August 13

eremiah 50

This chapter focuses on how Babylon will be punished for their sins. God used Babylon to discipline His people, but that doesn't mean that they are righteous. Because of their lack of reverance toward God, they will be punished. Jeremiah 50:35-40 says:

A sword against the Babylonians!"

declares the LORD—
"against those who live in Babylon
and against her officials and wise men!

A sword against her false prophets!
They will become fools.
A sword against her warriors!
They will be filled with terror.

A sword against her horses and chariots
and all the foreigners in her ranks!
They will become women.
A sword against her treasures!
They will be plundered.

A drought on her waters!
They will dry up.
For it is a land of idols,
idols that will go mad with terror.

"So desert creatures and hyenas will live there,
and there the owl will dwell.
It will never again be inhabited
or lived in from generation to generation.

As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah
along with their neighboring towns,"
declares the LORD,
"so no one will live there;
no man will dwell in it.

Another focus of this passage is God assuring His people that this exile will not last forever and that He will forgive their sins. He will never stop loving His children, no matter how much they sin. He promises to bring them back to their homes and to forgive their sins. Those who search for Judah's guilt will not find it, because of God's forgiveness and love. This year, we have definitely read time after time that God does what He says He will do. The Israelites could definitely take comfort in knowing that God keeps ALL His promises. Thankfully, we can share in that same comfort, because He is the same today as He was then!