Even the mighty fall in this world. Babylon the great, that conquered the world of old is prophesied by Jeremiah to one day fall as well. We know Babylon the Great in Revelation we also fall. Both today’s and tomorrow’s readings are both historical and prophetic for what happened to Babylon in the past and the Babylon described in Revelation in the future.
Jeremiah 50: Judgment on Babylon
1 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.
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.
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 armoury 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.
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 neighbouring cities, declares the LORD, so no man shall dwell there, and no son of man shall sojourn in her.
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 labour.
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."
Things to think about…
1. Jeremiah as a book is not always in chronological order. Chapters 50 and 51 are after the fall of Jerusalem but prophesy the future judgement of Babylon. Chapter 52 describes looks back at the events that surrounded the fall of Jerusalem. Judgement would come upon Babylon as it did upon Assyria, vs 17, 18 as well as Sodom and Gomorrah, vs 40. In Jer 50:1-9 we see the time will eventually come for Israel to be restored back to their own land. They would know their time is near, after living almost 70 years of exile in Babylon. They set their hearts on Zion (Jerusalem), vs 5. When the Lord’s people set their hearts upon Him and His glory, He restores His people and makes their witness shine in the world. Are you praying for the Lord’s name to be fully restored back here in Australia? Judgement must first begin with the house of the Lord, 1Pet 4:17.
2. In Jer 50:20 it says “iniquity shall be sought in Israel and there shall be none”. The ultimate fulfilment of this of course is only found in Christ who forgives their iniquity. Modern Israel’s only hope is in Christ and as the Apostle Paul tells us there will be a turning towards Him when the fullness of the Gentiles has come in Rom 11:25. Do you pray for Israel’s conversion, that they may see the real Saviour in their prophetic books?
3. The Lord determined that Babylon would keep Israel captive and in Jer 50:33,34. But the Lord determines when they should be returned back to Judah. Why? Because their Redeemer is strong, vs 34. Do you have a situation that is too great for you? Something you would like to be delivered from? The Lord allows it for a season and then He says, ‘times up, be freed’. Often this only comes when we resign ourselves fully to His loving care and plan. Be free in the One who says His yoke is easy and His burden light.
4. Jer 50:38 is prophetic for how Babylon would be destroyed. The waters were dried up by the Medes/Persians and they were able to attack under Babylon’s walls. The prophet Nahum speaks of the walls being dissolved, Nah 2:6. Isaiah speaks of Cyrus being the Lord’s servant almost 200 years before Cyrus came on the scene drying up the river Isa 44:27, 28. Jer 50:46 I believe is also prophetic not just for the Babylon of history past but of the Babylon spoken of in Revelation 18. Notice that the earth trembles and her cry is heard among the nations. This is very similar to the language used to describe Babylon in Rev 18:9,11,15. This describes the worldly system. In some ways – it is a saviour and a haven, as Egypt was for the Jews, but like Egypt it was also a place of worldly entrapment. What earthly ties do you need to get rid of so your witness for Christ shines brighter than it presently does?
Vision Point for cell groups – Cell groups on break over the school holidays
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sunday’s sermon “do whatever it takes” – reading Jeremiah 42:1-12
1. The remnant that was left in Judah said they would do whatever the Lord had told them. The Lord said stay in Judah, but they left and went to Egypt. Discuss what you remember from the message.
2. Have you ever made a promise either to the Lord or someone else and broken your promise? What were the consequences? What did you learn from the experience?
3. We all have a religious Pharisee inside. We know what to say and do outwardly, but the Lord looks at the heart. In what ways have you heard clearly from the Lord in the past? Was it easy or difficult to obey?
4. There is a very simple test to see whether we are seeking after the Lord’s will in our lives or not. Do you remember what it is? Discuss.
5. Pray for eachother, for tender hearts and ready minds and wills.
Prayer Points
1. Families that have just started attending CBC.
2. The precarious situation with Russia and Romania.
3. Christ to be seen through us in our community.
4. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
5. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. New folk attending CBC on Sunday
2. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
3. Covid finally seems to be on the decrease
4. Worship and technical team. Thanks Suzie, Gina, Zac, Bec, iMan and Tim.
Announcements
1. Cell groups back. A new cell group has started at the church for residents around Karalee. Wed 7pm at church.
2. Kidz@Church every Sunday
3. Members Meeting after the service 27th Feb
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
5. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism question for February...
Q. 16. Who should partake of the Lord's Supper? A. Only those who repent of their sins, believe in Christ for salvation and live according to his word.
