Sermon - AudioJeremiah 46-48 - Audio
Jeremiah 46-48 - Reading
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Chapter 46 – This chapter declares God’s displeasure with Egypt, Israel’s old foe and recent ally Jeremiah claims that God will put Egypt to shame and judge Egypt’s gods and kings, then notes that God is with Israel.
v. 1 – The book of Jeremiah is unique in that it gives a thematic verse and then gathers all prophecies under that theme. Because of this, these prophecies do not reflect time periods but themes. Even the prophecies about the same nation can span different time periods.
v. 3-4 – This prophecy against Egypt is filled with mockery and taunting. Egypt has no cavalry (although Babylon did have a form of cavalry which gave them battlefield advantage) so the call to mount their horses is a mocking of the military abilities of Egypt.
v. 7-9 – Again a mocking of Egypt, which boasted of its strength, being like the rising of the Nile.
v. 11 – More mocking – the balm of Gilead was supposed to bring healing, but Jeremiah makes it clear that there is no healing for Egypt.
v. 18 – In Egyptian art Pharaoh was always represented as being taller than everyone else. Now God is sending one who is as tall as the mountains. Pharaoh will look like a midget.
v. 20-21 – God is always about defeating not only peoples but their gods. Egypt was involved in bull worship. The bull will fall to the fly – a huge irony.
v. 22 – The snake is an important part of Egyptian religion and a symbol of royal authority. Egypt’s religious power will not save her and her kings will run away.
v. 25 – God explicitly tells us that He is punishing the nation, its leaders and its gods. Amon of Thebes is the chief god and was connected with the breath of life. This god promised that all good things would come to Egypt. Since Amon was seen as a god who ruled over all of Egypt, God’s declaration of war on Amon was a declaration that God ruled over all of Egypt.
Chapter 47 – Philistia was one of Israel’s most ancient foes. This chapter asserts that God will destroy the Philistines through Babylon.
v. 1 – The Philistines were arch enemies of Israel in the days of King Saul and David. During the 8th century they were usually ruled by outside powers and so their military strength was negligible.
v. 2 – Philistia will endure two defeats. First in 609 B.C., she will be attacked by Pharaoh. Then in 604 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar will come and utterly defeat Philistia ending their existence as a people.
v. 4 – “Caphtor” is the island of Crete. The Philistines were not native to Canaan. They were part of the “sea people” who had invaded different parts of the Ancient Near East in the 12th century B.C. After their defeat by Rameses III some of these sea people settled in the area that became Philistia.
v. 6-7 – God’s punishing sword will not rest until it completes its work against Ashkelon and the seashore.
Chapter 48 – Israel’s dealings with Moab date back even farther than its relationship with Philistia. Moab’s origins in Abraham’s era began with the episode of Lot and his daughters (Gen 19). Moab opposed Israel in Moses’ era, served Israel in David’s era, and plotted with Judah against Babylon in Zedekiah’s era. Here Jeremiah claims God will judge Moab’s arrogance and idolatry, make Moab ashamed of its god, silence Moab’s boasts, and someday restore Moab.
v. 1 – Babylon attacks and destroys Moab in 582 B.C. Babylon wants to damage Egypt more than to destroy Moab. By destroying Moab she takes control of a major trade route that went to Egypt called the King’s Highway.
v. 6 – The bush in the desert is the Arar tree. To be such a bush is to be connected with being cursed.
v. 25 – Often crowns would have horns on them symbolizing power. For the horn to be cut off means the end of a king’s and kingdom’s power.
v. 26 – Moab considered herself great than God and so she is being destroyed.
v. 39 – From being a people of great pride, Moab has become a people of reproach.
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