Skip to contentThe Nations 46-51
- Jeremiah was called to be a prophets unto the nations (1:5)
- God previously had already proclaimed to the nations that they would drink the cup of the wrath of God (25:15)
Ch 46 – Egypt
- Pharaoh Neco killed King Josiah (2 Chro 32:23)
- Pharaoh Neco was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar in the battle of Carchemish on the Euphrates River (46:2)
- God proclaimed Egypt would be defeated by Babylon – action sermon of the large stone (43:8-13)
- God again prophesized Babylon would attack and defeat Egypt (46:13-26) (568BC)
- The LORD Almighty has defeated the gods of Egypt (46:25)
- God would later restore Egypt (46:26)
- God promised He would not completed destroy the Jews (46:28)
Ch 47 – Philistines
- Came from Crete (v4)
- Babylon is described as water that would flood Philistines (v2)
- Fathers would flee for lives and leave their children behind (v3)
- They cried to Yahweh to stop (v6), but God would only stop when His judgment is fully completed (v7)
Ch48 – Moab
- Along with Ammonites, are descendants of Lot (Gen 19:20-38)
- Were punished for trusting in her deeds and riches (v7), pride and arrogance (v29), she has defiled Yahweh (v26)
- Yahweh has defeated the Chemosh the god of Moab (v7, 13 ,35, 46)
- Jeremiah wept over the fall of Moab (v31). His grief is evidence of the compassion God has for people who are destroyed because of their sins against God.
- God has “no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezek 18:32)
- God will restore Moab in the last days (v47)
Ch 49 – Ammon
- Together with Moab were descendants of Lot (Gen 19-20-38)
- Were punished because they took possession of Gad (v1), her pride and trusted in her wealth (v4)
- Yahweh is superior over Molech, the god of Ammonites (v1,3)
- God will restore Ammonites in the last days (v6)
Ch 49 – Edom
- Descendants of Esau
- Would be punished because of her pride (v16)
- Would be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah (v18)
Ch 49 – Damascus
- Amos accused the Syrians of treating the people of Gilead like grain on a threshing floor (Amos 1:3-5)
- Pain like that of a woman in labor (v24)
Ch 49 – Kedar and Hazor
- Kedar was related to Ishmael (Gen 25:13)
- Were nomadic Arab nations
- Were punished because they were confidence in themselves (v31)
Ch 49 – Elam
- Were known for their archery, God promised to break their bow (v35)
- God will restore them in last days (v39)
Ch 50 – 51 Babylon
- The bible often compares Babylon (the proud city of man) with Jerusalem (the Holy City of God).
- Founded by Nimrod (Gen 10:8-10)
- The Hebrew word of Babylon is babel, often associated by the tower of Babel, both a symbol of rebellion against God.
- Culminates in the Babylon of Revelation (Rev 17:1-19:10)
- Many parallels between Jer 50-51 and Rev 17-18
Ch 50 – 51 Babylon
- Jeremiah written these chapters in the 4th year of Zedekiah’s reign on a scroll and gave to Seraiah to be read aloud in Babylon (51:61)
- God speaks to and about Babylon; to the invading army; and to the exiles of Judah
- Fulfillments of God’s prophesy:
- Persians captured Babylon in 539BC (Dan 5)
- Alexander the Great of Greek destroyed Babylon in 330BC
- Ultimate fulfillment in Rev 17-18
Why God punished Babylon?
- God wanted to show He is victorious over the gods of Babylon (Bel and Marduk 50:2)
- she rejoiced and were glad in conquering the Jews (50:11)
- She destroyed God’s temple (50:28;51:11)
- She is arrogance (50:31)
- Her sins (51:6)
- For all the wrong she did to Zion (51:24)
- punish the idols of Babylon (51:47)
Spiritual Lessons We Learned in Jeremiah
- In difficult days, we need to hear and heed the Word of God
- True prophets of God are usually persecuted
- True patriotism is not blind to sin
- God is faithful to His servant
- God is patience towards His people
- Faithful is more important and success
- The greatest reward of ministry is to become like Jesus Christ
- God is King of Kings, Lord of Lords. The nations are under His sovereign control
