Jeremiah 51
-The message concerning Babylon
continues with its fire and fury that is coming from the LORD with essentially
the same themes and points revealed in the previous words of Jeremiah 50.
Babylon is used with some cryptic language that is interesting referring to the
Chaldeans. The inhabitants are called Leb-kamai in verse one, which means “the
heart of those who rise up against Me.” God is sending the spirit of a
destroyer, which is detailed as nations from the north including the Medes
(Jeremiah 51:11, 28), Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz (Jeremiah 51:27). God tells
His people once again that He has in no way totally forsaken them, either
Israel or Judah, even though their land was full of guilt before Him who is the
Holy One (Jeremiah 51:5). Suddenly Babylon will be broken making the nations
that have been made drunk on her intoxicating idolatries mad with insanity, but
the LORD will bring about His people’s vindication as they recount in Zion the
work of the Almighty (Jeremiah 51:7-10). The idols are railed on in verses 15
through 19 in comparison to the Living God who is Creator and All-powerful.
Every man is stupid and devoid of knowledge who trusts in the works of his
hands making shameful idols that are deceitful, have no breath in them, are
worthless, and are a work of mockery. The portion of Jacob is not like these
false gods who perish.
-Reference to Bel, which is one
of the names of Marduk, the chief god of the city of Babylon, is made as to his
capture and inability to rescue Babylon from becoming an object of horror and
shame among the nations and without habitation. The nations will no longer
stream to him who is a deceiver as he is punished in the spiritual realm by the
Almighty. Babylon will sleep a perpetual sleep (Jeremiah 51:41-58).
-At the end of this chapter it is
narrated that Jeremiah commanded Seraiah (probably Baruch’s brother who was a
scribe and deliverer of the prophecies of Jeremiah, Jeremiah 32:12, 36, 43, 45)
the son of Neriah, who would go with Zedekiah to Babylon, to read this scroll
of the prophecy concerning Babylon when they got to the land of their captivity
in Chaldea. He was then at that time to say, “You, O LORD, have promised
concerning this place to cut it off, so that there will be nothing dwelling in
it, whether man or beast, but it will be a perpetual desolation.” And then he
told him to tie the scroll up with a stone and throw it into the middle of the
Euphrates and say, “Just so shall Babylon sink down and not rise again because of
the calamity that I (God) am going to bring upon her; and they will become
exhausted (Jeremiah 51:59-64).” *Application* The idols that we set up against
the Almighty God will ruin us. Our heart needs to be completely devoted in the
LORD and submissive to His will and plan for us. Trust only in Christ Jesus. Don’t
be a Leb-kamai.
Verses to Memorize: Jeremiah 51:5, 10, 61
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