Jeremiah 45

 

The Lord breaks down what He built

 

1 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, 2 The Lord, the God of Israel says to you, Baruch; 3 You said, Woe is me now! For the LORD has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest. 4 Say this to him, The LORD says this; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land. 5 Do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them: for, behold, I will bring evil on all flesh, says the LORD: but I will give your life to you for a prize in all places where you go.

 

  • Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe was seeking great things for himself.
  • In Genesis 11 the men of earth sought to make a name for themselves.
  • In Genesis 12:2 God promised to make Abraham’s name great.
  • During a time of great disaster, Baruch was looking for greatness.
  • He complained. Yet God had provided all that he needed.
  • God’s Holy Spirit has always been available for the asking.
  • Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against these there is no law.
  • Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
  • Matthew 11:28 Come to me all you who labor under a heavy load and I will give you rest.

 

                                            Jeremiah 46

 

The Lord’s day of vengeance comes

 

1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles; 2 Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt, who were by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, struck in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah. 3 Order the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle. 4 Harness the horses; and get up, horsemen, and station yourselves with your helmets; polish your spears, and put on the scale armor. 5 Why have I seen them dismayed and turned back? Their mighty ones are defeated, and have taken refuge in flight, and do not look back: for fear was round about, says the LORD.

 

  • Jeremiah 4:18 Your way and your doings have brought these things to you; this is your wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reaches to your heart.

 

6 Do not let the swift flee away or the mighty man escape; they will stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates. 7 Who is this that comes up like a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers? 8 Egypt rises up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he says, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and its inhabitants. 9 Come up, horses; and rage, chariots; and let the warriors come out; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow. 10 For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge himself of his adversaries: and the sword will devour, and it will be saturated and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts has a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates. 11 Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain you will use many medicines; for you will not be cured. 12 The nations have heard of your shame, and your cry has filled the land: for the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty, and they both fall together.

 

  • God desired only good for this nation and the world.
  • But they would not. They chose to follow and worship devils.
  • God is just and can’t let the cries of the innocent be ignored.
  • He is only destroying evil that refuses to change. He is destroying evil.
  • Evil has caused the pain and suffering of this life.

 

He is the eternal king

 

13 The word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, would come and strike the land of Egypt. 14 Declare in Egypt, publish in Migdol, publish in Noph, and in Tahpanhes: say, Stand fast, and prepare; for the sword will devour around you. 15 Why are your valiant men swept away? They did not stand because the LORD has thrust them down. 16 He made many fall, yes, one fell on another: and they said, Arise, and let us return to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword. 17 They cried there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he has passed the time appointed. 18 As I live, says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so he will come.

 

  • Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.
  • 1 Timothy 6:15 Who in his times he will show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
  • Revelation 17:14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

 

19 O daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish yourself to go into captivity: for Noph will be wasted and desolate, without an inhabitant. 20 Egypt is like a very beautiful heifer, but destruction comes; it comes out of the north. 21 Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bulls; for they have turned back, and fled together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity came on them, and the time of their visitation. 22 Its voice will go like a serpent; for they will march with an army, and come against her like woodcutters with axes. 23 They will cut down her forest, says the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable. 24 The daughter of Egypt will be confounded; she will be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.

 

God punishes evil and restores His servant

 

25 The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all those that trust in him: 26 And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it will be inhabited, as in the days of old, says the LORD.

 

  • God punishes the false gods.
  • Evil persons and rulers are delivered to the results of their own wickedness.
  • Good rulers throughout scripture reigned long and well.
  • Psalm 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

 

27 But do not fear, O my servant Jacob, and do not be dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save you from afar off, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob will return, and be in rest and at ease, and none will make him afraid. 28 Do not fear, O Jacob my servant, says the LORD: for I am with you; for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you: but I will not make a full end of you, but correct you in measure; yet will I not leave you wholly unpunished.

 

                                             Jeremiah 47

 

The Lord has appointed destruction for evil nations

 

1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck Gaza. 2 The Lord says this; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and will be an overflowing flood, and will overflow the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell in it: then the men will cry, and all the inhabitants of the land will howl. 3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers will not look back to their children for feebleness of hands.

 

  • Waters in scripture are symbolic of great nations of peoples.
  • Returning to God would have cancelled the judgment.
  • God did this because of their idolatry. God is life; He has given us life.
  • If we depart from Him, what is left?

 

He plunders those nations that plunder others

 

4 Because of the day that comes to plunder all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remains: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Caphtor. 5 Baldness has come on Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long will you cut yourself? 6 O sword of the LORD, how long will it be until you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard, rest, and be still. 7 How can it be quiet, since the LORD has given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the seashore? There has he appointed it.


  • The wicked are God’s sword against evil.
  • When God sends His sword, it is long overdue because God is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9).
  • God is not going to abandon His holiness for evil.
  • When a person or a nation is honorable God protects and blesses it.
  • God’s judgments show us His sovereignty over all.
  • Psalm 17:13 Arise, O LORD, defeat him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is your sword.
  •  Jeremiah 24:6-7 For I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they will be my people, and I will be their God: for they will return unto me with their whole heart.
  • Revelation 4:2-5 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardius stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, that looked like an emerald. 4 And round about the throne were 24 seats: and on the seats I saw 24 elders sitting, clothed in white garments; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

 

                                           Jeremiah 48

 

The LORD destroys those that magnify themselves against Him

 

1 The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel says this against Moab; Cries of grief to Nebo! For it is plundered: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: the lofty stronghold is put to shame and shattered. 2 There will be no more praise of Moab: in Heshbon they have devised evil against it; come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. Also you will be cut down, O Madmen; the sword will pursue you.

 

  • This is a nation reaping what it has sown toward the Most High God, Maker of heaven and earth.
  • Revelation 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
  • Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that is what he will reap.

 

3 A voice of crying will be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction. 4 Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard. 5 For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping will go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction. 6 Flee, save your lives, and be like a naked thing in the wilderness. 7 Because you have trusted in your works and in your treasures, you also will be taken: and Chemosh will go into captivity with his priests and his princes together.

 

  • The Lord hears the cries of the innocent.
  • He alone is to be trusted, not our treasures.
  • God allows this so they can learn who is the only God and learn to trust the source of blessing rather than the blessings themselves.
  • Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and do not lean to your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.

 

8 The spoiler will come on every city, and no city will escape: the valley also will perish, and the plain will be destroyed, as the LORD has spoken. 9 Give wings to Moab, that it may flee and get away: for its cities will be desolate, without any to dwell in them. 10 Cursed is he that does the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed is he that keeps back his sword from blood. 11 Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has been undisturbed like wine in its dregs and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither has he gone into exile: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.

 

  • When Israel went into captivity she returned to her Maker.

 

12 Therefore, behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will send wanderers to him that will cause him to wander, and will empty his vessels, and break their bottles. 13 And Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence. 14 How do you say, We are men, mighty and strong for the war? 15 Moab is plundered and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men have gone down to the slaughter, says the King whose name is the LORD of hosts.

 

  • Moab knew of the One true God, but worshipped Chemosh instead.
  • This stinks to God. It leads to death; it stinks of death.
  • 1 Timothy 6:15-16 Who in his times he will show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.

 

16 The disaster of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hurries fast. 17 All you that are about him, moan for him; and all you that know his name, say, How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod! 18 You daughter that inhabits Dibon, come down from your glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab will come upon you, and he will destroy your strong holds. 19 O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and keep watch; ask him that flees, and her that escapes, and say, What has happened? 20 Moab has been put to shame and shattered: howl and cry; tell it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled, 21 And judgment has come on the plain; on Holon, and on Jahazah, and on Mephaath, 22 And on Dibon, and on Nebo, and on Beth-diblatha'im, 23 And on Kiriathaim, and on Bethgamul, and on Bethmeon, 24 And on Kerioth, and on Bozrah, and on all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near. 25 The horn/power of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, says the LORD. 26 Make him drunk: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab will wallow in his vomit, and he also will become a laughingstock. 27 For was not Israel a laughingstock to you? Was he found among thieves? For since you spoke of him, you skipped for joy.

 

God mourns their destruction and gives them a chance to escape

 

28 O you that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that makes her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth. 29 We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceedingly proud) his loftiness, and his arrogance, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart. 30 I know his wrath, says the LORD; but it will not be; for Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon has plotted a scheme against you. 31 Therefore I will howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; my heart will mourn for the men of Kirheres.

 

  • Holiness must judge evil.
  • If God ceased to be holy then all things would cease to exist.

 

32 O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for you with the weeping of Jazer: your plants have gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: a plunderer has fallen on your summer fruits and on your vintage. 33 And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none will tread with shouting; their shouting will be no shouting. 34 From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh, and even to Jahaz, they have uttered their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim, as a heifer of three years old: for the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate. 35 Moreover says the Lord, I will stop in Moab he that offers in the high places, and he that burn incense to his gods.

 

  • People who worship idols lead those around them to eternal death.
  • God is longsuffering, trying to persuade them to turn to Him.
  • If they refuse over a long time, God stops it by taking them from this earth.
  • It is not God’s choice. It is their choice.

 

36 Therefore my heart will sound for Moab like pipes, and my heart will sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he has gotten have perished. 37 For every head will be bald, and every beard clipped: on all the hands will be cuttings, and on the loins sackcloth. 38 There will be lamentation everywhere on all the housetops of Moab, and in its streets: for I have broken Moab like a vessel in which is no pleasure, says the LORD. 39 They will howl, saying, How is it broken down! How has Moab turned the back with shame! So Moab will be a laughingstock and a terror to all those around him. 40 For the Lord says this; Behold, he will fly like an eagle, and will spread his wings over Moab. 41 The cities are taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day will be as the heart of a woman in childbirth. 42 And Moab will be destroyed from being a people, because he has magnified himself against the LORD. 43 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, will be on you, O inhabitant of Moab, says the LORD. 44 He that flees from the fear will fall into the pit; and he that gets up out of the pit will be taken in the snare: for I will bring on it, on Moab, the year of their visitation, says the LORD. 45 Those that fled stood powerless in the shadow of Heshbon: but a fire will come out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and will devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the riotous sons. 46 Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh perish: for your sons are taken captives, and your daughters captives. 47 Yet I will turn the captivity of Moab in the latter days, says the LORD. So far this is the judgment on Moab.

 

  • God promises restoration in the latter days.
  • Do they deserve destruction? Yes, obviously.
  • Chemosh was a false god.
  • Do they deserve restoration? No.
  • Is God good?
  • Psalm 69:16 Hear me, O LORD; for your loving-kindness is good: turn to me according to the multitude of your tender mercies.
  • John 10:28 And I give to them eternal life; and they will never perish, neither will any man pluck them out of my hand.

 

 

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SUMMARY: Jeremiah 45-48

 

  • The Lord breaks down what He has buillt
  • The Lord’s day of vengeance comes
  • He is the eternal king
  • God punishes evil and restores His servant
  • The Lord has appointed destruction for evil nations
  • He plunders those nations that plunder others
  • The LORD destroys those that magnify themselves against Him
  • God mourns their destruction and gives them a chance to escape