What The Lord Says About The Philistines
January 7, 2020
Commentary
This Chapter has to do with the God’s Judgments against the Philistines, a nation very closely associated with Egypt. Do you remember Bible stories about how the Philistines were always coming up against Israel? Goliath, whom David slew, was one of the Philistine warriors. These people lived along the southern coastline of the land of Palestine. In fact the name, “Palestine,” comes from the word, Philistines. They were always the enemies of Israel. Many scholars feel that originally they came from Egypt and occupied Phoenicia, or Lebanon, as we know it today.
Before the king of Egypt attacked the town of Gaza, the Lord told Jeremiah to give a message to the Philliarines (v. 1). He said your land will be overtaken by an army from the north who will destroy your towns and sweep you away (v. 2). When you hear the thunder of horses and chariots you will be frightened and parents will even abandon their own children (v. 3). As refugees from Crete, your time has now come, and you will be destroyed. None of you who survive will be left to help save the cities of Tyre and Sidon (v. 4). The survivors in Gaza and Ashkelon will morn for you by shaving their heads and sitting in silence (v. 5). You will wonder how long I will continue to attack you with my sword and then you will ask me to leave you alone. (v. 6).
Application
Spiritual battles in this life can destroy me if I try to defeat the enemy by myself but if I put on the whole armor of God the Lord will be my shield and protector.
Jeremiah 47:1– 7 (NET)
1 This was the Lord’s message to the prophet Jeremiah about the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza:
2 “Look! Enemies are gathering in the north like water rising in a river. They will be like an overflowing stream. They will overwhelm the whole country and everything in it like a flood. They will overwhelm the cities and their inhabitants. People will cry out in alarm. Everyone living in the country will cry out in pain.
3 Fathers will hear the hoofbeats of the enemies’ horses, the clatter of their chariots and the rumbling of their wheels. They will not turn back to save their children because they will be paralyzed with fear.
4 For the time has come to destroy all the Philistines. The time has come to destroy all the help that remains for Tyre and Sidon. For I, the Lord, will destroy the Philistines, that remnant that came from the island of Crete.
5 The people of Gaza will shave their heads in mourning. The people of Ashkelon will be struck dumb. How long will you gash yourselves to show your sorrow, you who remain of Philistia’s power?
6 How long will you cry out, ‘Oh, sword of the Lord, how long will it be before you stop killing? Go back into your sheath; stay there and rest!’
7 But how can it rest when I, the Lord, have given it orders? I have ordered it to attack the people of Ashkelon and the seacoast.”
Illustration: Conviction That Resulted in Untold Sufferings
Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty. At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson’s home for his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered General George Washington to open fire on the Nelson home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt. (Kenneth L. Dodge, Resource, Sept./ Oct., 1992)