LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for August 21: Recognize the Lord’s authority

Jeremiah 50 begins a two-chapter impassioned invective against Babylon. Jeremiah spent his career exhorting his people to turn from their sin. Now that judgment had materialized and Israel’s remnant was suffering in Babylonian exile, Jeremiah broadsided the unwitting tool of God’s wrath. The Lord’s anger would be poured out in the same manner Babylon brutally dismembered Israel. Babylon would suffer an unthinkable, humiliating and torturous end by God’s hand.

Jeremiah 51:64 states Jeremiah’s prophecies end at that point. Chapter 52 is a historical appendix reflecting backward on Jerusalem’s fall. Thus Jeremiah’s last prophetic words delivered a withering thrashing of Israel’s very willing tormentor.

This passage is written in poetry—the highest form of Hebrew communication. Its effect for the Hebrew is similar to the electrifying cultural messages delivered by some popular music today: fully polished, forever quotable and ferocious in its finality. Turn the volume to its highest setting because Jeremiah is not quiet as he proclaims God’s fury against Babylon. His language is strong and clipped, welling up with anger and describing the everlasting devastation coming against Israel’s antagonist. Babylon’s lifeless gods cannot shield her from God’s overwhelming wrath. Babylon will pass into eternity, forever abandoned.

None are invincible (Jeremiah 50:2-3)

Verse 2 speaks of publishing (proclaim) and advertising (banner) the coming doom of Babylon. The name “Bel” means “lord,” is linguistically associated with the more familiar “Baal,” and refers to the divine master, owner and protector of Babylon. Marduk was the Babylonian creator and chief of the Babylonian pantheon. Long before Babylon’s rise to greatness, Marduk was designated as “Bel.”

This verse states that “terrified” Marduk is no match for Israel’s Lord. The word “idols” derives from a term meaning “dung-heaps.” Jeremiah’s message was nothing if not provocative. Babylon’s idols, though built from precious metals and jewels representing Babylon’s economic excess, were actually filthy (judging from the lives of Marduk’s adherents), lifeless and powerless alternatives to the One Living Holy God.

Verse 3 speaks of terror from the north. In Hebrew, sinister things often are associated with the north, just as Babylon came from the north into Israel (Jeremiah 1:13-14). Babylon’s demise came through the Persians, who lived to Babylon’s east, but invaded from the mountains to Babylon’s north.

Babylon still was influential when Alexander the Great visited the city. By New Testament times, Babylon had become the derelict of a once proud city. Today, the site of Babylon is occupied by ruins barely speaking to the splendor of the one-time leading city of the ancient world.

The contrast between Jeremiah’s words to his people and his words to Babylon is astounding. What the difference a covenant relationship with God makes. Though his people sin and stray, God promises them life and reconciliation beyond the discipline. For his opponents, God only has words of wrath.

Verse 34 declares that Israel’s Redeemer, the Lord Almighty, defends his people. God does this because his covenant with his people is everlasting (v. 6). The “present” punishment Israel faces in Babylonia will end when Babylon faces its own devastating punishment (v. 18). Israel will be forgiven because her guilt will no longer be found (v. 20). What a testimony to God’s covenant commitment. Even his discipline renders his people holy and blameless in his sight (compare Colossians 1:22).

Resistance is futile (Jeremiah 50:24-25, 44)

Verse 25 expresses sobering and fearful words: “the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do in the land of the Babylonians.” Babylon still rode the high of her ascendancy and was confident all she enjoyed was due to Marduk’s superior strength over the miserably weak gods of her conquests. The trap already was laid, says verse 24. Babylon had been ensnared, lured into a smug blindness toward her pending doom by her vast riches and their influence. Nevertheless, God would lead the trapped Babylon out of her own land (v. 44). Her riches would go elsewhere, and the city would cease to exist.

The warning to nonbelievers is that God works through worldly circumstances to accomplish his will in the lives of people. Those who ignore God never see his movement. Their lives remain empty and spin out of control. The wise ones tire of meaningless life and make peace with the Lord.

The word to believers is to serve the Lord attentively. The believer once was headed toward the demise facing all nonbelievers (see Matthew 7:13-14). Now the believer, having experienced God’s forgiveness and regeneration, must actively live for his or her Redeemer.

Resistance Is fatal (Jeremiah 50:29-32)

Verse 29 warns there is no escape from God’s retribution. The coming punishment will be as devastating as an overwhelming military assault. None is strong enough to resist God’s vengeance. Verse 31 contains the fearful phrases: “I am against you” and “your day has come.” Who can deny the Lord’s seriousness? Babylon exists no more. Any time that remains between the declaration of God’s justice and its implementation is time best invested in repentance and seeking him.

For many, Jeremiah’s words against Babylon may seem ancient and without need of further application. Nevertheless, the Lord still speaks against the arrogant one who lives without consideration of any obligation to God. Judgment comes to those who oppose the Lord (v. 24), defy him (v. 29) or merely ignore him. But redemption comes to those who turn to him and live humbly before him.