34 “Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me;
he has crushed me;
he has made me an empty vessel;
he has swallowed me like a monster;
he has filled his stomach with my delicacies;
he has rinsed me out.
35 The violence done to me and to my kinsmen be upon Babylon,”
let the inhabitant of Zion say.
“My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea,”
let Jerusalem say.
36 Therefore thus says the Lord:
“Behold, I will plead your cause
and take vengeance for you.
I will dry up her sea
and make her fountain dry,
37 and Babylon shall become a heap of ruins,
the haunt of jackals,
a horror and a hissing,
without inhabitant.
38 “They shall roar together like lions;
they shall growl like lions’ cubs.
39 While they are inflamed I will prepare them a feast
and make them drunk, that they may become merry,
then sleep a perpetual sleep
and not wake, declares the Lord.
40 I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter,
like rams and male goats.
41 “How Babylon is taken,
the praise of the whole earth seized!
How Babylon has become
a horror among the nations!
42 The sea has come up on Babylon;
she is covered with its tumultuous waves.
43 Her cities have become a horror,
a land of drought and a desert,
a land in which no one dwells,
and through which no son of man passes.
44 And I will punish Bel in Babylon,
and take out of his mouth what he has swallowed.
The nations shall no longer flow to him;
the wall of Babylon has fallen.
45 “Go out of the midst of her, my people!
Let every one save his life
from the fierce anger of the Lord!
46 Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful
at the report heard in the land,
when a report comes in one year
and afterward a report in another year,
and violence is in the land,
and ruler is against ruler.
47 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming
when I will punish the images of Babylon;
her whole land shall be put to shame,
and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.
48 Then the heavens and the earth,
and all that is in them,
shall sing for joy over Babylon,
for the destroyers shall come against them out of the north,
declares the Lord.
49 Babylon must fall for the slain of Israel,
just as for Babylon have fallen the slain of all the earth.
Jeremiah 50:34-49
+
The Walls Fall
The Lord disciplines his own. He tests and he purifies. He takes that which he loves, and molds and shapes it to his own righteous ways. The people of Israel suffered under Babylon. God lays to waste in order that he can raise them up. He destroys your sin and sinful ways. He tests you and purifies you by discipline. He tests and does not tempt. He tests in order to make you stronger. He sends forth the Holy Spirit to create in you a clean heart and a right spirit. He sets up faith in your heart and connects you to Jesus and his righteousness. You, who has been knocked down, God raises up by this Gospel. Your sin caused great anger and wrath. The only thing that frees you from that wrath and protects you from God's anger is Jesus. You must be covered in Jesus. Your God does this to you and for you. He washes you and nourishes you. He brought you low and in Jesus he brings you all the way higher. Thanks be to God. 

20          “You are my hammer and weapon of war:
                        with you I break nations in pieces;
with you I destroy kingdoms;
            21          with you I break in pieces the horse and his rider;
with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer;
            22          with you I break in pieces man and woman;
with you I break in pieces the old man and the youth;
                        with you I break in pieces the young man and the young woman;
            23          with you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock;
                        with you I break in pieces the farmer and his team;
with you I break in pieces governors and commanders.
24 “I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea before your very eyes for all the evil that they have done in Zion, declares the Lord.
            25          “Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain,
declares the Lord,
which destroys the whole earth;
                        I will stretch out my hand against you,
and roll you down from the crags,
and make you a burnt mountain.
            26          No stone shall be taken from you for a corner
and no stone for a foundation,
                        but you shall be a perpetual waste,
declares the Lord.
            27          “Set up a standard on the earth;
blow the trumpet among the nations;
                        prepare the nations for war against her;
summon against her the kingdoms,
Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz;
                        appoint a marshal against her;
bring up horses like bristling locusts.
            28          Prepare the nations for war against her,
the kings of the Medes, with their governors and deputies,
and every land under their dominion.
            29          The land trembles and writhes in pain,
for the Lord’s purposes against Babylon stand,
                        to make the land of Babylon a desolation,
without inhabitant.
            30          The warriors of Babylon have ceased fighting;
they remain in their strongholds;
                        their strength has failed;
they have become women;
                        her dwellings are on fire;
her bars are broken.
            31          One runner runs to meet another,
and one messenger to meet another,
                        to tell the king of Babylon
that his city is taken on every side;
            32          the fords have been seized,
the marshes are burned with fire,
and the soldiers are in panic.
            33          For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:
                        The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor
at the time when it is trodden;
                        yet a little while
and the time of her harvest will come.”
Jeremiah 51:20-33
+
The Lord’s Chosen Hammer
Babylon is portrayed as an instrument in the Lord’s hand. God used this mighty empire as His hammer to execute judgment, yet Babylon itself would not escape judgment. The same God who raises up kingdoms also brings them down. Human power, however impressive, is never ultimate. Nations boast, armies conquer, and rulers make plans, but the Lord remains King. This is a sobering word for sinners who trust in earthly strength. It is also a comforting word for Christians. Our confidence does not rest upon the stability of governments, institutions, or our own abilities. The Lord governs all things according to His wisdom. At the cross, this truth shines most clearly. Wicked men acted against Jesus, yet God used their evil actions according to His gracious purpose. There, the apparent triumph of worldly power became the victory of Christ over sin, death, and the devil. Therefore, do not fear the shaking kingdoms of this world. Cling to Christ, whose kingdom cannot be shaken.
 

11          “Sharpen the arrows!
Take up the shields!
The Lord has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it, for that is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance for his temple.
            12          “Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon;
make the watch strong;
                        set up watchmen;
prepare the ambushes;
                        for the Lord has both planned and done
what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
            13          O you who dwell by many waters,
rich in treasures,
                        your end has come;
the thread of your life is cut.
            14          The Lord of hosts has sworn by himself:
                        Surely I will fill you with men, as many as locusts,
and they shall raise the shout of victory over you.
            15          “It is he who made the earth by his power,
who established the world by his wisdom,
                        and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
            16          When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,
and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.
                        He makes lightning for the rain,
and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
            17          Every man is stupid and without knowledge;
every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,
                        for his images are false,
and there is no breath in them.
            18          They are worthless, a work of delusion;
at the time of their punishment they shall perish.
            19          Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,
for he is the one who formed all things,
                        and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;
the Lord of hosts is his name.
Jeremiah 51:11-19
+
The Lord Is Not Like Idols
Jeremiah speaks against Babylon and its idols, exposing the foolishness of trusting in something made by human hands. An idol may be covered with gold and silver, but it cannot speak, see, hear, or save. The Lord, however, is the true God. He is the Maker of all things, the One who established the earth by His power and ordered creation by His wisdom. Babylon’s downfall would demonstrate the Lord’s sovereignty over the nations. His judgment is not arbitrary; He brings down those who exalt themselves against Him and His people. We are tempted to trust our own “idols”: money, possessions, reputation, political power, or our own righteousness. None of these can rescue us from sin or death. At the cross, God shows us where true salvation is found. Christ, not our works, bears our judgment and gives us His righteousness. Therefore, trust the living God, who has conquered sin and death through His Son.

51 Thus says the Lord:
                        “Behold, I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer
against Babylon,
against the inhabitants of Leb-kamai,
            2           and I will send to Babylon winnowers,
and they shall winnow her,
                        and they shall empty her land,
when they come against her from every side
on the day of trouble.
            3           Let not the archer bend his bow,
and let him not stand up in his armor.
                        Spare not her young men;
devote to destruction all her army.
            4           They shall fall down slain in the land of the Chaldeans,
and wounded in her streets.
            5           For Israel and Judah have not been forsaken
by their God, the Lord of hosts,
                        but the land of the Chaldeans is full of guilt
against the Holy One of Israel.
            6           “Flee from the midst of Babylon;
let every one save his life!
                        Be not cut off in her punishment,
for this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance,
the repayment he is rendering her.
            7           Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand,
making all the earth drunken;
                        the nations drank of her wine;
therefore the nations went mad.
            8           Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken;
wail for her!
                        Take balm for her pain;
perhaps she may be healed.
            9           We would have healed Babylon,
but she was not healed.
                        Forsake her, and let us go
each to his own country,
                        for her judgment has reached up to heaven
and has been lifted up even to the skies.
            10          The Lord has brought about our vindication;
come, let us declare in Zion
the work of the Lord our God.
Jeremiah 51:1-10
+
The Lord Vindicates His People
Babylon appeared invincible. It had conquered nations, destroyed Jerusalem, and carried God’s people into exile. Yet Jeremiah announces that Babylon’s strength would not last. The Lord would judge the empire that had become an instrument of His judgment. His people were not forgotten. Babylon’s coming destruction demonstrates the Lord’s sovereignty over the nations and His faithfulness to His covenant people. God’s people still need this reminder. The world may appear dominated by powers that oppose God and His Word. Evil may seem triumphant, while Christians suffer and wait. But the Lord has not abandoned His Church. His judgment is certain, and His promises cannot fail. We see the fullest assurance of this at the cross. There, Christ appeared defeated, yet through His suffering and death He conquered sin, death, and the devil. The cross teaches us not to judge God’s faithfulness by appearances. In Christ, forgiveness is secured, and our future is certain. Therefore, repent, believe, and trust the Lord who saves His people.

41          “Behold, a people comes from the north;
a mighty nation and many kings
are stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.
            42          They lay hold of bow and spear;
they are cruel and have no mercy.
                        The sound of them is like the roaring of the sea;
they ride on horses,
                        arrayed as a man for battle
against you, O daughter of Babylon!
            43          “The king of Babylon heard the report of them,
and his hands fell helpless;
                        anguish seized him,
pain as of a woman in labor.
44 “Behold, like a lion coming up from the thicket of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make them run away from her, and I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me?
45 Therefore hear the plan that the Lord has made against Babylon, and the purposes that he has formed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the little ones of their flock shall be dragged away; surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate. 46 At the sound of the capture of Babylon the earth shall tremble, and her cry shall be heard among the nations.”
Jeremiah 50:41-46
+
The Lord’s Judgment Is Sure
The Lord’s judgment is not an empty threat. Babylon, mighty and terrifying among the nations, would itself be brought low. The nations may appear powerful and secure, but no earthly kingdom can stand against the judgment of God. Babylon’s coming destruction demonstrates the Lord’s sovereignty over the nations: He raises them up and brings them down according to His will. That warning also exposes our own false confidence. We are tempted to trust in wealth, strength, governments, or our own righteousness. None of these can rescue us when we stand before the holy God. But the Lord who judges is also the Lord who saves. At the cross, Christ endured the judgment that our sins deserved. The mighty were humbled, and the seemingly defeated Christ conquered sin, death, and the devil. Therefore, do not fear the kingdoms of this world. Fear the Lord, trust His mercy, and cling to Christ. His kingdom cannot be shaken.

29 “Summon archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow. Encamp around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her according to all that she has done. For she has proudly defied the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. 30 Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed on that day, declares the Lord.
            31          “Behold, I am against you, O proud one,
declares the Lord God of hosts,
                        for your day has come,
the time when I will punish you.
            32          The proud one shall stumble and fall,
with none to raise him up,
                        and I will kindle a fire in his cities,
and it will devour all that is around him.
33 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah with them. All who took them captive have held them fast; they refuse to let them go. 34 Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon.
            35          “A sword against the Chaldeans, declares the Lord,
and against the inhabitants of Babylon,
and against her officials and her wise men!
            36          A sword against the diviners,
that they may become fools!
                        A sword against her warriors,
that they may be destroyed!
            37          A sword against her horses and against her chariots,
and against all the foreign troops in her midst,
that they may become women!
                        A sword against all her treasures,
that they may be plundered!
            38          A drought against her waters,
that they may be dried up!
                        For it is a land of images,
and they are mad over idols.
39 “Therefore wild beasts shall dwell with hyenas in Babylon, and ostriches shall dwell in her. She shall never again have people, nor be inhabited for all generations. 40 As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities, declares the Lord, so no man shall dwell there, and no son of man shall sojourn in her.
Jeremiah 50:29-40
+
The Lord Repays
Babylon had exalted herself, trusting in her own strength, wealth, and power. Yet the Lord is not mocked. He brings down the arrogant and repays wickedness according to His righteous judgment. Babylon, though used by God to discipline His people, was herself accountable for her pride and cruelty. This warning still speaks to us. We are tempted to measure security by what we possess, accomplish, or control. Pride persuades us that we can stand without God. But the Lord humbles those who trust in themselves. Yet the judgment we deserve has fallen upon another: Jesus Christ. At the cross, the righteous Judge bore the punishment of sinners. There, God’s justice and mercy meet. Christ was humbled for our pride so that, through faith, we might be raised with Him. Therefore, do not trust in your strength. Trust in Christ, your crucified and risen Savior.

21          “Go up against the land of Merathaim,
and against the inhabitants of Pekod.
                        Kill, and devote them to destruction,
declares the Lord,
and do all that I have commanded you.
            22          The noise of battle is in the land,
and great destruction!
            23          How the hammer of the whole earth
is cut down and broken!
                        How Babylon has become
a horror among the nations!
            24          I set a snare for you and you were taken, O Babylon,
and you did not know it;
                        you were found and caught,
because you opposed the Lord.
            25          The Lord has opened his armory
and brought out the weapons of his wrath,
                        for the Lord God of hosts has a work to do
in the land of the Chaldeans.
            26          Come against her from every quarter;
open her granaries;
                        pile her up like heaps of grain, and devote her to destruction;
let nothing be left of her.
            27          Kill all her bulls;
let them go down to the slaughter.
                        Woe to them, for their day has come,
the time of their punishment.
28 “A voice! They flee and escape from the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God, vengeance for his temple.
Jeremiah 50:21-28
+
The Lord’s Judgment and Our Refuge
The Lord’s judgment is announced against Babylon, the proud empire He used to discipline His people. Babylon had conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, and carried Judah into exile. Yet Babylon was not beyond the Lord’s judgment. The conqueror would itself be conquered. The Lord remains sovereign over every nation, and His justice cannot be escaped. For God’s people, this judgment also brings comfort. The Lord does not forget the suffering of His Church or allow wickedness to have the final word. His judgment is certain, even when it seems delayed. We see the certainty of God’s justice most clearly at the cross. There, God’s judgment against sin fell upon His innocent Son. Christ bore the punishment sinners deserved, so that those who trust in Him might receive mercy instead of condemnation. Therefore, we need not fear the Lord’s judgment as those without hope. Our refuge is Christ crucified and risen, who has conquered sin, death, and every enemy.

11          “Though you rejoice, though you exult,
O plunderers of my heritage,
                        though you frolic like a heifer in the pasture,
and neigh like stallions,
            12          your mother shall be utterly shamed,
and she who bore you shall be disgraced.
                        Behold, she shall be the last of the nations,
a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
            13          Because of the wrath of the Lord she shall not be inhabited
but shall be an utter desolation;
                        everyone who passes by Babylon shall be appalled,
and hiss because of all her wounds.
            14          Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around,
all you who bend the bow;
                        shoot at her, spare no arrows,
for she has sinned against the Lord.
            15          Raise a shout against her all around;
she has surrendered;
                        her bulwarks have fallen;
her walls are thrown down.
                        For this is the vengeance of the Lord:
take vengeance on her;
do to her as she has done.
            16          Cut off from Babylon the sower,
and the one who handles the sickle in time of harvest;
                        because of the sword of the oppressor,
every one shall turn to his own people,
and every one shall flee to his own land.
17 “Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has gnawed his bones. 18 Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing punishment on the king of Babylon and his land, as I punished the king of Assyria. 19 I will restore Israel to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and in Bashan, and his desire shall be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead. 20 In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.
Jeremiah 50:11-20
+
The Shepherd Who Restores His Flock
Jeremiah reminds us that God’s judgment is never arbitrary. Babylon had been used as an instrument of judgment against Judah, yet Babylon itself was not exempt from the Lord’s justice. Its pride, cruelty, and oppression would be answered by the righteous Judge. These chapters announce Babylon’s downfall while also pointing toward the restoration of God’s people. The Lord would bring His scattered flock home and forgive their sins. This is the comfort of the Christian: God’s judgment does not have the final word for those who belong to Him. Our sin deserves judgment, and we cannot rescue ourselves from it. But the Shepherd Himself has come for His wandering sheep. Jesus Christ bore the judgment we deserved upon the cross. There, God’s justice and mercy meet. Because Christ has died and risen, the Lord gathers His people, forgives their iniquity, and gives them peace. Therefore, do not fear the judgment of this world. Trust the Shepherd who has redeemed you.

50 The word that the Lord spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet:
            2           “Declare among the nations and proclaim,
set up a banner and proclaim,
conceal it not, and say:
                        ‘Babylon is taken,
Bel is put to shame,
Merodach is dismayed.
                        Her images are put to shame,
her idols are dismayed.’
3 “For out of the north a nation has come up against her, which shall make her land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; both man and beast shall flee away.
4 “In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come, and they shall seek the Lord their God. 5 They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.’
6 “My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone. They have forgotten their fold. 7 All who found them have devoured them, and their enemies have said, ‘We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the Lord, their habitation of righteousness, the Lord, the hope of their fathers.’
8 “Flee from the midst of Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as male goats before the flock. 9 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. 10 Chaldea shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 50:1-10
+
The Shepherd Who Gathers His Flock
Jeremiah announces the downfall of Babylon, the great enemy of God’s people. Babylon had carried Judah into exile and seemed to possess unstoppable power. Yet the Lord declares that Babylon’s dominion will end, while His scattered people will be restored. The Lord remains faithful to His covenant, even when His people experience judgment and suffering. The prophetic picture of Israel and Judah returning to the Lord, seeking Him together and renewing the covenant. Their restoration is ultimately the Lord’s work. This points us beyond Israel’s return from exile to the greater redemption accomplished by Christ. We too were captive, not to Babylon, but to sin, death, and the devil. Christ entered our captivity willingly. Upon the cross, He bore the judgment we deserved and defeated our enemies through His death and resurrection. Therefore, do not despair when earthly powers seem invincible. Christ has conquered. He gathers His scattered sheep, forgives their sins, and leads them safely home.

34 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah.
35 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might. 36 And I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven. And I will scatter them to all those winds, and there shall be no nation to which those driven out of Elam shall not come. 37 I will terrify Elam before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, my fierce anger, declares the Lord. I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them, 38 and I will set my throne in Elam and destroy their king and officials, declares the Lord.
39 “But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 49:34-39
+
The Lord Humbles
Jeremiah speaks a word of judgment against Elam, a nation that trusted in its own strength. The Lord declares that He will break its bow and scatter its people. Yet even in this judgment, the Lord promises a future restoration. He remains the Lord over the nations, bringing down human pride and accomplishing His purposes even through judgment. We are tempted to place our confidence in the same things: our abilities, possessions, reputation, or earthly security. But none of these can stand before the Lord. Sin always promises strength while leaving us spiritually helpless. The good news is that Christ came precisely for helpless sinners. At the cross, the apparent weakness of Christ became the victory of God. There our pride is crucified, and our salvation is secured, not by our strength, but by the strength of Christ crucified and risen. Therefore, repent of trusting yourself. Trust the Lord who humbles the proud and raises sinners through His Son.

28 Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck down.
                        Thus says the Lord:
                        “Rise up, advance against Kedar!
Destroy the people of the east!
            29          Their tents and their flocks shall be taken,
their curtains and all their goods;
                        their camels shall be led away from them,
and men shall cry to them: ‘Terror on every side!’
            30          Flee, wander far away, dwell in the depths,
O inhabitants of Hazor!
declares the Lord.
                        For Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
has made a plan against you
and formed a purpose against you.
            31          “Rise up, advance against a nation at ease,
that dwells securely,
declares the Lord,
                        that has no gates or bars,
that dwells alone.
            32          Their camels shall become plunder,
their herds of livestock a spoil.
                        I will scatter to every wind
those who cut the corners of their hair,
                        and I will bring their calamity
from every side of them,
declares the Lord.
            33          Hazor shall become a haunt of jackals,
an everlasting waste;
                        no man shall dwell there;
no man shall sojourn in her.”
Jeremiah 49:28-33
+
When Pride Has No Place to Hide
The Lord’s judgment upon Kedar and Hazor reminds us that no earthly security can ultimately protect us from God’s judgment. These peoples trusted in their remote location, their possessions, and their flocks. They lived securely, imagining themselves beyond the reach of danger. Yet the Lord showed that no human strength, wealth, or isolation can place a sinner outside His sight. We are tempted to do the same. We build our lives around careers, homes, savings, reputations, and plans for the future. These are gifts when received from God’s hand, but they become idols when we trust them instead of Him. The Lord humbles the proud because He will not allow us to find salvation in anything except Him. At the cross, Christ bore the judgment our false security deserved. There, the Son of God was stripped of earthly security and counted among sinners so that sinners might be secure in Him. Therefore, do not fear the Lord’s judgment if you are in Christ. Your refuge is not your strength, but your crucified and risen Savior.

23 Concerning Damascus:
                        “Hamath and Arpad are confounded,
for they have heard bad news;
                        they melt in fear,
they are troubled like the sea that cannot be quiet.
            24          Damascus has become feeble, she turned to flee,
and panic seized her;
                        anguish and sorrows have taken hold of her,
as of a woman in labor.
            25          How is the famous city not forsaken,
the city of my joy?
            26          Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares,
and all her soldiers shall be destroyed in that day,
declares the Lord of hosts.
            27          And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus,
and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.”
Jeremiah 49:23-27
+
The Lord Is Our Refuge
Jeremiah’s oracle against Damascus reminds us that no earthly city, nation, or human strength can stand when the Lord brings His judgment. Damascus was an ancient and influential city, yet its strength could not save it. The Lord judges the nations for their sin and rebellion. His Word exposes the false security we place in earthly powers. We are tempted to do the same. We trust our possessions, our government, our health, or our own righteousness. But none of these can rescue us when we stand before the holy God. Yet the Lord’s judgment is not the final word for those who belong to Christ. At the cross, God’s righteous judgment against sin fell upon His beloved Son. Jesus bore the punishment we deserved and now gives us His righteousness. Therefore, do not place your confidence in things that perish. Take refuge in Christ crucified. He alone is our sure salvation.

7 Concerning Edom.
Thus says the Lord of hosts:
                        “Is wisdom no more in Teman?
Has counsel perished from the prudent?
Has their wisdom vanished?
            8           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.
            9           If grape gatherers came to you,
would they not leave gleanings?
                        If thieves came by night,
would they not destroy only enough for themselves?
            10          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.
            11          Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive;
and let your widows trust in me.”
12 For thus says the Lord: “If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, will you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you must drink. 13 For I have sworn by myself, declares the Lord, that Bozrah shall become a horror, a taunt, a waste, and a curse, and all her cities shall be perpetual wastes.”
            14          I have heard a message from the Lord,
and an envoy has been sent among the nations:
                        “Gather yourselves together and come against her,
and rise up for battle!
            15          For behold, I will make you small among the nations,
despised among mankind.
            16          The horror you inspire has deceived you,
and the pride of your heart,
                        you who live in the clefts of the rock,
who hold the height of the hill.
                        Though you make your nest as high as the eagle’s,
I will bring you down from there,
declares the Lord.
17 “Edom shall become a horror. Everyone who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss because of all its disasters. 18 As when Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities were overthrown, says the Lord, no man shall dwell there, no man shall sojourn in her. 19 Behold, like a lion coming up from the jungle of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make him run away from her. And I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? 20 Therefore hear the plan that the Lord has made against Edom and the purposes that he has formed against the inhabitants of Teman: Even the little ones of the flock shall be dragged away. Surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate. 21 At the sound of their fall the earth shall tremble; the sound of their cry shall be heard at the Red Sea. 22 Behold, one shall mount up and fly swiftly like an eagle and spread his wings against Bozrah, and the heart of the warriors of Edom shall be in that day like the heart of a woman in her birth pains.”
Jeremiah 49:7-22
+
The Lord Judges the Nations
Jeremiah’s oracle against Edom reminds us that no nation, people, or earthly wisdom can stand before the judgment of God. Edom trusted in its own wisdom and secure dwelling places, but the Lord exposes every refuge built apart from Him. Human strength, cleverness, wealth, and earthly security ultimately fail when God calls sinners to account. Yet this warning also directs us to the greater refuge God provides. We cannot hide from His judgment by our own righteousness. Our only shelter is the mercy of God given in Christ. At the cross, Jesus bore the judgment that our sins deserved. The One who had every right to condemn sinners instead became the condemned One for us. He was forsaken so that we might be received as God's own. Therefore, do not put your confidence in what the world calls secure. Take refuge in Christ crucified and risen. His cross is the sure refuge for sinners.

49 Concerning the Ammonites.
Thus says the Lord:
                        “Has Israel no sons?
Has he no heir?
                        Why then has Milcom dispossessed Gad,
and his people settled in its cities?
            2           Therefore, behold, the days are coming,
declares the Lord,
                        when I will cause the battle cry to be heard
against Rabbah of the Ammonites;
                        it shall become a desolate mound,
and its villages shall be burned with fire;
                        then Israel shall dispossess those who dispossessed him,
says the Lord.
            3           “Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste!
Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah!
                        Put on sackcloth,
lament, and run to and fro among the hedges!
                        For Milcom shall go into exile,
with his priests and his officials.
            4           Why do you boast of your valleys,
O faithless daughter,
                        who trusted in her treasures, saying,
‘Who will come against me?’
            5           Behold, I will bring terror upon you,
declares the Lord God of hosts,
from all who are around you,
                        and you shall be driven out, every man straight before him,
with none to gather the fugitives.
6 “But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites, declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 49:1-6
+
The Lord Brings Down the Proud
Jeremiah turns our attention to Ammon, a nation that trusted in its strength, possessions, and security. Yet the Lord exposes the emptiness of such confidence. Ammon had taken what did not belong to her and boasted in what she possessed, but the Lord would humble her. These chapters contain the Lord’s judgment against the nations surrounding Judah, showing that His righteous rule extends beyond Israel. No nation, ruler, or human strength stands outside His authority. That warning reaches us, too. We are easily tempted to trust in what we have built, earned, or accumulated. But earthly security cannot rescue us from sin or death. The Lord alone saves. And where our pride deserves judgment, Christ bore that judgment for us. At the cross, the Son of God was humbled unto death so that sinners might be exalted by His grace. Therefore, repent of your false securities and cling to Christ, your crucified and risen Lord. In Him, you have a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

45          “In the shadow of Heshbon
fugitives stop without strength,
                        for fire came out from Heshbon,
flame from the house of Sihon;
                        it has destroyed the forehead of Moab,
the crown of the sons of tumult.
            46          Woe to you, O Moab!
The people of Chemosh are undone,
                        for your sons have been taken captive,
and your daughters into captivity.
            47          Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab
in the latter days, declares the Lord.”
                        Thus far is the judgment on Moab.
Jeremiah 48:45-47
+
The Lord Restores His People
Jeremiah’s prophecy against Moab ends with an unexpected promise: after judgment, the Lord will restore Moab in the latter days. The judgment is real, but it is not the final word. The Lord remains sovereign over the nations, bringing down human pride and preserving His purposes even through severe discipline. This reminds us that God’s judgment against sin is never arbitrary. We are sinners who deserve His righteous judgment. Yet the Lord who judges is also the Lord who saves. At the cross, God’s justice and mercy meet. There Christ bore the judgment our sins deserved, suffering under the wrath of God in our place. His resurrection declares that sin, death, and the devil have been defeated. Therefore, we need not despair when God humbles us or exposes our sin. His Law drives us to repentance, while His Gospel gives us Christ. In Him, restoration is certain, not because we deserve it, but because Christ has accomplished our salvation.

40          For thus says the Lord:
                        “Behold, one shall fly swiftly like an eagle
and spread his wings against Moab;
            41          the cities shall be taken
and the strongholds seized.
                        The heart of the warriors of Moab shall be in that day
like the heart of a woman in her birth pains;
            42          Moab shall be destroyed and be no longer a people,
because he magnified himself against the Lord.
            43          Terror, pit, and snare
are before you, O inhabitant of Moab!
declares the Lord.
            44          He who flees from the terror
shall fall into the pit,
                        and he who climbs out of the pit
shall be caught in the snare.
                        For I will bring these things upon Moab,
the year of their punishment,
declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 48:40-44
+
The Lord Alone Is Our Refuge
Jeremiah’s warning against Moab reminds us that no earthly strength, pride, or security can stand before the righteous judgment of God. Moab’s downfall came because of its arrogance and false confidence. Like Moab, sinners often trust in possessions, achievements, or human wisdom rather than the Lord who gives every blessing. Yet God’s judgment is not the final word for those who belong to Him. At the cross of Christ, God’s justice and mercy meet as Jesus bears the punishment our sins deserve. The Savior’s suffering brings forgiveness and restores us to fellowship with the Father. Therefore, we repent of our pride and cling to Christ alone. He is the true refuge when all earthly foundations crumble. The Lord calls His Church to faithfulness and humility, trusting not in worldly power but in His gracious promises. In Christ, we have a kingdom that cannot fall.

34 “From the outcry at Heshbon even to Elealeh, as far as Jahaz they utter their voice, from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah. For the waters of Nimrim also have become desolate. 35 And I will bring to an end in Moab, declares the Lord, him who offers sacrifice in the high place and makes offerings to his god. 36 Therefore my heart moans for Moab like a flute, and my heart moans like a flute for the men of Kir-hareseth. Therefore the riches they gained have perished.
37 “For every head is shaved and every beard cut off. On all the hands are gashes, and around the waist is sackcloth. 38 On all the housetops of Moab and in the squares there is nothing but lamentation, for I have broken Moab like a vessel for which no one cares, declares the Lord. 39 How it is broken! How they wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! So Moab has become a derision and a horror to all that are around him.”
Jeremiah 48:34-39
+
The False Comforts of Moab
The judgment upon Moab reveals the emptiness of trusting in earthly strength, prosperity, and false gods. Moab’s downfall came because of pride and reliance upon what could not save. Their cries were not merely over the loss of possessions but over the collapse of the false security in which they had placed their hope. The same temptation remains among us. We often seek comfort in wealth, reputation, accomplishments, or our own wisdom, forgetting that all earthly things pass away. The Lord tears down our idols not to destroy us, but to turn us back to Himself. At the cross, Christ endured the judgment our sins deserved. He was stripped of earthly glory and suffered shame so that we might receive eternal riches. Through His suffering and resurrection, we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Let us repent of false comforts and cling to Christ alone, our sure refuge.

21 “Judgment has come upon the tableland, upon Holon, and Jahzah, and Mephaath, 22 and Dibon, and Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim, 23 and Kiriathaim, and Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon, 24 and Kerioth, and Bozrah, and all the cities of the land of Moab, far and near. 25 The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, declares the Lord.
26 “Make him drunk, because he magnified himself against the Lord, so that Moab shall wallow in his vomit, and he too shall be held in derision. 27 Was not Israel a derision to you? Was he found among thieves, that whenever you spoke of him you wagged your head?
            28          “Leave the cities, and dwell in the rock,
O inhabitants of Moab!
                        Be like the dove that nests
in the sides of the mouth of a gorge.
            29          We have heard of the pride of Moab—
he is very proud—
                        of his loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance,
and the haughtiness of his heart.
            30          I know his insolence, declares the Lord;
his boasts are false,
his deeds are false.
            31          Therefore I wail for Moab;
I cry out for all Moab;
for the men of Kir-hareseth I mourn.
            32          More than for Jazer I weep for you,
O vine of Sibmah!
                        Your branches passed over the sea,
reached to the Sea of Jazer;
                        on your summer fruits and your grapes
the destroyer has fallen.
            33          Gladness and joy have been taken away
from the fruitful land of Moab;
                        I have made the wine cease from the winepresses;
no one treads them with shouts of joy;
the shouting is not the shout of joy.
Jeremiah 48:21-33
+
The Lord Humbles the Proud
Jeremiah’s prophecy against Moab reveals the danger of trusting in earthly strength, wealth, and security. Moab’s judgment came because of its pride and its false confidence in its own accomplishments. The nations may build their towers, gather their treasures, and boast in their achievements, but nothing created can stand before the holy God. Yet the Lord’s judgment is not His final word. The God who humbles the proud is the same God who shows mercy to sinners. In the cross of Christ, we see the greatest act of divine judgment and mercy together. Jesus bore the wrath our pride deserved so that we might receive forgiveness and life. Therefore, repent of every false refuge and cling to Christ alone. He is the true fortress who cannot be shaken, the Savior who delivers His people from sin, death, and the devil.

12 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I shall send to him pourers who will pour him, and empty his vessels and break his jars in pieces. 13 Then Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their confidence.
            14          “How do you say, ‘We are heroes
and mighty men of war’?
            15          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.
            16          The calamity of Moab is near at hand,
and his affliction hastens swiftly.
            17          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.’
            18          “Come down from your glory,
and sit on the parched ground,
O inhabitant of Dibon!
                        For the destroyer of Moab has come up against you;
he has destroyed your strongholds.
            19          Stand by the way and watch,
O inhabitant of Aroer!
                        Ask him who flees and her who escapes;
say, ‘What has happened?’
            20          Moab is put to shame, for it is broken;
wail and cry!
                        Tell it beside the Arnon,
that Moab is laid waste.
Jeremiah 48:12-20
+
The Empty Vessels of Pride
The Lord warns Moab through Jeremiah that earthly strength and treasured possessions cannot save when pride stands against His judgment. Moab’s security was shaken as the nation’s false confidence and idols were exposed. Like Moab, sinners often trust in what they have built rather than in the God who gives every blessing. Yet the Lord’s judgment is never separated from His promise of mercy. At the cross of Christ, God’s judgment against sin fell upon His beloved Son, so that repentant sinners might receive forgiveness and life. Jesus empties Himself for our salvation and fills His people with His grace through Word and Sacrament. Let us not cling to passing treasures or human strength but rest in Christ alone. He is the true refuge when all earthly foundations crumble. In Him we possess a better country and an eternal inheritance that cannot be destroyed.

48 Concerning Moab.
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:
                        “Woe to Nebo, for it is laid waste!
Kiriathaim is put to shame, it is taken;
                        the fortress is put to shame and broken down;
            2           the renown of Moab is no more.
                        In Heshbon they planned disaster against her:
‘Come, let us cut her off from being a nation!’
                        You also, O Madmen, shall be brought to silence;
the sword shall pursue you.
            3           “A voice! A cry from Horonaim,
‘Desolation and great destruction!’
            4           Moab is destroyed;
her little ones have made a cry.
            5           For at the ascent of Luhith
they go up weeping;
                        for at the descent of Horonaim
they have heard the distressed cry of destruction.
            6           Flee! Save yourselves!
You will be like a juniper in the desert!
            7           For, because you trusted in your works and your treasures,
you also shall be taken;
                        and Chemosh shall go into exile
with his priests and his officials.
            8           The destroyer shall come upon every city,
and no city shall escape;
                        the valley shall perish,
and the plain shall be destroyed,
as the Lord has spoken.
            9           “Give wings to Moab,
for she would fly away;
                        her cities shall become a desolation,
with no inhabitant in them.
10 “Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.
            11          “Moab has been at ease from his youth
and has settled on his dregs;
                        he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel,
nor has he gone into exile;
                        so his taste remains in him,
and his scent is not changed.
Jeremiah 48:1-11
+
The Pride That Falls Before the Lord
Jeremiah’s prophecy against Moab reveals the danger of trusting in earthly strength, wealth, and reputation. Moab had become confident in its defenses and resources, yet the Lord exposes the emptiness of every refuge built apart from Him. God’s judgment against the nations demonstrates His rule over all peoples and His opposition to pride and idolatry. We, too, are tempted to find security in what we possess, accomplish, or control. But every earthly foundation will eventually fail. The Lord calls His people to repentance and faith, not because He delights in destruction, but because He desires to turn sinners back to Himself. At the cross of Christ, we see both God’s judgment against sin and His mercy toward sinners. Jesus bore the judgment we deserved, becoming our true refuge. In Him alone we have a kingdom that cannot fall.

47 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck down Gaza.
            2           “Thus says the Lord:
                        Behold, waters are rising out of the north,
and shall become an overflowing torrent;
                        they shall overflow the land and all that fills it,
the city and those who dwell in it.
                        Men shall cry out,
and every inhabitant of the land shall wail.
            3           At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions,
at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels,
                        the fathers look not back to their children,
so feeble are their hands,
            4           because of the day that is coming to destroy
all the Philistines,
                        to cut off from Tyre and Sidon
every helper that remains.
                        For the Lord is destroying the Philistines,
the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.
            5           Baldness has come upon Gaza;
Ashkelon has perished.
                        O remnant of their valley,
how long will you gash yourselves?
            6           Ah, sword of the Lord!
How long till you are quiet?
                        Put yourself into your scabbard;
rest and be still!
            7           How can it be quiet
when the Lord has given it a charge?
                        Against Ashkelon and against the seashore
he has appointed it.”
Jeremiah 47:1-7
+
The Lord Who Judges the Nations
The judgment of the Lord upon the nations is a sobering reminder that no earthly power stands above His Word. Jeremiah’s prophecy against the Philistines reveals that God is not an observer of history but the righteous King who directs its course. These judgments demonstrate the Lord’s control over the nations and His faithfulness to accomplish His purposes, even through unexpected means. Human kingdoms rise and fall, but the Word of God remains forever. Yet the God who judges sin is also the God who provides salvation. The same Lord who brings down proud enemies humbled Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. At the cross, God’s judgment against sin was poured out upon His beloved Son so that sinners might receive mercy. Because Christ has conquered death, we need not fear the final judgment. The Lord who rules the nations is the Lord who preserves His people.

13 The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:
            14          “Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol;
proclaim in Memphis and Tahpanhes;
                        say, ‘Stand ready and be prepared,
for the sword shall devour around you.’
            15          Why are your mighty ones face down?
They do not stand
because the Lord thrust them down.
            16          He made many stumble, and they fell,
and they said one to another,
                        ‘Arise, and let us go back to our own people
and to the land of our birth,
because of the sword of the oppressor.’
            17          Call the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt,
‘Noisy one who lets the hour go by.’
            18          “As I live, declares the King,
whose name is the Lord of hosts,
                        like Tabor among the mountains
and like Carmel by the sea, shall one come.
            19          Prepare yourselves baggage for exile,
O inhabitants of Egypt!
                        For Memphis shall become a waste,
a ruin, without inhabitant.
            20          “A beautiful heifer is Egypt,
but a biting fly from the north has come upon her.
            21          Even her hired soldiers in her midst
are like fattened calves;
                        yes, they have turned and fled together;
they did not stand,
                        for the day of their calamity has come upon them,
the time of their punishment.
            22          “She makes a sound like a serpent gliding away;
for her enemies march in force
                        and come against her with axes
like those who fell trees.
            23          They shall cut down her forest,
declares the Lord,
though it is impenetrable,
                        because they are more numerous than locusts;
they are without number.
            24          The daughter of Egypt shall be put to shame;
she shall be delivered into the hand of a people from the north.”
25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, said: “Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. 26 I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Afterward Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old, declares the Lord.
            27          “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.
            28          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.”
Jeremiah 46:13-28
+
The Lord Preserves His People
Egypt seemed powerful, but the Lord declared that even this mighty nation would fall before Babylon. No earthly kingdom, army, or ruler can stand against God's righteous judgment. Yet in the midst of these fearful words comes a gracious promise: "Do not fear." The Lord would discipline His people for their sins, but He would not destroy them. His chastening was meant to bring them to repentance, not to abandon them. The same is true for us. God still disciplines those He loves, calling us away from sin and back to Himself. Though we deserve only judgment, Christ has borne that judgment in our place upon the cross. There God's justice and mercy meet. Because Jesus was forsaken, we are not. Because He died and rose again, we can face every earthly upheaval without fear. The kingdoms of this world rise and fall, but the Lord remains faithful. He will preserve His baptized children and bring them safely into His everlasting kingdom.

15 Then all the men who knew that their wives had made offerings to other gods, and all the women who stood by, a great assembly, all the people who lived in Pathros in the land of Egypt, answered Jeremiah: 16 “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you. 17 But we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our officials, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster. 18 But since we left off making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.” 19 And the women said, “When we made offerings to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands’ approval that we made cakes for her bearing her image and poured out drink offerings to her?” 20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, men and women, all the people who had given him this answer: 21 “As for the offerings that you offered in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your officials, and the people of the land, did not the Lord remember them? Did it not come into his mind? 22 The Lord could no longer bear your evil deeds and the abominations that you committed. Therefore your land has become a desolation and a waste and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day. 23 It is because you made offerings and because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey the voice of the Lord or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his testimonies that this disaster has happened to you, as at this day.”
Jeremiah 44:15-23
+
Listen to the Lord
The Lord remembers his people. He hears your prayers and he knows your suffering. This is his nature. He comes down to deliver you. He is constantly sending his Word and his Son to you. The response of unbelief, the response of the pagan world, the response of our old Adam, is to reject that Word and to reject Jesus. The Lord must transform our hearts from the inside out. So, his Holy Spirit works this miracle, that you would have a clean heart and a right relationship with your God. This new heart is made out of nothing. This new heart hears the Word of the Lord and rejoices. This new heart rejoices in the gift of Jesus to you and me. Put away the life of sin and death and instead rejoice in the God that loves you. Listen to his Word and treasure it. When everything else fades and breaks down, the Word of the Lord endures. It is your comfort and your stay. 

44 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Judeans who lived in the land of Egypt, at Migdol, at Tahpanhes, at Memphis, and in the land of Pathros, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: You have seen all the disaster that I brought upon Jerusalem and upon all the cities of Judah. Behold, this day they are a desolation, and no one dwells in them, 3 because of the evil that they committed, provoking me to anger, in that they went to make offerings and serve other gods that they knew not, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers. 4 Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, ‘Oh, do not do this abomination that I hate!’
5 But they did not listen or incline their ear, to turn from their evil and make no offerings to other gods. 6 Therefore my wrath and my anger were poured out and kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, and they became a waste and a desolation, as at this day. 7 And now thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel: Why do you commit this great evil against yourselves, to cut off from you man and woman, infant and child, from the midst of Judah, leaving you no remnant? 8 Why do you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, making offerings to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have come to live, so that you may be cut off and become a curse and a taunt among all the nations of the earth? 9 Have you forgotten the evil of your fathers, the evil of the kings of Judah, the evil of their wives, your own evil, and the evil of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10 They have not humbled themselves even to this day, nor have they feared, nor walked in my law and my statutes that I set before you and before your fathers.
11 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will set my face against you for harm, to cut off all Judah. 12 I will take the remnant of Judah who have set their faces to come to the land of Egypt to live, and they shall all be consumed. In the land of Egypt they shall fall; by the sword and by famine they shall be consumed. From the least to the greatest, they shall die by the sword and by famine, and they shall become an oath, a horror, a curse, and a taunt. 13 I will punish those who dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, 14 so that none of the remnant of Judah who have come to live in the land of Egypt shall escape or survive or return to the land of Judah, to which they desire to return to dwell there. For they shall not return, except some fugitives.”
Jeremiah 44:1-14
+
God is Persistent
In the midst of their sin, God continued to send his holy prophets into their midst. He did not back down from their sin. He does not back down from your sin. He sends his Word to you that you would be healed from your sin and rescued from the jaws of death. He cares for you. This care and love is made manifest in his plan of rescue for our race. He sends his only Son into the flesh of Mary to die and rise again. In so doing he takes on our greatest enemies and defeats death itself. The Lord is persistent. He sends his Word. He sends his prophets. Even in the midst of captivity and discipline, he reserves a remnant for himself. Rejoice, O Christian, your God has sent his Holy Spirit to you with the gifts of heaven. He is the one that has created your faith and has made you his own. Rejoice in his love that he keeps showering on you. Jesus' blood covers you. Amen.

8 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes: 9 “Take in your hands large stones and hide them in the mortar in the pavement that is at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah, 10 and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will set his throne above these stones that I have hidden, and he will spread his royal canopy over them. 11 He shall come and strike the land of Egypt, giving over to the pestilence those who are doomed to the pestilence, to captivity those who are doomed to captivity, and to the sword those who are doomed to the sword. 12 I shall kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt, and he shall burn them and carry them away captive. And he shall clean the land of Egypt as a shepherd cleans his cloak of vermin, and he shall go away from there in peace. 13 He shall break the obelisks of Heliopolis, which is in the land of Egypt, and the temples of the gods of Egypt he shall burn with fire.’”
Jeremiah 43:8-13
+
The Lord Disciplines
The people of Judah did not heed the Word of the Lord. They ignored the preaching of God's prophet and fled to Egypt. We also ignore and push away the Word of the Lord when it does not suit us. God does not turn a blind eye to our sin. He calls us to count. So he sent Nebuchadnezzar to Egypt and also he disciplines us. Like Jonah, who fled from the presence of the Lord, and ended up in the belly of the great fish, so also we cannot flee from the Lord. He calls us to his Word and he beckons us back to his means of Grace. It is only in the loving embrace of Jesus that we are made whole and new. He removes our sin by the blood of his Son. He transforms us from the inside out by putting his Word in our ears and the Body and Blood of his Son in our mouth. This is the God who disciplines and who also makes alive. We rejoice in his visitation among us.