Day 236 – Jeremiah 51-52

Talking Points

• Though Judah and Israel are facing great punishment due to their sin, God has not forsaken them.
• It is because of God’s faithfulness alone that His people are not forsaken. It’s not because of their obedience, their righteousness, or their loyalty to God — they failed miserably in all of those areas. They are saved because of God’s promise, His grace, and His fidelity shown to His people. “For neither Israel nor Judah has been forsaken By his God, the LORD of hosts, Although their land is full of guilt Before the Holy One of Israel” (Jeremiah 51:5).
• God’s power, might, and even His faithfulness are once again tied to His role as the magnificent Creator of all things. “It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom, And by His understanding He stretched out the heavens” (51:15).
• The last chapter of Jeremiah was written after his death by someone else, and shows how the prophecies he related were fulfilled.
• We read of the fate of Jerusalem. “Now it came about in the ninth year of his reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, camped against it and built a siege wall all around it” (52:4).
• Babylon seems to be an unstoppable empire. History tells us that the nation enjoyed a long and prosperous reign. Despite its exceeding wickedness, it rose to be the most advanced city of its day. It was served by complicated canal systems and an advanced network of paved streets. A wall eleven miles long and wide enough for two chariots to pass each other side-by-side guarded from foreign attack. Strong gates promised only friendly entrance into the city. Babylon is estimated to be the first ancient city with a population over 200,000. It was truly impressive! So, what happened? Just as God said, it was destroyed, ravaged, and left uninhabited. The Persians, led by King Cyrus, diverted its water supply and then laid waste to the city. The unimaginable happened, just as God had said. “Just so shall Babylon sink down and not rise again because of the calamity that I am going to bring upon her; and they will become exhausted” (51:64).

Thoughts

Remember the anticipation, reverence, and excitement as the temple was completed, a great temple fitting for so great a God? (Day 162) Remember the furnishing of the temple — lampstands, basins, shovels, bowls, utensils, cups, snuffers, pans, all too extravagant to have a value ascribed? Remember the intricate bronze pillars on the porch of the temple, the ones which were given names bearing testimony to the greatness of God? (Day 163) As Judah falls to Babylon, we read that the temple was burned, the furnishings and utensils were taken away, and the pillars were broken in pieces and carried off to Babylon. What a heartbreaking day that must have been. How tragic to see God’s people had profaned His name so grievously, that now the temple — the house commissioned by God, built by God-gifted, talented, sacrificial people seeking to honor His name — is destroyed.

As Jerusalem is destroyed and the Jews are carried away into exile, can you imagine God’s grief? Maybe it was something like this: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!” (Luke 13:34). “When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it” (Luke 19:41).

Today, I am thankful for a God who grieves over us, who wants us to be His, and who is great in His mercy toward sinners. Look at how He loves! It’s written all throughout Scripture. Won’t you “have it” today?