Jeremiah 47
COMMENTARY:
: 1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza. (1697 “word” [dabar] means acts, chronicles, saying, utterance, or a communication that is most often spoken, but can come through other means.)
DEVOTION: God does speak to HIS people Israel throughout their history. HE uses prophets, priests, kings and common people to communicate HIS promises, warnings and instructions. HE wants those who claim to follow HIM to know what HE expects of them throughout their lives.
HE is a God who wants to communicate HIS truth in a way that everyone understands what HE expects of them. Here HE is using the prophet Jeremiah to show what is going to happen next to the Philistines who always seemed to give the children of Israel a hard time.
There are people today who love to give those who are genuine followers of Christ a hard time. Their time of judgment is coming. Sometimes it happens in their lifetime but most of the time it takes place at the Great White Throne judgement at end times before the LORD sends all those who reject HIM to hell for eternity.
This nation fought Israel and Judah throughout their history. They thought they could win but in the end of their life they were judged for eternity in a place called hell. All those who reject the message of the LORD will spend eternity in the lake of fire.
The Bible leaves no doubt regarding the future of those who reject Jesus Christ as their Savior. Everyone is given a choice but most choose to reject Jesus for the pleasures of life for a season.
CHALLENGE: What are you doing with the “word of the LORD” today? Is it a message that you are willing to hear and obey? If yes, then eternity in heaven is in your future.
: 4 Because of the day that comes to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remains: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor. (7703 “spoil” [shadad] means waste, destroy, devastate, deal violently with, ruin, or damage irreparably.)
DEVOTION: The Philistines were a group that was supposed to be killed when the children of Israel came into the Promised Land from Egypt. They didn’t do what the LORD commanded. Instead when Israel was strong they would take payment from them and when they were strong there were continuous battles between them.
Now the ten tribes were in captivity and Judah was going to go into captivity because of their disobedience to the law of the LORD. They were worshiping false gods. They did it in the past and they continued to disobey the LORD through false worship.
Now they were going to the Philistines for help. Wrong answer to a difficult situation. Repentance was the only answer but they chose to continue on the coarse they were on. They were disobeying the LORD’S command to submit to the king of Babylon. Instead they thought they could trust in the Philistines instead of trusting in the LORD.
Too often today we find this happening in our world. Those who claim to be following the LORD are looking to trust in others or things rather than the LORD. We need to remember what happened to the children of Israel and Judah because of disobedience. They went into captivity.
Can this happen today? YES!! Our world is changing and it seems that Christians are worshiping false gods on a regular basis while claiming to be following the LORD. One of the worst beliefs is held by those who think they can compromise the teaching of the Word of God to become rich or successful or popular. Many false teachers are challenging the direct commands of the LORD.
If we are joining with others who disobey the LORD we will face the same judgment as the men of Judah. They had to watch the ones they were trusting in become those who were destroyed by their enemies.
CHALLENGE: All nations that don’t honor the LORD and trust in nations or people more than God will lose!!!
: 6 O you sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere you be quiet? Put up yourself into your scabbard, rest, and be still. (1826 “be still” [damam] means silence, be or grow dumb, cease, tarry, rigid, wait, or motionless.)
DEVOTION: Jeremiah is reporting what the LORD has said to him regarding the future of the Philistines.
They had been enemies of the children of Israel since they entered the Promised Land. The tribes never killed all of them when they were supposed to but let them live and pay tribute. That was not what the LORD had commanded them but they were more interested in the tribute than the fighting. They also started to worship their false gods. This displeased the LORD but as we have learned HE was long-suffering with them and the Philistines.
Now was the time of judgment. The LORD was sending the Babylonian army to destroy Egypt but also all the nations in their path. The Philistines were in their path.
Here we find Jeremiah repeating what the Philistines were thinking and saying regarding the destruction the LORD was sending. They wanted the sword to be put away and to let the land rest from all the killing. They wanted the sword to just cease to exist.
They had an opportunity to know who the LORD was through those who were faithful to the LORD but they also continued to worship their false gods. The LORD wanted these false gods destroyed when the children of Israel came into the land but it took centuries before it really happened.
When we face the chastening of the LORD we want it to end but the LORD knows that if it ends too soon we will go back to our old ways. HE wants to correct us to the point that we are heading in the right direction. Does HE think that once HE stops our chastening we will never sin again. NO!! HE knows that we will struggle with our old nature until we die but HE also knows that we can change.
CHALLENGE: When you are under the hand of the LORD because of sin allow HIS chastening to correct THAT behavior. HE knows there are more HE will have to work on in the future. Seek HIS blessing.
: 7 How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD has given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the seashore? There has he appointed it. (8252 “quiet” [shaqat] means be tranquil, be at peace, rest, be silent, be calm, be inactive, lie still, or be undisturbed.)
DEVOTION: This chapter is a judgment on the Philistine people. Some scholars didn’t think these people even existed until recent years. The Bible always tells us the facts. It is the inerrant Word of God. The LORD sent HIS sword to destroy the Philistines.
This verse asks a question regarding HIS sword. The sword is given a task to perform. It was to perform the task at an appointed time. It was to perform its task toward a certain people. It was not to end until it’s task was complete.
The question states that the sword had a charge given it by the LORD and therefore cannot lie still. It has to work for the LORD. The sword of the LORD is going to work in the future too. When the LORD returns and battles the enemy, HE will use the Sword of the LORD again. The time is unknown for HIS return but it is closer today than it was yesterday. If we look at the way our world is going – it could be soon. The details of what happens next are fixed in the mind of the LORD.
We sometimes think we know the mind of the LORD. There are many thoughts regarding what will happen next in our world. Our responsibility is to be watching, listening and working.
Those without Christ will spend eternity in a literal place called hell. It is also called the lake of fire where the devil and his false prophet will spend eternity. Jesus spoke more of hell than of heaven to give warning to the Pharisees in HIS day. They were religious but not followers of the LORD. Jesus sent HIS disciples to witness to the Israelites and Gentiles of their world.
Will the LORD find us witnessing? Are we ready for HIS return? Are we listening for the trumpet sound? Are we trying to help the last person to become a follower of Christ?
Some teach it is not our responsibility but the LORD has chosen to use human being to do HIS work until HE returns. Are we doing HIS work? We have a charge from the LORD until HE sends HIS sword to judge the world.
Our sword today is the Word of God. Our Bible gives us enough ammunition to reach the world with the message of the Gospel. Our sword has two edges. It is meant to strike at the heart of an individual to the point that his inner being is changed as well as his outward being. Our sword doesn’t allow for only external appearances.
CHALLENGE: Judgment is coming. Our responsibility is to try to drag our family and friends from the fires of hell. Witness well and soon!!!
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