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Monday 5 September 2011

Day 250: The judgement of Babylon


Up to now, Babylon has enjoy ed most favoured nation status - God’s chosen instrument for humbling Israel. But they are not immune.
Babylon’s fall prophesied
Jeremiah 50:9-16
Israel’s return prophesied
Jeremiah 50:17-20
God’s judgement on Babylon
Jeremiah 50:21-46
Further judgement on Babylon
Jeremiah 51:1-14
A hymn of praise to God
Jeremiah 51:15-19
The Lord’s hammer
Jeremiah 51:20-23
Babylon’s punishment
Jeremiah 51:24-35

Jeremiah is looking beyond the exile, and before he foresees the return of the Israelites, he sees the downfall of Babylon. As Babylon swept aside Assyria, so will Babylon itself be overthrown. She cannot say “I am not guilty.” There is pride and evil in her as much as in any other nation, and God will purge it out. Although Babylon has been God’s hammer, she will be smashed into pieces. (50:23)
Who will do this to them? The Kings of the Medes,  Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz (51:27) Strange sounding names, just like to the Israelites the names of the Babylonians once sounded strange. But they have become familiar, and God doesn’t want his people to settle down too much. So the cycle of conquest will continue, and another empire will rise and topple Babylon.

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