Day #236

Sermon - Audio
Jeremiah 49-50 - Audio
Jeremiah 49-50 - Reading

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Jeremiah 49-50


Chapters 40 and 50 are part of larger section in which God is declaring judgment on the nations that have punished Israel. We see very clearly in this section of Scripture that God is Lord of the whole earth and every nation is ultimately under his control. God's power is not limited to Israel and his concern is far greater than what it happening in the church.


Chapter 49


1-6) The Ammonites were descendents of Lot through his incestuous relationship with one of his daughters (as were the Moabites; see Genesis 19.30-38). They faced judgment because they stole land from Israel and for worshipping the idol Molech, to whom they made child sacrifices.


7-22) The Israelites descended from Jacob and the Edomites from his twin brother, Esau, both nations descended from their father, Isaac. As there was conflict between the two brothers, there was discord between the two peoples. Edom arrogantly celebrated the fall of Jerusalem (see Obadiah). Edom was located in a fortress made of rock that seemed to provide safety. Edom thought it was invincible because of its location. Edom was destroyed by pride. Pride destroys nations and individuals.


23-27) Damascus was the capital city of Aram, north of Israel. This city was defeated by both Assyria and Babylon.


28-33) Kedor and Hazor were tribes east of Israel.


39-44) Elam was located just north of the Persian Gulf.



Chapter 50

At the height of its power, the Babylonian empire appeared invincible. People could not comprehend Babylon's demise. But when Babylon had finished serving the Lord's plan of punishing Judah, it too would be punished because of evil. Babylon is often used in scripture as a symbol of evil and rebellion against God.

3) The nation from the north was Persia, an alliance of Media and Persia that would become a great world power. Cyrus took the city of Babylon by surprise and brought the nation to its knees.


17-30) God would punish evil Babylon as he did Assyria for what they had done to Israel. Assyria was defeated by Babylon. Babylon would in turn be punished by the nation from the north.


32) Pride or arrogance was Babylon's primary sin. Pride comes from believing the lie that self-sufficiency is possible without God. Proud nations or persons, however, will eventually fail because they refuse to give God glory.


44-46) the invader was Cyrus, who attacked Babylon by surprise and overthrew it. The world was shocked that this great empire was
overthrown. No earthly power, no matter how great, can last forever.