The Lord Commands The Babylonian Enemies
September 16, 2022
Commentary
The land of Merathaim (v. 21) was the region in southern Babylon where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers enter the Persian Gulf. However, the word in Hebrew means “double rebellion." Thus God was saying He would attack the land of double rebellion and inflect his punishment on it (v. 22). The Lord was in command of the invasion, and His orders were to be carried out in detail. Babylon, like a hammer (v.23) had been shattering others and now she would find herself broken and shattered. God speaks of Himself as a hunter who would set a trap in which Babylon would unknowingly find herself caught (v.24). His weapons were brought out and a curse will be put on Babylonia (v. 25).
Babylon’s enemies came from a long distance to break open their granaries (v. 26). The bodies of her slain inhabitants were piled up like heaps of grain. Her fine young men were slaughtered like cattle, for the day of judgment for Babylon had come (v. 27). The ultimate sin of the Babylonians was the burning of the temple (v. 28), and for this sin alone the total destruction of their city was their punishment. Archers were summoned to encamp around Babylon and to ensure that no one would escape (v. 29). The city had to be destroyed because of her haughtiness (v.30). God emphasized her haughtiness by calling her the proud one (vv.31,32). She would be broken for her pride as God vowed to kindle a fire that would consume her.
Application
Pride was Babylon’s big problem. Pride comes from feeling self sufficient or that we don’t need God. Getting rid of pride is not easy, but we can admit it and ask God to forgive us and help us struggle against it. Do I have any pride in my life?
Jeremiah 50:21– 32 (NET)
21 The Lord says, “Attack the land of Merathaim and the people who live in Pekod. Pursue, kill, and completely destroy them! Do just as I have commanded you!
22 The noise of battle can be heard in the land of Babylonia. There is the sound of great destruction.
23 Babylon hammered the whole world to pieces. But see how that ‘hammer’ has been broken and shattered! See what an object of horror Babylon has become among the nations!
24 I set a trap for you, Babylon; you were caught before you knew it. You fought against me; so you were found and captured.
25 I have opened up the place where my weapons are stored. I have brought out the weapons for carrying out my wrath. For I, the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have work to carry out in the land of Babylonia.
26 Come from far away and attack Babylonia! Open up the places where she stores her grain. Pile her up in ruins. Destroy her completely! Do not leave anyone alive!
27 Kill all her soldiers. Let them be slaughtered. They are doomed, for their day of reckoning has come, the time for them to be punished.”
28 Listen! Fugitives and refugees are coming from the land of Babylon. They are coming to Zion to declare there how the Lord our God is getting revenge, getting revenge for what they have done to his temple.
29 “Call for archers to come against Babylon! Summon against her all who draw the bow. Set up camp all around the city. Do not allow anyone to escape! Pay her back for what she has done. Do to her what she has done to others. For she has proudly defied me, the Holy One of Israel.
30 So her young men will fall in her city squares. All her soldiers will be destroyed at that time,” says the Lord.
31 “Listen! I am opposed to you, you proud city,” says the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Indeed, your day of reckoning has come, the time when I will punish you.
32 You will stumble and fall, you proud city; no one will help you get up. I will set fire to your towns; it will burn up everything that surrounds you.”