Destruction of Babylon

JEREMIAH      CHAPTER 51

The Lord told Jeremiah that he would set up a destroyer against Babylon and its people. No one would be spared. For he had not forsaken Israel and Judah, he was still their God, even though their land was filled with sin.

He tells the captives in Babylon to flee and for everyone to weep for her and for them to return to their own land. The Lord stirred up the spirit of kings of the Medes who march against Babylon to destroy her. Babylon had her chance, but her time is now at an end. Verses 13 - 19 are a beautiful hymn of praise to the Lord that I hope you will read.

Verses 20 through 35 tell of the way the Lord will shatter Babylon and its people for the wrong they did to the people of Jerusalem. Verses 36 through 44 have the Lord compare himself to a lawyer pleading the case for Jerusalem and avenging her and saying he would dry up her river, her water supply.

The Lord's message for the exiles is to run and save themselves and to not panic when they first hear the rumor of approaching forces. For there will be a time of violence as leaders fight one another. But he urges the exiles to not stand and watch, but to flee while they can and think of their home in Jerusalem.  The prophet Jeremiah gave all of this message to Zedekiah's staff officer when he went to Babylon with Zedekiah of Judah during Zedekiah's fourth year of reign. Jeremiah recorded on a scroll all the terrible disasters that would come upon Babylon. He asked that the scroll be read aloud and then tied to a stone and thrown in the Euphrates River and announce that in the same way Babylon and her people will sink and never again rise, because of the disasters the God of Israel would bring upon her.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The verse that refers to drying up Babylon's river may refer to Cyrus who took the city by surprise by diverting the river that ran through the city upstream and then walking beneath the city's fortifications on the dry riverbed.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Babylon may have oppressed the people of Israel, but Babylon would too be judged. God does not allow evil to remain unpunished.

It seems harsh, but God's fury had to wipe out the idolotry of the people of Babylon. They had been warned earlier through God's messages to Jeremiah. How do you think some of the countries of today's world would fare in God's judgment?Not well, I think. But we must remember that if God gives us a chance, we must take it and run TO him, not FROM him. How often do we rely on our own selves when we should be asking for help from our Lord? I am just as guilty as most everyone. I tend to want to solve every problem myself, but I am learning to run TO him! He is our rock and our salvation!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH:

Pray for my grandson and new baby Gunar who was born with kidney problems.

Pray for Gabe.

Pray for Gary and Steve my insurance men who have prostate cancer.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and who recently underwent major surgery.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who has been undergoing chemo. Pray also for Charly who longs to be 100 percent again and walk without an aid.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our farmers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought.