There is hope . . .

 

READ Jeremiah 45–48

When in school, history was not my favorite topic. Too many names and dates to remember and none of it seemed important. When reading these chapters from Jeremiah, I first thought there was nothing in it for me, no practical lessons. I was wrong.

The first short chapter is Jeremiah’s words to his secretary, mainly telling Baruch that the disasters coming from the Lord on all flesh would not affect him. This is a reminder of God’s faithfulness. He cares for His people.

“But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.” (Jeremiah 46:27–28)

Then the Lord tells Jeremiah what will happen to EGYPT. The Babylonians will defeat the army of Pharaoh. “Concerning the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah.” (46:1ff) He adds:

That day is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord God of hosts holds a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates. Go up to Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt! In vain you have used many medicines; there is no healing for you. The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for warrior has stumbled against warrior; they have both fallen together.” (46:10–12)

Next, God will destroy the PHILISTINES. (47:2–4) He describes it vividly:

Behold, waters are rising out of the north, and shall become an overflowing torrent; they shall overflow the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it. Men shall cry out, and every inhabitant of the land shall wail. At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels, the fathers look not back to their children, so feeble are their hands, because of the day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remains. For the Lord is destroying the Philistines, the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor. Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has perished. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourselves? Ah, sword of the Lord! How long till you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard; rest and be still! How can it be quiet when the Lord has given it a charge? Against Ashkelon and against the seashore he has appointed it.” (47:2–7)

The last chapter concerns MOAB. Its cities will be “laid waste . . . put to shame, taken, broken down . . . because you trusted in your works and your treasures, you also shall be taken” and their god Chemosh shall go into exile with his priests and his officials. “No city shall escape; the valley shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the Lord has spoken.” (48:7–8) Further . . . “Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh,” and:

The horn of Moab is cut off . . . his arm broken . . . Made drunk, because he magnified himself against the Lord, so that Moab shall wallow in his vomit, and he too shall be held in derision . . . . he is very proud— of his loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart . . . . his insolence, his boasts and deeds are false . . . nothing but lamentation, for I have broken Moab like a vessel for which no one cares . . . how they wail . . .  turn in shame . . . for the cities shall be taken and the strongholds seized . . .  Moab shall be destroyed and be no longer a people, because he magnified himself against the Lord. (48:25–42)

Yet there is grace even here for God says, “Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh are undone, for your sons have been taken captive, and your daughters into captivity. Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days, declares the Lord.” (48:46–47)

How is this practical? All that God said happened. History verifies the defeat in Egypt, the end of the Philistines, the downfall of Moab. Therefore, when I read Scripture’s promises of those things not yet happened, I can be certain that they will. God will judge the nations and overturn evil, and when He does it, He will also protect His people. Amen!