An Important Understanding

Read Jeremiah 49–52

From today’s reading, I can see more clearly that God can use even evil events for our good, yet holds those who did evil responsible for their actions. These chapters prophesy what will happen to various people groups who mistreated the people of God.

THE AMMONITE king Milcom dispossessed Gad, and settled in its cities. God said, “Milcom shall go into exile, with his priests and his officials” and declared, “Who will come against me?’ Behold, I will bring terror upon you, from all who are around you, and you shall be driven out, every man straight before him, with none to gather the fugitives.“ Yet in mercy He said, “Afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites.” (Jeremiah 49:1–6)

The Lord rebuke EDOM for their short-sightedness. “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?” Then He declared their fate:  

“If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, will you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you must drink. For I have sworn by myself . . .  that Bozrah shall become a horror, a taunt, a waste, and a curse, and all her cities shall be perpetual wastes . . . . For behold, I will make you small among the nations, despised among mankind. The horror you inspire has deceived you, and the pride of your heart, you who live in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as the eagle’s, I will bring you down from there . . . .” (49:12–18)

As for DAMASCUS, they will be “confounded . . . melt in fear . . . troubled like the sea that cannot be quiet . . .  become feeble” turning to flee in panic. Her young men will fall, soldiers destroyed, and the city will burn. (49:24–27)

KEDAR & HAZOR will be destroyed by Babylon, attacked when they dwell securely. All will be plundered and no one will dwell again in Hazor. (49:28–33)

ELAM is told by the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will break the bow of Elam . . . . scatter them to all those winds, and there shall be no nation to which those driven out of Elam shall not come. I will terrify Elam before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, my fierce anger . . . . . I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them, and I will set my throne in Elam and destroy their king and officials . . . . But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares the Lord.” (49:35–39)

The longest section is judgment on BABYLON. Their gods will be “put to shame” and her land made desolate. When that happens, God’s people will seek the Lord, realizing their sin after being attacked by Assyria and Babylon. Therefore, God will punish these nations as His people are restored. He says, “Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon . . . . For Israel and Judah have not been forsaken by their God, the Lord of hosts, but the land of the Chaldeans is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel . . . . “I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea before your very eyes for all the evil that they have done in Zion.”

Thus says the Lord of hosts: “The broad wall of Babylon shall be leveled to the ground, and her high gates shall be burned with fire. The peoples labor for nothing, and the nations weary themselves only for fire.” (50–51)

Israel and Judah were guilty and did not deserve His love and care, yet He is righteous and just in judging and punishing sin, yet willing to restore all who repent. He who judges and punishes sin, is always willing to restore those who are willing to come back to Him.

God used the pain these nations caused to discipline for His people, yet He held them accountable for that pain. He used their evil for good, but they were responsible for the evil they had done.

Further, all He said would happen did happen. Babylon took God’s people captive. They were chastened and learned not to worship idols. He dealt with those whose actions caused those hard lessons, yet also showed mercy — to some of them. But He never abandoned His people. Later, a king of Babylon “graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison . . . spoke kindly to him . . . .” took him out of prison “and every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table . . .  giving him an allowance for his needs until he died.” (52:31–34) Even while being chastened, God meets the needs of His people.

Think of the wisdom of God; He allows evil for reasons often unknown to us, yet never stops wanting His very best for those He has chosen!