Jeremiah is a prophet to the nations. In today’s reading we see him speak against Egypt. Our Lord is the Lord of all the nations…not just Israel.
Jeremiah 46: Judgment on Egypt
1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.
2 About Egypt. Concerning the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:
3 "Prepare buckler and shield, and advance for battle!
4 Harness the horses; mount, O horsemen! Take your stations with your helmets, polish your spears, put on your armor!
5 Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and have turned backward. Their warriors are beaten down and have fled in haste; they look not back--- terror on every side! Declares the LORD.
6 "The swift cannot flee away, nor the warrior escape; in the north by the river Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen.
7 "Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge?
8 Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. He said, 'I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.'
9 Advance, O horses, and rage, O chariots! Let the warriors go out: men of Cush and Put who handle the shield, men of Lud, skilled in handling the bow.
10 That day is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord GOD of hosts holds a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
11 Go up to Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt! In vain you have used many medicines; there is no healing for you.
12 The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for warrior has stumbled against warrior; they have both fallen together."
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 47: Judgment on the Philistines
1 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."
Things to think about…
1. Jer 46 is the prophecy of judgement upon Egypt. Pharaoh Neco of Egypt (The same man who killed godly king Josiah) sends an army to Carchemish against the Babylonians in 605BC – he is defeated. Jeremiah is truly the prophet to the nations. Egypt was a greatly feared nation and thought to be undefeatable. But here they are...defeated. They would never rise to be the superpower they once were, and the Babylonians would come against them again in 567BC. The analogy is this. What things of this earth are we holding onto, that we have trusted in, in the past, that are not of faith? They are a display of worldly strength – like Egypt. We might exalt our health, or our financial position, perhaps our job security, our homes etc. After the floods of 2011 I don’t think I can put too much faith in the security of my home anymore. What earthly strength are you putting too much trust and hope in? Egypt would be inhabited again, vs 26, but it would not have the strength or renown it once did. Egypt has never been a superpower from this point on in history.
2. Look at the last few verses in Jer 46:25-28. The promise is that after Egypt is defeated, it shall be inhabited ‘as in the days of old’ – restored, but not with its former strength. Jacob (a name for Israel) is promised to be restored. But from far away (Babylon). They are told to ‘fear not’ – verse 28. The Lord disciplines – but the purpose is restoration. What restoration work has he done in your life over the last 12 months? We will be fully restored with a new body without sin in glory, hallelujah!
3. It’s interesting with what we have seen recent years with respect to Gaza, the same area that the Philistines inhabited. The promise of the Lord in Jer 47 is to judge the Philistines. They were the old enemies to Israel even back in the 7th Century BC. Today they are still enemies, even though the modern Arabs against Israel share no cultural identity with the ancient Philistines. They would be defeated by Pharaoh in Gaza but look at verse 2. The waters rising out of the north is Babylon. They will strike the Philistines even more completely than Pharaoh. Have you ever tried to fix something in your own strength, and it still remains broken? I certainly have. This can often be the case in relationships – especially by men towards their wives. We can buy flowers or chocolate, that may appease for a season, but it doesn’t fix a core relational problem. Pharaoh is a symbol of fixing with flowers and chocolates, but the root cause of the relationship problem is fixed by the symbol of Babylon. We are called to be fully healed, never to heal slightly by saying peace, peace, when there is no peace.
4. It says that baldness has come upon Gaza, Jer 47:5. Unfortunately this is still played out today as the Palestinians embrace violence and hatred and as a result we see this city constantly being levelled by the Israelis. Some of this violence is not without reason, in 1948 the Israelis did some horrific things top the Palestinian people. Being the Lord’s chosen people did not make them morally upright with respect to some of the atrocities committed by them in war. Pray for the Prince of peace to rule over Gaza. Perhaps we will see a united healthy Israel in our day where Jews and Arabs can reside peacefully.
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.
