Jeremiah 25
-In the fourth year of
Jehoiakim’s reign and the first year of the Babylonian invasion Jeremiah
received yet more words from the LORD concerning the nation’s fate and that of
the world in general. He had been prophesying for some 23 years to no avail in
the land, which is reiterated over and over and over again in the text. The
people simply would not listen to the LORD’s servants, the true prophets, and
turn back to Him from their evil way and deeds. God could have saved them, but
they were stubborn in their rebellion and got God’s just punishment making the
land a desolation, a horror, a destruction, and a hissing. The voice of joy,
gladness, brides, bridegrooms, and the sound of work will be taken away. It
was, for Judah, captivity for 70 years to which they went (Jeremiah 25:1-11).
*Application* Imagine preaching the same message for 23 years being continually
and completely rejected like the prophet Jeremiah. He remained faithful to the
LORD’s cause and Word with the message of repentance and turning back in faith
to the LORD. Though it was shunned, he did not give up. In the same way God
continues to stand by us in His faithfulness and love. Therefore, we should
continue to fight the good fight of faith and persevere in the troubling times
of rejection and forsaking (2 Timothy 4:7). Complete God’s call on your life
and continue to bear witness for Him by His grace and mercy. God will remain
true to you and your reward will be great in the final analysis.
-The prophecy continues to expand
as Jeremiah gives a glimpse, by the Word of the LORD, into what will transpire
after the 70 years of captivity. Babylon (described also as Sheshach in
Jeremiah 25:26) would deliver decisive blows to many other named nations in
addition to Judah in a violent, by the sword, manner fulfilling the wrath of
God in a distressing time of punishment. In the end Babylon too would be
judged, an event further described in Daniel 5 in 539 B.C. (Jeremiah 25:12,
26). This is time of destruction and horror from one end of the earth to the
other with no lamentations or burials, which may have future implications in
prophecy (Jeremiah 25:12-38, especially verse 33). *Application* When God’s
mighty power is fully displayed, there are terrifying results as we see in this
passage. He is sovereign and there is a severe price to pay for rejecting His
way. Don’t ever overemphasize the love of God to the point that you neglect His
justice, which is righteous and well-meaning to cleanse this earth from
corruption. The purifier will purify. It’s better to receive His mercy on the
front end by faith before punishment is His only recourse. Turn to God!
Verse to Memorize: Jeremiah 25:11
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