WWUTT 2594 God's Judgment Upon Babylon (Jeremiah 50:1-46)

God used Babylon to bring judgment on Judah because they had gone after the gods of the pagans. But that doesn't mean Babylon is cleared of guiltiness. They will face judgment too when we understand the text.

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Jeremiah's Judgment on Babylon and Judah's Restoration

Thank you, Becky, and greetings everyone. We've been in a study of the book of Jeremiah for over a year now on these Thursday episodes, and we have three lessons left, including today. This week and the next will be in Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51, where God issues judgment on Babylon.

Remember I mentioned to you that we're in that section near the close of Jeremiah in which God is issuing judgment on nations that are around Judah. Some of those nations are shown mercy. Though they will receive judgment, yet God will restore them.

It will say at the end of that judgment. But with Babylon, this judgment will be total and complete, and it will even make the nations around Babylon wail when they see what God is going to do to them.

God had used Babylon to bring judgment on Judah, because Judah had sinned against God by worshiping the false gods of the pagans around them. But Judah will be contrite, and that's mentioned here in Jeremiah chapter 50.

Judah will be restored, and they will come back to God with weeping, whereas Babylon will not. They will wail over their destruction, but it will not be tears of repentance. So let me begin reading here in Jeremiah chapter 50.

I'll go through verse 10. Hear the word of the Lord. 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 not 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. In Psalm 36 we read, Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart.

There is no fear of God before his eyes, for he flatters himself in his own eyes, that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit. He has ceased to act wisely and do good.

He plots trouble while on his bed. He sets himself in a way that is not good. He does not reject evil. And that has been the case with Babylon. This is a wicked nation, wicked kings, who have said deep in their heart, God will not see what it is that I am doing.

And there is no fear of God before their eyes. They worship false gods because the false gods that they have created in their imagination and in their idols will give them or allow them to do whatever it is that they want.

Idols are created by the will and the desire of man so that man can do what he wants to do. Those false gods that man sets up for himself are made in man's image. And it's exactly because a man wants to do what he wants to do that he sets up these gods and believes of himself that such spirits are there blessing him to do what his flesh wants.

So he sacrifices to them and offers to them, believing that he will get in return those things that he begs from those gods of his heart, of his wicked heart that is in rebellion against God. Some of those false gods are even mentioned here at the beginning of Jeremiah chapter 50.

It says Babylon is taken, Baal is put to shame. That's actually another spelling of Baal. And Merodach is dismayed. That's another spelling for Marduk. So just so you have Baal is another word for Baal, Merodach is another word for Marduk, which was the chief god among the Babylonians.

Her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed. Now the her here is Babylon. Because as you're familiar with the book of Revelation, the whore of Babylon, right? So Babylon gets referred to in the feminine sense, but her images consist of Baal and Merodach, her images, her idols.

There were numerous gods that the Babylonians worship, not just one, but these are the chief gods that are among them. So in verse three, it is said, now things are changed a little bit here. So the first two verses are setting up for us.

First of all, that the word of God comes to Jeremiah. And then secondly, this is concerning the destruction of Babylon. But before we get to the description of Babylon's destruction, it is said here in verse three, 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. And this is in reference to Persia that is going to come against them, which happened in the days of Daniel. We read about Persia conquering the Babylonians in the book of Daniel.

But then going on in verse four, 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. And surely it was during that time that Persia reigned, that Israel came out of that captivity back into their land to rebuild the temple and even the walls of Jerusalem, to resettle that place there in Judah.

There would be many that would come out of Babylon who had been captured by the Babylonians. Because as we've read here, even in the book of Jeremiah, this was a consuming nation that went around waging war on all of those nations that were around Judah and even Egypt, as we had read about last time.

So many captives had been taken away into Babylon and would come out of Babylon. But it's Israel who would lead the way. When the Jews come out of that captivity, they would be the nation that would lead first, and then others would come out as well.

But the attitude of Israel when they come out of that captivity is one of contrition. They come together, they weep as they come, and they shall seek the Lord their God. God had said, even through Jeremiah, we had read this back in chapter 29, God would use the Babylonians to punish Judah and to chasten them, to discipline them, that they would even be sanctified while they were in this time of captivity.

God would bring them out back into the land, for he had to fulfill through them promises that he said that he would do. And especially the greatest of those promises would be the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, who would be born in the tribe of Judah, in the land of Bethlehem, 600 years after all of this is happening, well, over 500 years after all of this is happening.

But God would fulfill his promise by sending his Son, who would live, die on the cross for our sins, rise again from the dead, so that all who believe in him will have eternal life. There were people here, even, coming out of Babylon, weeping as they came, in repentance before God, who was holding fast to that promise that God would forgive their sin, and he would do this in the giving of his Son as an atoning sacrifice for sin.

Verse 6, my people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray. We've read, even in Jeremiah, about those false prophets, priests who would not obey God, and instead would set up their own laws, and they would pray on the people to benefit themselves.

They would fatten themselves instead of feeding the people as they were supposed to do. Their shepherds have led them astray. And even those who have devoured them, it says in verse 7, will say, we're not guilty.

They've sinned against the Lord. Their habitation of righteousness, the Lord, the hope of their fathers. So the enemies who have prayed on Israel are trying to say, listen, we just did what God had set in our hearts to do.

We're not guilty of any of this. But what's being said here in this judgment that's coming upon Babylon is though they have done as the Lord had required of them to do, and had set them as a hammer in the hand of God to bring this judgment upon the Israelites.

They are by no means innocent. They have still done great evils and even worshiped false gods. And for this, God will judge them. So we go on in verse 8 to read, flee from the midst of Babylon and go out of the land of the Chaldeans and be as male goats before the flock.

So there's no shepherds here leading them out as it appears, but simply that there are male animals that are kind of alphas in this sense that are leading the sheep out. For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a gathering of great nations from the north country.

So Persia is going to come against them. But then we've also got kind of wrapped up in this, the prophecy concerning the Greeks who would come against this land later as well. But anyway, that's a different history lesson.

Babylon's Fall and the Return of God's People

Let's continue on in verse 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, 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. So right now as Babylon fancies themselves as the greatest among the nations, they will eventually be named the last.

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. Are you aware that when Saddam Hussein was ruling in Iraq that he had attempted to rebuild Babylon?

They even found the ruins of it. It was left a desolation. So even here as God says you shall be an utter desolation, even those who have tried to rebuild it in history have not succeeded in doing so because God has left it a waste.

Verse 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. 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 Babylon from the sower, and the one who handles the sickle in time of harvest, because of the sword of the oppressor, everyone shall turn to his own people and everyone shall flee to his own land.

And now we pick up again in this mention of Israel starting in verse 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.

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 punish 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 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.

Now that's not to say that sin will not exist anymore, but it is to say that God will forgive and not hold their wrongs against them. But especially among the true people of God, our sins are forgiven and washed away by the precious blood of Jesus.

In us, no sin is found that keeps us from the mercy and love of God. Going on to verse 21, Go up against the land of Maratham and against the inhabitants of Pechad. Kill and devote them to destruction, declares the Lord, and do all that I have commanded you.

The noise of battle is in the land and great destruction. How the hammer of the whole earth is cut down and broken. How Babylon has become a horror among the nations. 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. The Lord has opened His armory and brought out the weapons of His wrath, for the Lord of hosts has a work to do in the land of the Chaldeans. 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. Kill all her bulls. Let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them, for their day has come, the time of their punishment.

Now God is using the Persians to come against Babylon and destroy her. It will be the Persians who will do it. It's not like there will be fire from heaven in which the people will see it and go, Oh, this is surely the judgment of God that is coming down on Babylon, just as it was with Sodom and Gomorrah in the cities of the plains.

That was fire from heaven that consumed them. This is a land or another kingdom of the north that will come against Babylon and destroy it and conquer it. But this is being said through Jeremiah so that the people will know when you see this and when it happens, it's the hand of the Lord that has done this.

Verse 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. Because the Babylonians had destroyed the temple of God, the very house of God.

Now God had left it so that he also leaves Jerusalem vulnerable to the Babylonians when they come against it. So the presence of God had left that temple. But again, this is not to leave Babylon blameless in what they had done.

They were going to pay for desecrating the house of God. Verse 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 defiled the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed on that day, declares the Lord. 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.

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. 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. 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.

A sword against the Chaldeans, declares the Lord, and against the inhabitants of Babylon, and against her officials and her wise men. A sword against the diviners, that they may become fools. A sword against her warriors, that they may be destroyed.

The diviners didn't see this coming, did they? They were not able to prophesy that God would come against them through the Persians.

The warriors,.

Who thought they were mightier than all other lands around, even they will be destroyed. And again, it will be the hand of God that does this. 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. A drought against her waters, that they may be dried up. For it is a land of images, and they are mad over idols. Notice that these great fearsome warriors will become women.

Not to make too heavy a point on this, but any army that makes women its soldiers is weak. And it's even being demonstrated here through this judgment that the soldiers of Babylon, previously feared by all nations, have become weak like women.

That's the analogy that's used in the word of God from the mouth of Jeremiah. Verse 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.

As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah in their neighboring cities, declares the Lord, so no man shall dwell there, and no son of man shall sojourn in her. Behold, a people comes from the north, a mighty nation, and many kings are stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.

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.

The king of Babylon heard the report of them, and his hands fell helpless. Anguish seized him, pain as of a woman in labor. 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? 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. At the sound of the capture of Babylon, the earth shall tremble, and her cry shall be heard among the nations.

Repentance, Judgment, and Hope in Christ

And this same judgment that's spoken about here in Jeremiah 50 is spoken about again in the book of Revelation. For the entire world will anguish at the falling of Babylon the great. The judgment of God will even come upon all of the wicked nations that have not feared God but have gone their own way, whereas those who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved.

And so, my friends, we too must come with contrition before God, weeping, as James says, be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your rejoicing be turned to mourning, your gladness to sorrow. Over our sin, and then we will be forgiven by Christ and receive hearts of gladness.

It is only in the Lord Jesus Christ that we can escape the judgment of God. But, my friends, we must be repentant before the Lord, even for those sins that we have committed against him. And if there is any wicked way in you, repent, lay it before God, and be purified and cleansed.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for what we have read. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, as said in the book of Hebrews. So may we not continue in sin, but lay it before you that we may be forgiven.

At the same time, we know that the judgment of God is coming upon the nations. The only way that anyone can be saved is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So give us courage and boldness to speak in these days of the way of salvation that has been given to us, the gift of God through your Son, Jesus Christ.

In his name we pray. Amen.

This has been When We Understand the Text with Pastor Gabriel Hughes. For all of our podcasts, episodes, videos, books, and more, visit our website at www .utt .com. If you'd like to submit a question to this broadcast, or just send us a comment, email whenweunderstandthetext at gmail .com.

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