©Laura Haverkamp
Chapter 50:1-20 (ESV) - The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet:
“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.’
“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.
“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. 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.’
“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. 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.’
“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.
“Though you rejoice, though you exult,
O plunderers of my heritage,
though you frolic like a heifer in the pasture,
and neigh like stallions,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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. 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. 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. 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.
Question to consider: What is an example in scripture of someone who sought with tears to return to Zion?
In chapter 51, Jeremiah revealed that this word came to him during the fourth year of Zedekiah which would have been around 594 BC. About seven years later, Jerusalem would be destroyed by Babylon, and Zedekiah would be captured that summer as he tried to escape.
Nebuchadnezzar was aware of the word concerning the judgment of Judah and overthrow of Jerusalem. I wonder whether he knew about this word concerning himself considering that he allowed Jeremiah to be protected by Nebuzaradan.
Notice that the idols of Babylon would be cast down by another nation to the north (the Medo-Persians) because the LORD is the one true God and will not abide the worship of another. We have an example in scripture of Nehemiah— one who came weeping to king Artaxerxes in order to ask for the way to Zion. Of course, the One to come and establish the everlasting covenant and gather the lost sheep was Christ.
The remnant who came back to inhabit the land with Ezra and Nehemiah were heeding the LORD's word to flee the judgment that would leave Babylon desolate. The fact that the LORD had already judged the king of Assyria was proof that judgment would also come upon the king of Babylon.
While the ultimate pardon would come by way of the everlasting covenant in Christ, if you went through my study in Zechariah, you may remember that the prophecy opened with the LORD’s horsemen being released to the four winds to announce His pardon to all of Israel who had been scattered throughout the nations. Even before the temple could be rebuilt, the high priest, Joshua, was declared clean by the LORD in a vision given to Zechariah and clothed in white so that he could be the mediator of Israel for the forgiveness of sins.
The better Joshua was of course Christ who sacrificed Himself for the sins of the whole world and always serves us from the heavenly temple to intercede for us with the Father.
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for establishing for us an everlasting covenant which will never be forgotten. Please forgive us where we have done wrong and cleanse and renew us with joy in Your salvation. Amen.