Babylon had plundered Zion and now God was about to plunder Babylon through the Medes. And unlike Israel where they would be restored and not widowed (v. 5), Babylon would be destroyed never to rise again (v 29).
The land trembles and writhes,
for the Lord’s purposes against Babylon stand—
to lay waste the land of Babylon
so that no one will live there.
She defied the holy one of Israel (Jer 50:29). And enough was enough. This powerful, great, extraordinary empire that seemed invincible would crumble to its knees.
“Babylon must fall because of Israel’s slain” (Jer 50:49)
It’s amazing that even though Israel was in the wrong and being punished for their sins, the LORD was going to defend the apple of his eye in due time. He does not take lightly to the slaying of his people.
Then Jeremiah was given special instructions for these words of judgment against Babylon. In the 4th year of Zedekiah’s reign in which they were subjugated by Babylon but still not exiles, they were to go to Babylon and read the judgment. Then tie a rock around the scroll and throw it in the Euphrates as a symbol that Babylon would be destroyed never to rise again.
Babylon’s judgment was final. Yes, they would take captive Israel for 70 years. But when the time came, Babylon would fall. It was not a maybe but a definite. It seemed impossible but it would happen. And it did.
My thoughts:
- All nations fall. All mighty nations will come to an end. It’s only a matter of when. Unfortunately I think our time is near. The world is getting shaken up once again. Not just us.
- It’s clear in Scripture that God honors the apple of his eye, his people, even when they have done wrong. We must remember this. Israel is the apple of God’s eye, and we are the grafted in ones.
- God gave multiple warnings and I do believe Babylon could have repented. But the arrogant rarely repent, and it seeps into the next generation.