Prophesies against the nations continues, but now the big dog is up...Babylon
Having addressed all of those who contributed harm to Israel and Judah, using Babylon as the tool, Now it is Babylon's turn to hear what Jeremiah has to say on behalf of the Lord.
Babylon is to be captured, shamed, and shattered. It is to be proclaimed from the rooftops, including the shattering of their god, Marduk.
An enemy is coming from the north (which is also where Babylon came from). It will leave her an uninhabited horror.
At this point, the sons of Israel AND Judah will make their way home, weeping, seeking the Lord, with their face to Him. He will make a covenant with them forever.
Gloria Hallelujah.
The Lord proclaims that his sheep were lost and led astray. They forgot their resting place.
What a sad, poetic phrase. How often do we lose our resting place...we trade in God for false shepherds and the trip back to Him is painful as it was wasted.
He goes on to point out that those who found them while they wandered lost tried to devour them—claiming it was ok to bring them harm because they sinned against the Lord. that's what the enemy does, he uses our own sin against us-the accuser.
The Lord tells them to wander away from the Chaldeans in Babylon because a horde is coming against Babylon from the north and they will be plundering the nation.
Starting in verse 11 the Lord chides them for being jubilant in the terror they bring during their current reign. He promises their mothers will be ashamed.It sounds like every attempt to restore the city has been unsuccessful.
God calls on those around Babylon to make a battle plan and attack as vengeance for the Lord. He calls for them to do to her what she did to others. Because Babylon scattered Judah, like Assyria scattered Israel, God is going to punish them. Simultaneously, He promises to bring Israel back and provide for them. He promises to pardon the remnant—no sin will be found.
He goes on to describe the destruction because they engaged in conflict with the Lord. He even, specifically, demands vengeance for the destruction of His Temple (v. 28). He also states that Babylon refused to let His people go. That's interesting.
“Their Redeemer is strong, the Lord of hosts is His name;
He will vigorously plead their case
So that He may bring rest to the earth,
But turmoil to the inhabitants of Babylon. Jeremiah 50:34
For He is called Faithful and True.
Thanks be to God who redeems us even when we got what we deserved.
Next is a lengthy description of who and what will be destroyed. He promises that this destruction is permanent and will not recover.
Verse 44 is from near the end of the chapter and I thought it was beautifully and poetically written:
“Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thicket of the Jordan to a perennially watered pasture; for in an instant I will make them run away from it, and whoever is chosen I will appoint over it. For who is like Me, and who will summon Me into court? And who then is the shepherd who can stand before Me?”
The one being referred to is Cyrus the Great, Median Persian leader who overthrown Babylon.
The Babylonian judgement continues in chapter 51.