Chapter 50

9/5/11

CHAPTER 50

Firstly, an apology to all reading this who are wondering what happened last night. Simply put, I managed to completely exhaust myself, and simply couldn’t keep going. BUT we’re up on deck again, so continuing where I left off . . .

Jeremiah 50 is a similar kind of oracle to those seen in the preceding few chapters, in that it’s a proclamation of doom. However, there are a few differences. To begin with, it’s much longer. Also, it’s a proclamation of doom against the nation which has captured God’s beloved people from Judah, and naturally that means it’s a more far-reaching and momentous proclamation.

Once again, the promised doom can now be seen (from our viewpoint) as a completed thing. Babylon (at that time one of the truly great cities of the world) eventually met its doom; the remains are about 80 km to the south of Baghdad. And the repeated catchcry – “Get out of Babylon as soon as you can!” acquires a new poignancy when one looks at the remains of the city, which is now nothing but an ancient Tell (abandoned city-mound) in the middle of nowhere.

Get out of Babylon as soon as you can!

Strangely, given that God says so much in his oracle against Babylon, from my viewpoint there’s not a lot to say about that. Babylon has sinned. God used Babylon as His tool for achieving His ends, but make no mistake, Babylon will face its come-uppance.

No, what I want to concentrate on instead is the fact that within the confines of this blistering attack on the enemy, God nevertheless articulates His plan to bring the people of Judea home (and again, we know this is going to happen because we’ve seen it become reality – in fact, it has become reality TWICE since then!).

God has punished and struck – but once again (as if we needed it driven home), God will not stay angry forever. He loves us too much for that! Ultimately God is going to forgive (that’s in His nature). The exiles He will welcome home. The captives He will free. The poor He will make rich. The sad He will comfort. And so on.

As part of this prediction about Judah (as though you didn’t need any more!), God once again reveals something of His personality. It is the fact that (verse 20):

“In those days and at that time"—God's Decree—
"they'll look high and low for a sign of Israel's guilt—nothing;
Search nook and cranny for a trace of Judah's sin—nothing.
These people that I've saved will start out with a clean slate.

I have repeatedly pointed out that Grace is woven through the entire Bible, not just the New Testament. Here it is again! God will wipe away Sin from his people. The message of Grace is that God has ALWAYS operated that way, and that our salvation depends on Him. ALONE.