Chapter 47

Note: It’s coming to that time again!

We’re coming close to the end of Jeremiah (which has been a pretty mammoth effort, I have to say). We’ll be heading into the New Testament again shortly, and since I’ve gone through Acts last time, it has to be a letter.

So: Paul or not Paul, that is the question!

I’m picking four letters I haven’t read for a while; two from Paul, two from others. Please vote for your favourite.

The poll will be up tomorrow night.

And now . . ON WITH JEREMIAH!

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Chapter 47 carries on from chapter 46’s oracle to Egypt. For the next few chapters, God has a message for each of the countries around Judah. Most of these are traditional foes of Judah, although as I pointed out yesterday the diplomacy between countries at this time sometimes became a little complicated. Like tracing the relationships amongst a group of students at an all-girls high school. Anyway, I digress.

Today it’s the Philistines. Now, unlike the erratic relationship with the Egyptians, to Judah the Philistines are cartoon bad guys. When the Philistine comes in on stage, the audience is supposed to boo.

In reality, they were actually dangerous foes. Because (for at least a time) the Philistines lived nearby, there was constant tension. Bluntly, in the ancient world food was in scarce supply; countries went to war so that they could survive another year.

Since the Philistines and Judah were next door neighbours, they were often squaring off in the annual pas de deux.

God is predicting doom on the Philistines, and certainly this doom took place. I am unsure which people group of today is descended from them (if any) but they don’t exist in this form today.

But this isn’t the point I want to look at tonight. No, it’s a simple and short phrase Jeremiah adds in in verse 6.

He says “Oh Sword of God, how long will you keep this up? Return to your scabbard. Haven’t you had enough? Can’t you call it quits?”

People are often troubled by the vengeance of God. This verse demonstrates that this concern has been here for a long time!

So how do we deal with it?

There are no simple answers. But one thing that I have learned is that God Himself is good. Really good. And we’re talking about a God of love and grace.

In the final analysis, everything in the Bible must be read in context. The context that matters here is a God who so loved the world (not only “His” people!) that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

I don’t know how God’s love and mercy fit in with His justice in this passage. I DO know that He is good, and that He can be trusted. I know that He loves the very people He must strike.

We won’t know how it all works this side of Heaven; but one day we will understand in full. Until then, we can simply deal with the occasional parts we don’t know with faith.

I don’t know it all. What I DO know is that I can trust God.