DAY 316

GOD WINS

Jeremiah 50 – 52

We come to the end of Jeremiah. Chapters 50-51 document the fall of Babylon, and chapter 52 is somewhat of an epilogue and mirrors 2 Kings 24:18-25:30. With that in mind I want to focus on chapters 50-51.

By far these two chapters are the largest when compared to the other chapters, and sections of chapters, which prophesized against the other kingdoms. That seems fitting as Babylon was the ultimate force which destroyed Jerusalem. There are two things these chapters get me thinking about; two questions really. The first: How is it that the “instrument” God used to execute his punishment, is now punished? Second, the prophecies that Jeremiah prophesized about the violent destruction of Babylon did not come to pass—let’s look at each.

How is it that God choose to destroy Babylon, God’s unwitting hammer and weapon of war? (cf. 51:20, Isa. 10:5-7) This brings us a bit back to the sovereignty of God discussion. Here we see God use a nation, but at the same this nation pursued her own agenda—an agenda that will warrant God’s justice.

The second question requires some historical information. Babylon did fall; it fell in 539 without a battle, and Judah’s exile ended! There was no violence as prophesized in 50:9 & 26. When Cyrus entered the city he was viewed as a liberator and not a conqueror.

Two Scriptures might be helpful, not just for this situation, but for other times we come up against similar situations. The first is Jeremiah 18:7-8 where God says that even though he has proclaimed destruction, if there is repentance, then He will relent. You might want to turn in your Bible and check it out! Next has to do with Daniel; we have not read the prophet Daniel yet (we will). We know that Nebuchadnezzar did repent (cf. Daniel 4:34-37). Might this be the event that leveraged the Jeremiah 18 passage? Quite possibly.

There is another dimension when we think of Babylon—it represents the world’s corrupt power—it opposes all that is holy and good. It is the opposite of Zion. In Revelation 17-18 we get a description of this type of Babylon—might the destruction of this Babylon be what Jeremiah is referring to? Quite possibly.

The point in all this is fairly simple—God wins. Said more correctly God has won in Jesus Christ. In many ways what is taking place right now on a cosmic level is a “mop up operation.” It is a serious one, the powers that oppose God still resist and wreak havoc. But do not be confused, Jesus has defeated them and the strongholds that are holding out must be, and are being, dealt with.