Jeremiah 51
Best of Babylonian soldiers will die verse 1- 4
Thus says the LORD
BEHOLD – I will raise up against Babylon
and against them that dwell in the midst of them
that rise up against ME – a destroying wind
And I will send unto Babylon fanners
that shall fan her – and empty her land
for in the day of trouble they shall be
against her round about
Against him that bends let the archer bend his bow
and against him that lifts himself up in his brigandine
and spare ye not her young men
destroy you utterly all her hosts
Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans
and they that are thrust through in her streets
Israel is not forsaken verse 5
For Israel has not been forsaken – nor Judah of his God
of the LORD of hosts
Though their land was filled with sin against
the Holy One of Israel
Israel is to return to Promised Land verse 6- 10
Flee out of the midst of Babylon – and deliver every man his soul
be not cut off in her iniquity
for this is the time of the LORD’S vengeance
HE will render unto her a recompense
Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD’S hand
that made all the earth drunken
the nations have drunken of her wine
THEREFORE the nations are mad
Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed – howl at her
take balm for her pain – if so be she may be healed
We would have healed Babylon – but she is not healed
forsake her
and let us go every one into
his own country
for her judgment reaches unto heaven
and is lifted up even to the skies
The LORD has brought forth our righteousness – come
and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God
Medes are LORD’S soldiers to defeat Babylon verse 11- 14
Make bright the arrows – gather the shields
the LORD has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes
for HIS device is against Babylon – to destroy it
BECAUSE it is the vengeance of the LORD
the vengeance of HIS temple
Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon – make the watch strong
set up the watchmen – prepare the ambushes
for the LORD has both DEVISED and DONE
that which HE spoke against the
inhabitants of Babylon
O you that dwells upon many waters – abundant in treasures
your end is come and the measure of your covetousness
The LORD of hosts has sworn by HIMSELF – saying
Surely I will fill you with men – as with caterpillars
and they shall lift up a shout against you
Hymn of Praise to the LORD: Creator verse 15- 16
HE has made the earth by HIS power
HE has established the world by HIS wisdom
and has stretched out the heaven
by HIS understanding
WHEN HE utters HIS voice
there is a multitude of waters in the heavens
And HE causes the vapors to ascend
from the ends of the earth
HE makes lightnings with rain
and brings forth the wind out of HIS treasures
Hymn of Praise to the LORD: Humans are foolish verse 17- 19
Every man is brutish by his knowledge
every founder is confounded by the graven image
for his molten image is falsehood
and there is no breath in them
they are vanity – the work of errors
in the time of their visitation they shall perish
The portion of Jacob is not like them
for he is the former of all things
and Israel is the rod of HIS inheritance
the LORD of hosts is HIS name
Someone [Medes] is going to defeat Babylon verse 20- 23
You are MY battle ax and weapons of war
FOR with you will I break in pieces the nations
with you will I destroy kingdoms
with you will I break in pieces the horse
and his rider
with you will I break in pieces the chariot
and his rider
with you will I break in pieces man and woman
with you will I break in pieces old and young
with you will I break in pieces the young man
and the maid
I will also break in pieces with you the shepherd and his flock
with you will I break in pieces the husbandman and
his yoke of oxen
with you will I break in pieces captains and rulers
Babylon pays for treatment of Israel verse 24
And I will render unto Babylon and to all the
inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they
have done in Zion in your sight
says the LORD
LORD describes HIS destruction of Babylon verse 25- 26
BEHOLD – I am against you – O destroying mountain – says the LORD
which destroys all the earth
and I will stretch out MINE hand upon you
and roll you down from the rocks
and will make you a burnt mountain
And they shall not take of you a stone for a corner
nor a stone for foundations
BUT you shall be desolate forever – says the LORD
Medes coming to destroy Babylon verse 27- 28
Set you up a standard in the land – blow the trumpet among the nations
prepare the nations against her
call together against her the kingdoms of
Ararat – Minni – Ashchenaz
Appoint a captain against her
cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillars
Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes
the captain thereof – and all the rulers thereof
and all the land of his dominion
No escape of judgment for Babylon verse 29- 32
And the land shall tremble and sorrow
for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed
against Babylon
to make the land of Babylon a desolation
without an inhabitant
The mighty men of Babylon have forborne to fight
they have remained in their holds – their might has failed
they became as women
they have burned her dwelling places
her bars are broken
One post shall run to meet another – and one messenger
to meet another
to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end
and that the passages are stopped
and the reeds they have burned with fire
and the men of war are affrighted
Illustration of wheat used verse 33
For thus says the LORD of hosts – the God of Israel
The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor
it is time to thresh her – yet a little while
and the time of her harvest is come
People of Jerusalem want Babylon to suffer verse 34- 35
Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me
he has crushed me – he has made me an empty vessel
he has swallowed me up like a dragon
he has filled his belly with my delicates
he has cast me out
The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon
shall the inhabitant of Zion say
and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea
shall Jerusalem say
LORD defender of Israel verse 36- 40
THEREFORE thus says the LORD
BEHOLD – I will plead your cause – and take vengeance for you
and I will dry up her sea – and make her springs dry
Babylon shall become heaps – a dwelling place for dragons
an astonishment – a hissing – without an inhabitant
They shall roar together like lions
they shall yell as lions’ whelps
In their heat I will make their feasts
and I will make them drunken
that they may rejoice –
and sleep a perpetual sleep
and not awake – says the LORD
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter
like rams with he goats
False god worship is judged of the LORD verse 41- 44
How is Sheshach taken!
How is the praise of the whole earth surprised!
How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!
the seas is come up upon Babylon
she is covered with the multitude
of the waves thereof
Her cities are a desolation – dry land – wilderness
a land wherein no man dwells
neither does any son of man pass thereby
And I will punish Bel in Babylon
and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which
he has swallowed up
and the nations shall not flow together
any more unto him
YEA – the wall of Babylon shall fall
Children of Israel warned to get out of Babylon again verse 45- 50
MY people – go you out of the midst of her
and deliver you every man his soul from the fierce
anger of the LORD
And lest your heart faint
and you fear for the rumor that shall be heard in the land
a rumor shall both come one year
and after that in another year shall come a rumor
and violence in the land – ruler against ruler
THEREFORE – BEHOLD – the days come
that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon
and her whole land shall be confounded
and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her
THEN the heaven and the earth – and all that is therein
shall sing for Babylon
for the spoilers shall come unto her form the north
says the LORD
As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall
so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth
You that have escaped the sword – go away – stand not still
remember the LORD afar off
and let Jerusalem come into your mind
Children of Israel ashamed verse 51
We are confounded – because we have heard reproach
shame has covered our faces
for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the
LORD’S house
LORD reassures Israel verse 52- 53
WHEREFORE – BEHOLD – the days come – says the LORD
that I will do judgment upon her graven images
and through all her land the wounded shall groan
Through Babylon should mount up to heaven
and through she should fortify the height of her strength
YET from ME shall spoilers come unto her
says the LORD
Voice of Babylon silenced by the LORD verse 54- 57
A sound of a cry comes from Babylon
and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans
BECAUSE the LORD has spoiled Babylon
and destroyed out of her the great voice
when her waves do roar like great waters
a noise of their voice is uttered
BECAUSE the spoiler is come upon her
even upon Babylon and her mighty men are taken
every one of their bows is broken
for the LORD God of recompenses
shall surely requite
And I will make drunk her princes – and her wise men – captains
rulers – mighty men and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep
and not wake says the King
whose name is the LORD of hosts
LORD describes destruction of Babylon verse 58
Thus says the LORD of hosts
The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken
and her high gates shall be burned with fire
and the people shall labor in vain
and the folk in the fire
and they shall be weary
Example of scroll in River Euphrates verse 59- 64
The word which Jeremiah the prophet
commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah
the son of Maaseiah
when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah
into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign
AND this Seraiah was a quiet prince
So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil
that should come upon Babylon
even all these words
that are written against Babylon
AND Jeremiah said to Seraiah
When you come to Babylon – and shall see
and shall read all these words
THEN shall you say – O LORD
YOU have spoken against this place – to cut it off
that none shall remain in it – neither man nor beast
BUT that it shall be desolate forever
AND it shall be – when thou hast made an end of reading this book
that you shall bind a stone to it
and cast it into the midst of Euphrates
AND you shall say
Thus shall Babylon sink and shall not rise from the evil
that I will bring upon her and they shall be weary
Thus far are the words of Jeremiah
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 5 For Israel has not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel. (488 “forsaken” [’alman] means widowed, pertaining to being forsaken by a marital partner because of death, discarded or bereaved.
DEVOTION: This chapter deals with God’s judgment on Babylon. This nation was used of God to judge the children of Israel because of their sin. The sin had to be dealt with and the LORD used this nation to be HIS tool of judgment.
Now the LORD was communicating with those who were in captivity in Babylon to inform them that HE was going to judge Babylon with another nation. HE was going to allow the children of Israel to return to the Promised Land again. HE indeed is longsuffering with HIS people.
HE didn’t divorce the children of Israel. HE set them aside for a time period for them to realize that they were to be obedient to HIM and not to worship false gods. They had taken up worshiping false gods even in Babylon.
HE wanted to have exclusive attention from them when they returned to their land again. Some of them would listen while others were still not genuine follower of HIM. They would be judge again. This happened to the people of God in the Old Testament and is still happening today with those who claim to be followers of HIM today.
Today we have the communion table as a time to examine ourselves regarding our relationship with HIM. If we examine ourselves and confess our sins HE is willing to forgive us our sins. IF we are not willing to confess our sins as genuine believer then HE will send weakness, sickness and death to those who refuse.
One of the problems is that I have been in churches that don’t practice a monthly communion table. Some wait over twenty years between communion services. This means that there is no examining of the lives of the believers in those churches. This is disobedient leadership. This is also disobedient members.
God want us to have times of examination as HE gave instruction to the church in Corinth. With proper instruction a church can keep the church in a proper relationship with the LORD.
CHALLENGE: When was the last time your church had a communion service? Did you attend and treat it properly?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 15 He has made the earth by HIS power, HE has established the world by HIS wisdom, and has stretched out the heaven by HIS understanding. (3581 “power” [koach] means strength, authority, might, force or ability.)
DEVOTION: This is one of the longest chapters in the Old Testament. The chapter is a continuation of the condemnation of Babylon by the LORD. However, in this chapter we have some references to the children of Israel and the might of the LORD.
HE didn’t forsake Judah and Israel. HE established the world by HIS wisdom. HE stretched out the heavens by HIS understanding. He created the world by HIS might. Our God is an awesome God. HE is Sovereign. HE has a plan and HE is working HIS plan. He used Babylon but then they credited their victories to their false gods. The LORD judged them for that.
One of the things we need to remember is that the world has the knowledge of God but most don’t have an understanding of God. HE was the one who made the world at the beginning by HIS OWN power. HE didn’t have the counsel of others outside the Godhead.
All three persons of the Godhead created the earth and heaven. Yet they did it as ONE> Not just one in purpose but one in essence. HE promises that every purpose that HE purposes is going to be performed.
We are included in HIS plan. HE has a purpose for our lives for as long as we live. HE is working HIS plan in our lives. HE provides the strength to do what HE has commissioned us to do. HE provides the strength to do what HE has commissioned us to do. HE provides the strength to resist temptations. HE promises to not allow more temptations than we can fight off with HIS strength. Some of the things that come our way, we think are not necessary but HE does. We have to trust HIM. Remember to realize that HE carries us through our storms. Remember to be a witness of HIS Son’s birth, death, and resurrection. This is the message we are to share with all those in our world. Are we bringing GLORY to HIS name today? Are we reaching our community for the LORD? Each church has this responsibility in their personal Jerusalem.
CHALLENGE: The Creator of the Universe can provide all the authority we need to reach those around us for the LORD. Are we using HIS strength today?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 17 Every man is brutish by his knowledge, every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. (954 “confounded” [buwsh] means ashamed, confused, fail in hope and expectation, disturbed, troubled, put to shame, or humiliated.)
DEVOTION: People are funny according to an old television program. The people on the program proved this to be true.
We find that those who make false gods were humiliated because once they made them they didn’t come to life. They didn’t do anything. They couldn’t walk or talk or really answer the prayers that the people spoke to them.
Elijah challenged the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel. He told them to appeal to Baal to see if he could take their sacrifice. He didn’t. Elijah called on the one TRUE God and HE did take the sacrifice.
The people praised the ONE TRUE GOD and killed the false prophets. They destroyed the image of the false god.
However, it didn’t stop Israel from worshiping false gods of the nations around them. Here we find that some of the children of Israel were worshiping the gods of Babylon. They had not learned their lesion even in captivity.
Today we usually don’t see false gods set up on altars in the homes of people we know. The problem is that we continue to have false gods that really don’t help us with our daily life. Money seems to disappear. Our possessions seem to get old and worthless. Our sports teams don’t win as often as we wish. Even some of our churches are not preaching the true gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no strength in any of these false gods.
CHALLENGE: Return to the ONLY TRUE GOD of the Bible. Don’t be confused into following false gods or false religion. True teaching only comes from the Word of God. Don’t listen to the confused voices of those who don’t trust in the Word of God.
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: 60 So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon. (7462 “evil” [ra’ah] means disaster, an event resulting in great loss and misfortune, injury, harm, misery, or calamity)
DEVOTION: The LORD uses Babylon to judge HIS people Israel because of their sins. HE wants the children of Israel to know that HE will judge them by any means that is available to HIM to get their attention to the fact that they are not being obedient to HIM. HE is not happy when those HE has chosen to serve HIM have turned and worshiped idols.
However, there is going to be time when those HE has used to judge Israel are going to be judged themselves for their evil and for their false worship of idols. HE can take a heathen nation and use it for HIS purposes and that is not something wrong.
We need to realize that today many who claim to be followers of the LORD are not worshiping HIM in spirit and in truth and because of that HE will have to correct them and make them turn back to HIM.
HE loves those who genuinely are trying to serve HIM. HE even corrects them at times to make them more faithful to HIM. However, those who claim to be followers of HIM that are not genuine HE will deal with, so that, they can either become a follower of HIM or continue on their way worshiping HIM falsely and then spend eternity in hell with the devil and his angels.
It is sad that there are people who attend Bible teaching churches that are not genuinely believers because they have never made a genuine commitment to HIM but have been faking it thinking that they will still make heaven for eternity.
The children of Israel had many who either didn’t worship the LORD or pretended to worship the LORD while still worshiping false gods. The LORD doesn’t accept those individuals until they only worship HIM alone.
Babylon was used to judge HIS people to get their attention, so that, they would change their behavior before it was too late.
CHALLENGE: Are you genuinely worshiping the LORD or pretending? HE knows which it is. HE judges HIS people and those who are not HIS people.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Jeremiah wrote a book verse 60, 63
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Temple verse 11
Sanctuaries of the LORD’s house verse 51
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 5- 7, 10- 12, 14, 19, 24- 29, 33, 36, 39, 45, 48, 50- 53, 55- 58, 62
I will raise up against Babylon verse 1
I will raise up against them that dwell in the
midst of them that rise up against ME
a destroying wind verse 1
I will send to Babylon fanners verse 2
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign, Plural name) verse 5, 10, 33, 56
LORD of hosts verse 5, 14, 19, 33, 57, 58
Holy One of Israel verse 5
LORD’S vengeance verse 6, 11, 60
HE will render unto Israel a recompence verse 6
Work of the LORD our God verse 10
LORD our God verse 10
Vengeance of the LORD = Medes against
Babylon verse 11
LORD hath both devised and done verse 12
Sworn by HIMSELF verse 14
Creator verse 15, 16
Wisdom verse 15
Understanding verse 15
Purpose of the LORD performed verse 29
God of Israel verse 33
Fierce anger of the LORD verse 45
LORD God verse 56
King verse 57
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Babylon verse 1- 64
Has been a golden cup in the LORD’s
Hand
Is suddenly fallen and destroyed
Her judgement reaches to heaven
Walls of Babylon
Dwellers upon many waters
abundant in treasures
End has come
Measure of your covetousness
Chaldeans verse 4, 24, 35, 54
Nations verse 7, 20, 27, 28, 41
Nations are mad
Make all the earth drunken
Medes verse 11, 28
LORD’s device against Babylon
to destroy it
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Sin verse 5
Iniquity verse 6
Drunk verse 7, 39, 57
Covetousness verse 13
False gods verse 17, 44, 47, 52
Work of errors verse 18
Evil verse 24, 60
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Not forsaken verse 5
Healed verse 8, 9
Righteousness verse 10
Inheritance verse 19
Recompenses verse 56
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Israel verse 5, 19, 49
Israel has not been forsaken verse 5
Judah verse 5, 59
Judah has not been forsaken verse 5
Let us declare in Zion the work of the
LORD our God verse 10
Jacob verse 19
Zion verse 24, 35
Jerusalem verse 35, 50
God’s people verse 45
Jeremiah verse 59- 64
Seraiah verse 59- 64
King Zedekiah verse 59
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Day of trouble against Babylon verse 2
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QUOTES regarding passage
The announcement of Babylon’s doom would remind Israel and Judah that they had “not been forsaken” (lit. “not been widowed”) in spite of their “guilt” (Heb. ʾašām, the only occurrence of this word in Jeremiah). It is uncertain whether “their land” refers to Babylon or Israel (cf. 23:10). Verse 5 is a remarkable affirmation of God’s willingness to forgive in spite of his people’s sins (cf. Isa 54:4–8; Hos 11:8–9). (Huey, F. B. (1993). Jeremiah, Lamentations (Vol. 16, pp. 419–420). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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God will destroy Babylon so that Israel and Judah will be free to return home (cf. 50:33–34). God called to His people to flee from Babylon to avoid being destroyed (cf. Rev. 18:4). Babylon had been God’s gold cup of judgment from which He made the whole earth drink (cf. Jer. 25:15–29; Rev. 17:3–4; 18:6). However, Babylon will feel the sting of judgment. As she suddenly falls, her allies will try to find balm for her pain (cf. Jer. 8:22; 46:11) but they will search in vain for ways to heal her. She will not be healed so her allies will desert her to avoid the effects of her judgment. God’s people, knowing that He has vindicated them, will raise a declarative song of praise in the temple in Zion to recount what He has done. (Dyer, C. H. (1985). Jeremiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1201). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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God speaks to the Jews (vv. 5–10). God assured His people that He hadn’t forsaken (“widowed”) them, and He ordered them a second time (50:8) to get out of Babylon when the opportunity arises. When Cyrus opened the door for them to go home, about 50,000 Jews returned to Judah to restore Jerusalem and the temple. Babylon had been a “winecup” (see 25:15) in God’s hands, making the nations act like drunks (Rev. 18:3), but now the cup would be smashed and Babylon’s power broken. “Wail for her!” (Jer. 51:8, NIV) finds a fulfillment in Revelation 18:9ff. Anybody who pinned their hope on Babylon was doomed to disappointment, but so is anyone today who pins his or her hope on this present world. “The world is passing away” (1 John 2:17, NKJV). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Decisive (pp. 177–178). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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“For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the Lord of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel” (ver. 5). Israel and Judah were under the rod of the Lord’s chastening because of their sins, but nothing could alter His covenanted mercies to them. It was the Holy One with whom they had to do; one who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; but even their failure could not change the word of His grace and the love of His heart. He was for them still, and therefore more than all that could be against them. Accordingly, He apprises them of the judgments before they fall, and warns them to depart from the doomed city. “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance; He will render unto her a recompense” (ver. 6). So also, in the days when the apocalyptic vials are being poured out upon the earth, the call will go forth to the Jewish remnant of that fearful time, “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Rev. 18:4). As righteous Lot was delivered from Sodom ere fire from heaven fell, so the opportunity was given for the men of Judah and Israel to flee out of Babylon in time to escape the visitation of Jehovah’s wrath. It was the same before Jerusalem was taken by Titus, when the Christians in accordance with the word of the Lord Jesus, were permitted to retire from the city prior to the final assault. The same principle holds good in regard to the Church in this dispensation, which is to be caught away to be with the Lord before the seven-sealed book is opened and the trumpet and vial judgments are meted out to this guilty, Christ-rejecting world. “Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world” (Rev. 3:10). (Ironside, H. A. (1906). Notes on the prophecy and Lamentations of Jeremiah (pp. 287–288). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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That is, not utterly forsaken, for in a sense they were forsaken as to some gradual manifestations of God’s love to them, but Judah and Israel were not left as a widow, or were not divorced from God. The word translated sin signifies a most heinous sinning, or desolation, and the best interpreters judge that sin here signifieth the punishment of sin. God hath not forsaken the Jews utterly, though as they were formerly filled with grievous sins, so they be now filled with grievous judgments because of their sins. (Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 2, pp. 639–640). New York: Robert Carter and Brothers.)
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Ver. 5. For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the Lord of hosts, &c.] That is, not totally and finally; for though they might seem to be forsaken, when carried captive by their enemies, yet they were not in such sense as a woman is deprived of her husband when dead, and she is become a widow, as the word used may signify; or when divorced from him; or as children are deprived of their parents, and become orphans; but so it was not with Israel; for though they were under the frowns of Providence, and the resentment of God they had sinned against, yet the relation between them still subsisted; he was their covenant God and Father, their husband and protector, and who would vindicate them, and avenge them on their enemies: though their land was filled with sin against the holy One of Israel; which was the reason why they were carried captive, and so seemed to be forsaken of God; or though their land was filled with punishment, with devastation and destruction, yet nevertheless God would appear for them, and restore that and them unto it; or rather this is to be understood of the land of the Chaldeans, as it is by Jarchi and Kimchi; and be rendered, for their land is filled with punishment for sin, from, or by, or because of the holy One of Israel; by which it appears, that the people of God were not forsaken by him, and were not without a patron and defender of them; since it was a plain case that the land of the Chaldeans was filled with the punishment of the sword and other calamities by the holy One of Israel, because of the sins they had committed against him, and the injuries they had done to his people. So the Targum, “for their land is filled with (punishment for) the sins of murder, by the word of the holy One of Israel.” (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, p. 682). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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The American Religion Survey, also released in March 2009, indicates a sharp uptick in the number of people who profess no religion at all. In fact, “no religion” is the only area of growth – and that’s across the board, in every state in the union. True, a few faith groups are reporting growth: evangelicals, Mormons, and Muslims. According to the report, Muslims in America have doubled since 1990. (p. 93)
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On the Sunday after 9/11, our large sanctuary couldn’t contain all the members and guests who wanted to be part of a worship service. (p. 94)
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If we are going to be able to live courageous lives in these chaotic days, we will need to be calm in our hearts, compassionate toward others, constructive in our relationships, challenged to grow, and connected to the church. We were created to live in community, not in isolation. (p. 97). (Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah)
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John 12
After the triumphal entry, the multitudes herald Jesus as their Messiah.
INSIGHT
It is easy to get someone to talk about God, but try to talk about Jesus, and it is not so easy. People will often talk about “feeling close to God.” But mention Jesus, and people start to get uncomfortable. Say that Jesus is the only way to God, and people get downright offended.
But Jesus says that if you accept Him, you accept God; and conversely, if you do not accept Him, you do not accept God. When someone talks about being close to God but wants nothing to do with Jesus, you can be sure he is not yet close to God.
Regardless of anyone’s unbelief, here is the simple truth: Jesus is God the Son, and He is the only way God has provided for sinners’ reconciliation with Himself. (Quiet Walk)
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WHO DOES THE CROSS INVITE?
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
To whom does the invitation of this cross come? It comes to failures, the people who know they have gone wrong, the people who are filled with a sense of shame, the people who are weary and tired and forlorn in the struggle. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” You know He is talking about people who are laboring to live a good and clean and straight life. That is what He means by laboring and being heavy-laden—by the law of God, the commandments, moral ideals. You have tried and sweated and fasted. You are laboring, like Martin Luther before he saw the truth, like John Wesley before he saw it. Like all these people before they saw it, you are laboring, trying to live the good life, but failing; we are miserable failures, weary and forlorn.
The hymns of the church have always expressed this.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
The living water, thirsty one;
Stoop down, and drink, and live”
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, and worn, and sad…
Horatius Bonar
That is how they have come. The invitation is to such—the weary and worn.
A Thought to Ponder: The invitation of the cross comes to failures. (From The Cross, pp. 167-168, by Dr, Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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