Truth and Consequences:
A study in the prophecy of Jeremiah
Chapter 50
Given 1 December 2022
Lesson Forty-nine: Babylon is going down (part 1)
INTRODUCTION
For a year we have read and reread the prophecy of Jeremiah, week by week, almost line by line, and we have discovered a great deal about God, about the Jewish people, about the enemies of the Jewish people in the 6th century BCE, and perhaps for those of us who have seriously reflected, we have discovered a great deal about ourselves. After all, that’s the point of studying the Bible, isn’t it? To learn and grow, to become the kind of people we think God has purposed for us in our day. Is that happening with you? Have you written your reflections to share with the class in three weeks? I’ll hope so.
Today we read chapter 50, a very lengthy description of the punishments and penalties to befall Babylon. It’s actually part 1 of 2 parts as next week’s view of chapter 51 will be even longer. No matter the length, however, we see the summary judgment to befall the Babylonians and we see the hope, the real hope, for the Jewish people in relation to the Almighty. For some, in a way, it’s too little, it could be said that this is too late. After all, the penalties are not immediate; the justice meted out against Nebuchadnezzar and all his hosts is long after he himself is gone. In fact, long after Jeremiah and Baruch and Seraiah the priest... long after all the kings (Zedekiah, Jehoiakim and all the others) had passed away. In a way, it’s too late. It’s too little. Think of those 6 million Jews who perished in the Shoah. And some say, look what happened! As a result of global embarrassment at standing by and doing not enough, the global community saw to the homeland situation for the Jewish people and the United Nations resolved that Israel be formed in 1948. Great news, but really too little and too late.
Some of you may read these last two punishing chapters in that way. Too little. Too late. But I think it’s just enough and just in time. Maybe the chronology of these sayings will help.
When we studied chapters 30-33, we titled those the Book of Consolation. And in those chapters we found hope, real hope, in a phenomenal exposition based on Judah’s return to the land of Promise. Hence the consolation of the people.
Let’s dig into this chapter of unrivalled judgment and see what this has to say to us as 21st century people.
The chapter divides into thirds. First, God promises to judge Babylon and to spare both Israel and Judah. (verses 1-20). Then the judgment on Babylon is the major focus (.21-32) and finally with a nod to Egypt and the Exodus, our deliverance is highlighted. (33-46). We will not cover the whole chapter line by line, but some will need to be visited.
1. Israel and Judah to be spared (.1-20)
Verse 1, we see an unusual phrase. Not for the Bible, but so far for Jeremiah. He doesn’t begin with “The Word of the Lord spoke to me” or “concerning Babylon” as we have seen. We read this phrase,
בְּיַ֖ד יִרְמְיָ֥הוּ
“By the hand of Jeremiah.” Perhaps this simply means the scroll was in his hand, but hang onto this thought and we will return to it in due course.
Verse 2, Marduk is mentioned. He is the tribal deity of the Babylonians, the main false god. Bel simply means “lord” and was used of many of their deities, but by this time, the title had been exclusively applied to Marduk as the national deity.
The declaration is past tense, but is applied to a future promise. Babylon is going down, but in the mind and in the hand of Jeremiah, it’s a fait accompli. Not only is the nation going to lose standing, but the gods in whom the people trusted—they will be destroyed as well.
Verse 3: “The enemy from the north” has been applied to Babylon itself, and although some argue that this is a reference to the Jewish refugees living there, it’s later clarified to be the Medes, the colleagues of the Persians who will conquer Babylon in 539 BCE.[1] Even in verse 9 this enemy is “a horde of great nations” which most likely is the alliance of Medes and Persia.
Verse 4 introduces a new hope, similar to the writings of chapters 30-33, as it gives us both Israel and Judah together. They are ‘going’ (said three times) and they are seeking their God. They are weeping. That’s confessional and showcases their humility. Judgement has its perfect result when confession and humility and repentance follow.
Don’t miss the word “yachdav” also, together, in purpose and in direction and in fellowship. Sometimes we can be in the same room, but not in the same mind. This is true in families, in congregations, and we are regularly called to be together, together. Remember Acts 2 verse 1, which highlights this very idea. Also yachdav is first used in Genesis 22, when Abraham and Isaac went on together. Same purpose. Same direction. Same goals.
It's not hard to consider the World Cup in this time, as many of you are watching and cheering your team to victory. Those 11 men on the pitch are running mile after mile, and when it works, and you know it when it works, the team is melding. And don’t you love that both the USA and Australia (from where most of you watching and participating in our Bible class today are) have made it into the round of 16 in Qatar?
The team nature of that word yachdav is something not to miss.
What does it mean in verse 4, ‘they will seek?’ Is it the benefits of God they desire? Is it the gifts of the Giver of Life they are wishing for? No, it’s the God of the universe, who has forgiven them of their sins and their folly, their years of idolatry, and has caused them to long for him, and him alone.
Verse 5, they will turn their faces. That’s all you have to do today, you on the zoom call and anyone else listening or watching. Admit your wrong and begin to turn to him, and that’s all that is required. He longs to bring us around and he will do so, if we surrender to him. Please, hear this.
Verse 6, is a repeat of Chapter 23. False shepherds lead Jewish people astray. We have to remember (lest we forget—end of verse 6) that wrong leadership leads us wrongly and we will ascend to hills and mountains for false worship centres. Guard your heart and guard your commitments and loyalties to false shepherds.
Verse 7 is one of those reminder verses that troubles theologians and maybe it troubles you in measure. Or maybe you love this idea.
Keown says this,
“At the beginning of the covenant relationship, in the context of covenant fidelity, all who consumed Israel would be held guilty (Jer 2:3). But now the enemy had not only devoured them but had also disclaimed guilt because it had been Israel who had sinned. Jeremiah 30:16 held out the promise that, although Israel was guilty, all who devoured them would in turn be devoured.”
So at the same time, God would use the Babylonians to bring judgment on Judah and cause us pain and suffering, even so, God would bring judgment on Babylon for the pain and suffering they caused the Jewish people. Is that fair? Is that something that bothers you? Let’s talk about that in the Question time in a few minutes.
Listen to God’s description of Babylon. Verse 11 “you are glad, because you are jubilant… you skip about like a threshing heifer and neigh like stallions,”
Then this notion of Babylon as ‘mother’ which is sounded by Hosea as well (2.4, 2.7, 10.14) and John in Revelation (14, and 18)
“BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
Verse 14 highlights the problem of Babylon being used by God to judge Judah. “She has sinned against the Lord.” That’s where Romans 9 comes in and we have to submit to the plans and purposes of God as humble clay being shaped.
I don’t want you to miss verse 15.
“Raise your battle cry against her on every side! She has given herself up, her pillars have fallen, her walls have been torn down. for this is the vengeance of the LORD: Take vengeance on her; As she has done to others, so do to her.
That phrase, “she has given herself up” is literally “she has given her hands.” This is the sound and sight of surrender. White flag. Look at verse 43 in this chapter.
“The king of Babylon has heard the report about them, and his hands hang limp; Distress has gripped him, agony like a woman in childbirth.”
וְרָפ֣וּ יָדָ֑יו
The same use of the hands, hanging down, limp, unable to help. But it’s more than weakness. It’s covenantal break. We shake on it, we sign agreements with our hands, we break them with our hands when we line up with another. We swear allegiance with our hands. No wonder Paul uses the idea of ‘lifting up holy hands’ as a swearing of allegiance to God, and some of you have done this in worship. I certainly do this now and then.
In 1 Chronicles 29.14, the soldiers of David served under Solomon by “giving their hands under Solomon.” A sign of submission and loyalty.
Verses 6 and 17 show us as sheep, again and again. And thus the sheep killer, Babylon and Assyria are both to be destroyed.
2. Babylon is to be summarily judged (.21-32)
In the 2nd section, we read, “Against the land of Merathaim, go up against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod. Slay and utterly destroy them,” declares the LORD.”
This is no doubt a play on two words, “Merathaim means ‘double rebellion’ and ‘pekod’ means punishment.
Verse 24 says that the conflict is not with Judah. Babylon is being punished due to their conflict with God himself.
Verse 29, here we read the main sin, and what you and I have determined over weeks to be the main cause of all sin, and that is ‘arrogance.’ But again, not a simple pride, but a pride AGAINST the Lord. It’s as if they are saying “I’m better than God.”
Verse 32, God says he will be the destroyer. He will make this happen, as he was the one against whom the sin was committed.
3. The Exodus remembered. (.33-46)
This 3rd section reminded me of Egypt and I found this in one commentary that I think will highlight this idea more clearly.
Verses 33-34,s The language of this oracle of salvation recalls the deliverance in the Exodus from Egypt. The oppressed of Israel and Judah whom Babylon refused to set free (cf Exod 7:14) are to be rescued by the Redeemer (גּׄאֵל; cf Exod 6:6; 15:13), who will take up their legal case (cf Exod 2:23–25; 3:7–8). The passage is replete with wordplays: החזיקו בם, “they held them strongly,” and גאלם חזק, “their redeemer is strong”; הרגיע, “he will give rest,” and הרגיע, “he will give unrest”; and שׁביהם, “their captors,” and ישׁבי בבל, “the inhabitants of Babylon.”
The final lines are a repeat from chapter 6, but in that case it was Judah being judged and in this case it’s Babylon being judged.
Keown says this, “41-43 These verses reproduce 6:22–24, the greatest change being that the one hearing the report of invasion is now the king of Babylon instead of Judah (see Comment on 6:22–26). In this ironic reversal, Babylon, which turned out to be “the foe from the north” against Judah, is terrorized by news of a people from the north reported in almost identical terms.”
We have only skimmed the top of chapter 50 and next week we will review 60 plus verses of chapter 51, and feel the deep feelings of judgment. One might wonder how a preacher is supposed to preach these two chapters.
I believe we have to feel the feelings of sin’s result, whether it’s arrogance or indignity, of racism or hatred, and know that we are guilty. If we never know our guilt, we can never ask for forgiveness and as a result, we would never receive forgiveness. Without that admission of guilt and its commensurate shame, we will never know the God who promises us forgiveness, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Friends, in a moment Jimmy will lead anyone on this call or anyone watching the YouTube video, in a prayer of hope. First he will ask you to admit your own sin and then to receive God’s kindness and grace due to the merits of his son, our Saviour Yeshua. I encourage you to join him in that prayer of submitting to God and of agreeing with God that your sins have separated you from God. AND YET… the Lord of all wants to give us real hope, that of knowing Him and loving him and being with him forever. What a hope we have.
CONCLUSION
God is calling each of us to know him and to walk with him, today and throughout our days. Have you received Yeshua as your messiah and Lord? He is risen from the dead! Have you renounced your sin, your idolatry, your forsaking God and given him First Place in your life? If not, please, do so now, just now, as we pray together. Use your own words, if you want, but yield, surrender, to the Lord of life.
PRAYER
Then please write us (admin@jewsforjesus.org.au) to tell us what you have just done, and we will send you literature and encourage you. You are part of our family; we love and appreciate you. And we want you to enjoy the presence of the Lord who calls, who knows, who blesses and builds us up.
We hope to see you again next week as we study chapter 50. Until then, Shabbat shalom!
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Barnes, Albert, Commentary on the Old Testament. (Published by many, from 1880 on)
Henry, Matthew, Commentary.
Keown, Gerald, Scalise, Pamela, Smothers, Thomas, Word Biblical Commentary. Book of Jeremiah (Part 2). 1995.
McConnville, Gordon, Jeremiah, New Bible Commentary.
Wright, Christopher, The Message of Jeremiah, The Bible Speaks Today. Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, 2014.
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ACTUAL TEXT
Prophecy against Philistia
Jer. 47:1 That which came as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh conquered Gaza.
2 Thus says the LORD:
“Behold, waters are going to rise from the north
And become an overflowing torrent,
And overflow the land and all its fullness,
The city and those who live in it;
And the men will cry out,
And every inhabitant of the land will wail.
3 “Because of the noise of the galloping hoofs of his stallions,
The tumult of his chariots, and the rumbling of his wheels,
The fathers have not turned back for their children,
Because of the limpness of their hands,
4 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 the LORD is going to destroy the Philistines,
The remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.
5 “Baldness has come upon Gaza;
Ashkelon has been ruined.
O remnant of their valley,
How long will you gash yourself?
6 “Ah, sword of the LORD,
How long will you not be quiet?
Withdraw into your sheath;
Be at rest and stay still.
7 “How can it be quiet,
When the LORD has given it an order?
Against Ashkelon and against the seacoast
There He has assigned it.”
[1] Cyrus describes how he conquered Babylon in 539 B.C.—without a fight, or so he alleges—and then took its king, Nabonidus, prisoner, all with the aid of Marduk, the most important Babylonian god. Cyrus claims that Marduk deserted the Babylonians because Nabonidus had reduced the citizenry to servile status.
