeremiah, “I will ask you a question; hide nothing from me.” Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I tell you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I give you counsel, you will not listen to me.” Then King Zedekiah swore secretly to Jeremiah, “As the Lord lives, who made our souls, I will not put you to death or deliver you into the hand of these men who seek your life.” (Jer 38:14-16 ESV)
What did Jeremiah tell king Zedekiah would happen if he surrendered to the Babylonians?
Jeremiah therefore said to Zedekiah, “This is what the Lord, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If indeed you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive. But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be handed over to the Chaldeans. They will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape from them.’” (Jer 38:17-18 HCSB)
What was king Zedekiah’s fear and what did Jeremiah say in reply?
Then King Zedekiah told Jeremiah, “I’m afraid of the Judeans who have gone over to the Chaldeans. The Chaldeans may turn me over to them, and they may treat me harshly.” Jeremiah said, “They won’t turn you over. Obey the Lord in what I’m telling you, and it will go well for you and you will live. But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the Lord has shown me: Look, all the women who are left in the house of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon, and will say, ‘These friends of yours have mislead you and overcome you. Your feet have sunk down into the mire, but they have turned away.’ (Jer 38:19-22 ISV)
What would happen to king Zedekiah if he chose to disobey God in this matter?
So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire. (Jer 38:23 KJV)
What did king Zedekiah say to Jeremiah in secret and what happened then?
Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Let no man know about these words and you will not die. But if the officials hear that I have talked with you and come to you and say to you, ‘Tell us now what you said to the king and what the king said to you; do not hide it from us, and we will not put you to death,’ then you are to say to them, ‘I was presenting my petition before the king, not to make me return to the house of Jonathan to die there.’” Then all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him. So he told them in accordance with all these words which the king had commanded; and they ceased speaking with him since the conversation had not been overheard. So Jeremiah stayed in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem was captured. (Jer 38:24-28 LSB)
Did the abuse of Jeremiah foreshadow Pilate mistreating Jesus, who was also innocent?
As a result of this, Pilate made efforts to release Him; but the Jews shouted, saying, “If you release this Man, you are not a friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar!” Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement—but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Look, your King!” So they shouted, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king except Caesar.” So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified. (John 19:12-16 NASB)
Is abuse from a human government normal in this world? Was Jeremiah’s persecution a forerunner of Jesus’ mistreatment? You decide!
False Arrest (Jeremiah 37)
Was Jeremiah falsely arrested for his faithful prophecies? Are Christians still falsely arrested in some countries for preaching God’s word? Let’s begin in Jeremiah 37.
After Jehoiakim’s son Coniah (Jehoiakin), did the king of Babylon make Zedekiah king of Judah? Did he or the people obey God?
Josiah’s son King Zedekiah reigned in place of Jehoiakim’s son Coniah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had made king of the land of Judah. But neither he nor his officials nor the people of the land listened to the words of the Lord that were spoken by Jeremiah the prophet. (Jer 37:1-2 ISV)
When the Chaldeans, who were attacking Jerusalem heard that Pharaoh’s army was heading their way, did they depart?
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the Lord our God for us. Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people: for they had not put him into prison. Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem. (Jer 37:3-5 KJV)
Did Jeremiah pass on God’s word that the Chaldeans would return and burn Jerusalem?
Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Thus you are to say to the king of Judah, who sent you to Me to inquire of Me: “Behold, the military force of Pharaoh which has come out for your assistance is going to return to its own land of Egypt. The Chaldeans will also return and fight against this city, and they will capture it and burn it with fire.”’ Thus says Yahweh, ‘Do not deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will surely go away from us,” for they will not go. For even if you had struck down the entire military force of the Chaldeans who were fighting against you, and there were only wounded men remaining among them, each man in his tent, they would rise up and burn this city with fire.’” (Jer 37:6-10 LSB)
Was Jeremiah falsely arrested by Irijah and beaten by officials?
Now it happened when the army of the Chaldeans had withdrawn from Jerusalem because of Pharaoh’s army, that Jeremiah left Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin in order to take possession of some property there among the people. While he was at the Gate of Benjamin, a captain of the guard whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah the son of Hananiah was there; and he arrested Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans!” But Jeremiah said, “A lie! I am not deserting to the Chaldeans”; yet he would not listen to him. So Irijah arrested Jeremiah and brought him to the officials. Then the officials were angry at Jeremiah and they beat him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for they had made it into the prison. For Jeremiah had come into the dungeon, that is, the vaulted cell; and Jeremiah stayed there many days. (Jer 37:11-16 NASB)
What happened when Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah? What was Jeremiah’s request?
Then King Zedekiah sent for him and had him brought to the palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there any word from the Lord?” “Yes,” Jeremiah replied, “you will be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon.” Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “What crime have I committed against you or your attendants or this people, that you have put me in prison? Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, ‘The king of Babylon will not attack you or this land’? But now, my lord the king, please listen. Let me bring my petition before you: Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, or I will die there.” King Zedekiah then gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread from the street of the bakers each day until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard. (Jer 37:17-21 NIV)
Did Jesus give a similar but later prophecy regarding Jerusalem?
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:41-44 NKJV)
Was Jeremiah falsely arrested for his faithful prophecies? Are Christians still falsely arrested in some countries for preaching God’s word? You decide!
After Jehoiakim’s son Coniah (Jehoiakin), did the king of Babylon make Zedekiah king of Judah? Did he or the people obey God?
Josiah’s son King Zedekiah reigned in place of Jehoiakim’s son Coniah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had made king of the land of Judah. But neither he nor his officials nor the people of the land listened to the words of the Lord that were spoken by Jeremiah the prophet. (Jer 37:1-2 ISV)
When the Chaldeans, who were attacking Jerusalem heard that Pharaoh’s army was heading their way, did they depart?
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the Lord our God for us. Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people: for they had not put him into prison. Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem. (Jer 37:3-5 KJV)
Did Jeremiah pass on God’s word that the Chaldeans would return and burn Jerusalem?
Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Thus you are to say to the king of Judah, who sent you to Me to inquire of Me: “Behold, the military force of Pharaoh which has come out for your assistance is going to return to its own land of Egypt. The Chaldeans will also return and fight against this city, and they will capture it and burn it with fire.”’ Thus says Yahweh, ‘Do not deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will surely go away from us,” for they will not go. For even if you had struck down the entire military force of the Chaldeans who were fighting against you, and there were only wounded men remaining among them, each man in his tent, they would rise up and burn this city with fire.’” (Jer 37:6-10 LSB)
Was Jeremiah falsely arrested by Irijah and beaten by officials?
Now it happened when the army of the Chaldeans had withdrawn from Jerusalem because of Pharaoh’s army, that Jeremiah left Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin in order to take possession of some property there among the people. While he was at the Gate of Benjamin, a captain of the guard whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah the son of Hananiah was there; and he arrested Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans!” But Jeremiah said, “A lie! I am not deserting to the Chaldeans”; yet he would not listen to him. So Irijah arrested Jeremiah and brought him to the officials. Then the officials were angry at Jeremiah and they beat him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for they had made it into the prison. For Jeremiah had come into the dungeon, that is, the vaulted cell; and Jeremiah stayed there many days. (Jer 37:11-16 NASB)
What happened when Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah? What was Jeremiah’s request?
Then King Zedekiah sent for him and had him brought to the palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there any word from the Lord?” “Yes,” Jeremiah replied, “you will be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon.” Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “What crime have I committed against you or your attendants or this people, that you have put me in prison? Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, ‘The king of Babylon will not attack you or this land’? But now, my lord the king, please listen. Let me bring my petition before you: Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, or I will die there.” King Zedekiah then gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread from the street of the bakers each day until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard. (Jer 37:17-21 NIV)
Did Jesus give a similar but later prophecy regarding Jerusalem?
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:41-44 NKJV)
Was Jeremiah falsely arrested for his faithful prophecies? Are Christians still falsely arrested in some countries for preaching God’s word? You decide!
The Scroll (Jeremiah 36)
What is an example of how God has made sure down through the ages that His word is preserved? Let’s look at Jeremiah 36.
Why did God tell Jeremiah to write all his prophecies on a scroll?
In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, “Take a scroll and write on it all the words which I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, even to this day. Perhaps the house of Judah will listen to all the disaster which I plan to carry out against them, so that every person will turn from his evil way; then I will forgive their wrongdoing and their sin.” (Jer 36:1-3 NASB)
To whom did Jeremiah dictate the scroll and ask to read it to all the people of Judah?
So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and while Jeremiah dictated all the words the Lord had spoken to him, Baruch wrote them on the scroll. Then Jeremiah told Baruch, “I am restricted; I am not allowed to go to the Lord’s temple. So you go to the house of the Lord on a day of fasting and read to the people from the scroll the words of the Lord that you wrote as I dictated. Read them to all the people of Judah who come in from their towns. Perhaps they will bring their petition before the Lord and will each turn from their wicked ways, for the anger and wrath pronounced against this people by the Lord are great.” (Jer 36:4-7 NIV)
Did Baruch read the scroll of Jeremiah to those assembled in the house of the Lord?
And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading from the book the words of the Lord in the Lord’s house. Now it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the Lord to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem. Then Baruch read from the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house, in the hearing of all the people. (Jer 36:8-10 NKJV)
Did Baruch read the scroll of Jeremiah to those assembled in the palace?
When Micaiah son of Gemariah and grandson of Shaphan heard the messages from the Lord, he went down to the secretary’s room in the palace where the administrative officials were meeting. Elishama the secretary was there, along with Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Acbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials. When Micaiah told them about the messages Baruch was reading to the people, the officials sent Jehudi son of Nethaniah, grandson of Shelemiah and great-grandson of Cushi, to ask Baruch to come and read the messages to them, too. So Baruch took the scroll and went to them. “Sit down and read the scroll to us,” the officials said, and Baruch did as they requested. (Jer 36:11-15 NLT)
What warning did the princes give to both Baruch and Jeremiah?
Now when they had heard all the words, they turned in fear one toward another, and said to Baruch, “We will surely tell the king of all these words.” They asked Baruch, saying, “Tell us now, how did you write all these words at his mouth?” Then Baruch answered them, “He dictated all these words to me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.” Then the princes said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah go hide. Don’t let anyone know where you are.” (Jer 36:16-19 WEB)
What did the king do with the scroll as he had it read to him?
After leaving the scroll in the room of Elishama the scribe, they went to the king’s court and told him everything. The king sent Jehudi to take the scroll, and he retrieved it from the room of Elishama the scribe. Then Jehudi read it to the king and all his royal officials who were standing next to the king. Now it was the ninth month, and the king was staying in the winterized part of the palace with the firepot burning near him. And whenever Jehudi read three or four columns of the scroll, the king would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot until the whole scroll was burned up. Neither the king nor any of his attendants who heard all these words were alarmed or tore their clothes. Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah begged the king not to burn the scroll, but he wouldn’t listen to them. (Jer 36:20-25 CEB)
Did God tell Jeremiah to dictate a second scroll, a copy of the original, to Baruch?
The king told his son Jerahmeel to take Seraiah and Shelemiah and to go arrest Baruch and me. But the Lord kept them from finding us. I had told Baruch what to write on that first scroll, but King Jehoiakim had burned it. So the Lord told me to get another scroll and write down everything that had been on the first one. (Jer 36:26-28 CEV)
What were the consequences for king Jehoiakim because of his actions?
And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah you shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord, You have burned this scroll, saying, “Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will cut off from it man and beast?” Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat by day and the frost by night. And I will punish him and his offspring and his servants for their iniquity. I will bring upon them and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem and upon the people of Judah all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, but they would not hear.’” Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them. (Jer 36:29-32 ESV)
What are the consequences of adding to or taking away from a prophetic book?
I testify to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, written in this book. (Rev 22:18-19 HCSB)
What is an example of how God has made sure down through the ages that His word is preserved? You decide!
Why did God tell Jeremiah to write all his prophecies on a scroll?
In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, “Take a scroll and write on it all the words which I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, even to this day. Perhaps the house of Judah will listen to all the disaster which I plan to carry out against them, so that every person will turn from his evil way; then I will forgive their wrongdoing and their sin.” (Jer 36:1-3 NASB)
To whom did Jeremiah dictate the scroll and ask to read it to all the people of Judah?
So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and while Jeremiah dictated all the words the Lord had spoken to him, Baruch wrote them on the scroll. Then Jeremiah told Baruch, “I am restricted; I am not allowed to go to the Lord’s temple. So you go to the house of the Lord on a day of fasting and read to the people from the scroll the words of the Lord that you wrote as I dictated. Read them to all the people of Judah who come in from their towns. Perhaps they will bring their petition before the Lord and will each turn from their wicked ways, for the anger and wrath pronounced against this people by the Lord are great.” (Jer 36:4-7 NIV)
Did Baruch read the scroll of Jeremiah to those assembled in the house of the Lord?
And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading from the book the words of the Lord in the Lord’s house. Now it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the Lord to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem. Then Baruch read from the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house, in the hearing of all the people. (Jer 36:8-10 NKJV)
Did Baruch read the scroll of Jeremiah to those assembled in the palace?
When Micaiah son of Gemariah and grandson of Shaphan heard the messages from the Lord, he went down to the secretary’s room in the palace where the administrative officials were meeting. Elishama the secretary was there, along with Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Acbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials. When Micaiah told them about the messages Baruch was reading to the people, the officials sent Jehudi son of Nethaniah, grandson of Shelemiah and great-grandson of Cushi, to ask Baruch to come and read the messages to them, too. So Baruch took the scroll and went to them. “Sit down and read the scroll to us,” the officials said, and Baruch did as they requested. (Jer 36:11-15 NLT)
What warning did the princes give to both Baruch and Jeremiah?
Now when they had heard all the words, they turned in fear one toward another, and said to Baruch, “We will surely tell the king of all these words.” They asked Baruch, saying, “Tell us now, how did you write all these words at his mouth?” Then Baruch answered them, “He dictated all these words to me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.” Then the princes said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah go hide. Don’t let anyone know where you are.” (Jer 36:16-19 WEB)
What did the king do with the scroll as he had it read to him?
After leaving the scroll in the room of Elishama the scribe, they went to the king’s court and told him everything. The king sent Jehudi to take the scroll, and he retrieved it from the room of Elishama the scribe. Then Jehudi read it to the king and all his royal officials who were standing next to the king. Now it was the ninth month, and the king was staying in the winterized part of the palace with the firepot burning near him. And whenever Jehudi read three or four columns of the scroll, the king would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot until the whole scroll was burned up. Neither the king nor any of his attendants who heard all these words were alarmed or tore their clothes. Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah begged the king not to burn the scroll, but he wouldn’t listen to them. (Jer 36:20-25 CEB)
Did God tell Jeremiah to dictate a second scroll, a copy of the original, to Baruch?
The king told his son Jerahmeel to take Seraiah and Shelemiah and to go arrest Baruch and me. But the Lord kept them from finding us. I had told Baruch what to write on that first scroll, but King Jehoiakim had burned it. So the Lord told me to get another scroll and write down everything that had been on the first one. (Jer 36:26-28 CEV)
What were the consequences for king Jehoiakim because of his actions?
And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah you shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord, You have burned this scroll, saying, “Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will cut off from it man and beast?” Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat by day and the frost by night. And I will punish him and his offspring and his servants for their iniquity. I will bring upon them and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem and upon the people of Judah all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, but they would not hear.’” Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them. (Jer 36:29-32 ESV)
What are the consequences of adding to or taking away from a prophetic book?
I testify to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, written in this book. (Rev 22:18-19 HCSB)
What is an example of how God has made sure down through the ages that His word is preserved? You decide!
Tradition (Jeremiah 35)
How does a legitimate human tradition compare to a tradition of disobedience? Let’s look at Jeremiah 35.
What did the Lord tell Jeremiah to do with the gentile descendants of Rechab?
The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, “Go to the house of the Rechabites, and speak to them, and bring them into Yahweh’s house, into one of the rooms, and give them wine to drink.” (Jer 35:1-2 WEB)
What did Jeremiah offer the Rechabites after bringing them into a special room of the temple complex?
So I took Jaazaniah, Jeremiah’s son and Habazziniah’s grandson, and his brothers and all his sons, and the whole Rechabite family. I brought them to the room in the Lord’s temple assigned to the sons of Hanan, Igdaliah’s son, the man of God. The room was next to the one used by the chief officers and right above the room of Maaseiah, Shallum’s son, the temple doorkeeper. Then I set bowls full of wine before the Rechabites, along with several cups, and I said to them, “Have some.” (Jer 35:3-5 CEB)
Though Jews were permitted to drink wine in moderation, what had Jonadab son of Rechab set as clan rules?
But they answered: No! The ancestor of our clan, Jonadab son of Rechab, made a rule that we must obey. He said, “Don't ever drink wine or build houses or plant crops and vineyards. Instead, you must always live in tents and move from place to place. If you obey this command, you will live a long time.” Our clan has always obeyed Jonadab's command. To this very day, we and our wives and sons and daughters don't drink wine or build houses or plant vineyards or crops. And we have lived in tents, except now we have to live inside Jerusalem because Nebuchadnezzar has taken over the countryside with his army from Babylonia and Syria. (Jer 35:6-11 CEV)
Did God compare honoring a clan rule to a nation that disobeys God’s rules?
Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the Lord. The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father's command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, ‘Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.’ But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me. (Jer 35:12-16 ESV)
What did God say would happen to Judah for disobeying and ignoring Him?
Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I will certainly bring to Judah and to all the residents of Jerusalem all the disaster I have pronounced against them because I have spoken to them, but they have not obeyed, and I have called to them, but they would not answer.” (Jer 35:17 HCSB)
Because the Rechabites honored a clan rule from their father Jonadab, what blessing did God promise them?
And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever. (Jer 35:18-19 KJV)
Is there a difference between a legitimate tradition and a tradition that sets aside the commandment of God?
Leaving the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” And He was also saying to them, “You are good at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.” (Mark 7:8-9 LSB)
How does a legitimate human tradition compare to a tradition of disobedience? You decide!
What did the Lord tell Jeremiah to do with the gentile descendants of Rechab?
The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, “Go to the house of the Rechabites, and speak to them, and bring them into Yahweh’s house, into one of the rooms, and give them wine to drink.” (Jer 35:1-2 WEB)
What did Jeremiah offer the Rechabites after bringing them into a special room of the temple complex?
So I took Jaazaniah, Jeremiah’s son and Habazziniah’s grandson, and his brothers and all his sons, and the whole Rechabite family. I brought them to the room in the Lord’s temple assigned to the sons of Hanan, Igdaliah’s son, the man of God. The room was next to the one used by the chief officers and right above the room of Maaseiah, Shallum’s son, the temple doorkeeper. Then I set bowls full of wine before the Rechabites, along with several cups, and I said to them, “Have some.” (Jer 35:3-5 CEB)
Though Jews were permitted to drink wine in moderation, what had Jonadab son of Rechab set as clan rules?
But they answered: No! The ancestor of our clan, Jonadab son of Rechab, made a rule that we must obey. He said, “Don't ever drink wine or build houses or plant crops and vineyards. Instead, you must always live in tents and move from place to place. If you obey this command, you will live a long time.” Our clan has always obeyed Jonadab's command. To this very day, we and our wives and sons and daughters don't drink wine or build houses or plant vineyards or crops. And we have lived in tents, except now we have to live inside Jerusalem because Nebuchadnezzar has taken over the countryside with his army from Babylonia and Syria. (Jer 35:6-11 CEV)
Did God compare honoring a clan rule to a nation that disobeys God’s rules?
Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the Lord. The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father's command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, ‘Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.’ But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me. (Jer 35:12-16 ESV)
What did God say would happen to Judah for disobeying and ignoring Him?
Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I will certainly bring to Judah and to all the residents of Jerusalem all the disaster I have pronounced against them because I have spoken to them, but they have not obeyed, and I have called to them, but they would not answer.” (Jer 35:17 HCSB)
Because the Rechabites honored a clan rule from their father Jonadab, what blessing did God promise them?
And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever. (Jer 35:18-19 KJV)
Is there a difference between a legitimate tradition and a tradition that sets aside the commandment of God?
Leaving the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” And He was also saying to them, “You are good at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.” (Mark 7:8-9 LSB)
How does a legitimate human tradition compare to a tradition of disobedience? You decide!
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