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Jeremiah 44-48
Deceived Exiles;
Destroyed Nations
Psalm 91:1-16 Resting in the Refuge of His Wings
1.“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow/protection of the Almighty.2.I will say of Yahweh, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust."3.For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence.4.He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.5.You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day;6.nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday.7.A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you.8.You will only look with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.9.Because you have made Yahweh your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,10.no evil shall happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.11.For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.12.They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone.13.You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.14."Because He has set his love/desire on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name.15.He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him.16.I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation."Observations
91:1-16.This is a psalm to keep handy when trouble shows up. It's worth picking a few verses to memorize ahead of time, because sometimes trouble comes when you're not reading your Bible. The psalm opens with the proposition that the person who has an intimate relationship with God, can rest securely close to Him regardless of what difficulty or judgment comes. Those who know God can say with confidence, He is my trust, and trust Him in chaotic circumstances.
91:3-10.
There is no need to fear when under His wings. This does not mean that God has feathers, as a strictly literal approach to interpretation would require. A literary approach seeks to understand the Scriptures as they were written, being as literal as possible, but allowing for figures of speech and symbolism, especially in poetic passages, understanding them from a study of the context and author's style. Try counting the number of literary devices in the psalm; there are over thirty figures of speech describing God's protection of those who trust Him.
91:11-13.
These first two verses are some of Satan's favorites, using them to tempt Christ. It's also useful for making a case for guardian angels (Hebrews 1:14 is another). Verse 13 would have been a decent retort for Christ to use in response.
91:14-16.
Note well (N.B. Nota Bene) that this is not a general promise for everyone that gets warm fuzzies toward God, but only for those who have:
- made Him their dwelling place by sticking close to Him and His will (91:1,9);
- put their trust in God rather than others or their own efforts (91:2,9);
- desired/loved God above all else with exclusive allegiance (91:14a);
- known His name through intimate conversation and trust (91:14b);
- and called upon God for help in trouble.
Those are the ones who dwell in God's shadow and get delivered, honored, and satisfied.
Application
We don't dwell under God's wings unless we purposely trust and follow Him throughout every day.
Prayer
God, it's incredible that You, the Creator of the ends of the earth and the farthest reaches of the universe, would desire such an intimate relationship with me; thanks for offering it, may I dwell with You daily. Amen.
Proverbs 21:22-31 Preparing for Victory and Honor
22.A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.23.Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.24.The proud and haughty man, "scoffer " is his name; he works in the arrogance of pride.25.The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.26.There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.27.The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked intent!28.A false witness will perish, and a man who listens testifies successfully (NIV).29.A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.30.There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.31.The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with Yahweh.“Observations
21:22-30.The wise seek after righteousness and loyalty to God, and find life, righteousness, and honor, as a result. Filtering one's words, filters out trouble. The upright and generous reap the fruit of their actions, and the liars, sluggards, and wicked hypocrites will reap the harvest of the weeds they've sown. There is nothing that can oppose or thwart God's purposes.
21:31.
God blesses the efforts of those who trust Him and do His will, which includes planning and preparation and obedience. He can't energize the sword if it isn't wielded.
Application
God has purposed to bless the righteous, who are rightly and loyally related to Him, and curse the wicked; that's not going to change.
Prayer
Lord, may I do Your will and receive Your protection, blessings, honor, and victory. Amen.
Jeremiah 44-48 Deceived Exiles; Destroyed Nations
Jeremiah delivers a message of extermination to the Jews who rebelled in going to Egypt. Chapter 44 is considered to contain the last words of Jeremiah, containing a fitting summary of Judah's self-deceived self will. It's followed by a group of prophecies against the surrounding nations. Intermingled are a few words of encouragement to Judah.
Jeremiah 44 Errors of the Exiles in Egypt
1.1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who lived in the land of Egypt...2. Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel: you have seen all the evil that I have brought on Jerusalem, and on all the cities of Judah; and behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwells therein,3. because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, to serve other gods, that they didn’t know, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers.4. However I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Oh, don’t do this abominable thing that I hate.5. But they didn’t listen, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense to other gods.6. Therefore my wrath and my anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as it is this day.7. Therefore now thus says Yahweh, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel: Why do you commit great evil against your own souls, to cut off from yourselves man and woman, infant and nursing child out of the midst of Judah, to leave yourselves none remaining;8. in that you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have gone to live; that you may be cut off, and that you may be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?9. Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives which they committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem?10. They are not humbled even to this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.11. Therefore thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, even to cut off all Judah.12. I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to live there, and they shall all be consumed; in the land of Egypt shall they fall; they shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine; they shall die, from the least even to the greatest, by the sword and by the famine; and they shall be an object of horror, an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.13. For I will punish those who dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence;14. so that none of the remnant of Judah, who have gone into the land of Egypt to live there, shall escape or be left, to return into the land of Judah, to which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return save such as shall escape.15.Then all the men who knew that their wives burned incense to other gods, and all the women who stood by, a great assembly, even all the people who lived in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,16. As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of Yahweh, we will not listen to you.17. But we will certainly perform every word that is gone forth out of our mouth, to burn incense to the queen of the heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then had we plenty of food, and were well, and saw no evil.18. But since we ceased burning incense to the queen of the heaven, and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.19. When we burned incense to the queen of the heaven, and poured out drink offerings to her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings to her, without our husbands?
20.Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men, and to the women, even to all the people who had given him an answer, saying,21. The incense that you burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land, didn’t Yahweh remember them, and didn’t it come into his mind?22. so that Yahweh could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which you have committed; therefore your land has become a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day.23. Because you have burned incense, and because you have sinned against Yahweh, and have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil has happened to you, as it is this day.24. Moreover Jeremiah said to all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of Yahweh, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt:25. Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel, saying, you and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and with your hands have fulfilled it, saying, we will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of the heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her: establish then your vows, and perform your vows.26. Therefore hear the word of Yahweh, all Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says Yahweh, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, As the Lord Yahweh lives.27. Behold, I watch over them for evil, and not for good; and all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until they are all gone.28. Those who escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, who have gone into the land of Egypt to live there, shall know whose word shall stand, mine, or theirs.29. This shall be the sign to you, says Yahweh, that I will punish you in this place, that you may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil:30. Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of those who seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy, and sought his life.
Observations
44:1-14.God has Jeremiah warn the remnant, which had disobediently gone to Egypt, that they will be completely destroyed if they don't repent. They were committing the same sins in Egypt which they had done in Judah, sensual pagan worship specifically burning incense to probably Astarte or Ashtaroth (the latter is the consonants of Astarte with the vowels for “abomination”, which was what was read), the queen of heaven. Verse 10 spells out the steps of repentance:
- humble themselves (acknowledging that they are not the ones to determine how they should live their lives – but God is),
- fear (care more about pleasing Him than themselves -because He judges the proud),
- and obey (know and do what He wants).
Because of their confirmed rebellion against Him, God will punish them like He did those now in Babylon, with the sword, famine, and pestilence, with the difference being, that they wouldn't return to Judah, like the Babylonian captivity would.
44:15-19.
This section exemplifies the folly of determining truth from experience (because our perceptual filters are faulty). They justified their actions by deceiving themselves about their circumstances when they worshiped the queen of heaven. The reality was that God had given them the land and prospered them in it, and their scarcity was due to their sin. Revelation, reason, and reality, converge upon truth which best explains all the facts.
44:20-30.
On the basis of their self-incrimination, God pronounces judgment, saying He will now watch over them for evil, as He brings Zedekiah’s fate upon Pharaoh.
Application
Our perception of reality can be a faulty determinant of truth, if not bounded by Revelation and reason.
Prayer
God of truth, help me see reality clearly, through Your eyes, so I don't commit the folly of self deception and wind up being destroyed. Amen.
Jeremiah 45 Baruch Rebuffed and Blessed
1.The message that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,2. Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, to you, Baruch:3. You said, Woe is me now! for Yahweh has added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.4. You shall tell him, Thus says Yahweh: Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up; and this in the whole land.5. Do you seek great things for yourself? Don’t seek them; for, behold, I will bring evil on all flesh, says Yahweh; but your life will I give to you for a prey/prize in all places where you go.Observation
45:1-5.God gives a mild reproof to Baruch who wrote, read, (and re-wrote) Jeremiah's words which Jehoiakim burned (Jer 36). When feeling sorry for himself over the sorry spiritual state of affairs in Judah (and his lack of prospects if Judah is destroyed), Baruch is reminded of God's sovereignty. God can do with His people whatever He wished, building or breaking. He was God, and Baruch was not. He does however encourage him with promise similar to that given to the Ethiopian eunuch.
Application
God's servants don't have to worry about their future, only about being faithful.
Prayer
Lord, may I seek Your glory and not my own, and trust that You know how to utilize and protect Your faithful servants. Amen.
Jeremiah 46 Egypt Destroyed, Israel Disciplined
1.The word of Yahweh which came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.2. Of Egypt: concerning the army of Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah.5. Why have I seen it? they are dismayed and are turned backward; and their mighty ones are beaten down, and have fled apace, and don’t look back: terror is on every side, says Yahweh.10. For that day is of the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge himself of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour and be satiate, and shall drink its fill of their blood; for the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts, has a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.11. Go up into Gilead, and take balm, virgin daughter of Egypt: in vain do you use many medicines; there is no healing for you.12. The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty, they are fallen both of them together.13.The word that Yahweh spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon should come and strike the land of Egypt.14. Declare in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Memphis and in Tahpanhes: say, Stand forth, and prepare; for the sword has devoured around you.15. Why are your strong ones swept away? they didn’t stand, because Yahweh pushed them.16. He made many to stumble, yes, they fell one on another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our birth, from the oppressing sword.17. They cried there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he has let the appointed time pass by.18. As I live, says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Hosts, surely like Tabor among the mountains, and like Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.19. You daughter who dwells in Egypt, furnish yourself to go into captivity; for Memphis shall become a desolation, and shall be burnt up, without inhabitant.24. The daughter of Egypt shall be disappointed; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.
25.Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Behold, I will punish Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with her gods, and her kings; even Pharaoh, and those who trust in him:26. and I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants; and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, says Yahweh.27. But don’t you be afraid, Jacob my servant, neither be dismayed, Israel: for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.28. Don’t you be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says Yahweh; for I am with you: for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you; but I will not make a full end of you, but I will correct you in measure, and will in no way leave you unpunished.
Observation
46:1-28.Three prophecies against Egypt demonstrate Yahweh's control over the nations and the folly of trusting in anyone other than Him. God promises to restore Jacob/Israel, but not the nations who He used to judge her. Jeremiah prophetically announces the defeat of God's enemies (not specifically Israel's). Egypt was defeated at Carchemish (north of Israel) around 605 BC, by the hand of the Babylonians. The famed medical arts of Egypt would be as useless as their army.
Babylon would invade and destroy the land of Egypt, and the Egyptians would go into captivity at the command of The King of Kings.
Amon (one of the chief gods of the Egyptians), Pharaoh (god incarnate), the pantheon of Egyptian gods, and those who trust in them would be destroyed. In contrast, Yahweh's people would be preserved and restored.
Application
Discipline is not destruction unless we fail to learn and repent.
Prayer
God, may I be quick to learn whatever You want to teach me. Thanks. Amen.
Jeremiah 47 Tyre Trashed
1.The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before that Pharaoh struck Gaza.2. Thus says Yahweh: Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall become an overflowing stream, and shall overflow the land and all that is therein, the city and those who dwell therein; and the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.3. At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers don’t look back to their children for feebleness of hands;4. because of the day that comes to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains: for Yahweh will destroy the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Caphtor.5. Baldness has come on Gaza; Ashkelon is brought to nothing, the remnant of their valley: how long will you cut yourself?6. You sword of Yahweh, how long will it be before you be quiet? Put up yourself into your scabbard; rest, and be still.7. How can you be quiet, since Yahweh has given you a command? Against Ashkelon, and against the seashore, there has he appointed it.Observation
47:1-7.Jeremiah pronounces God's judgment against the Philistines. The sword against them (Babylon/north) can't be quenched until it accomplishes God's purposes of destroying the pagan nations. No specific cause for their judgment is given, but Ezekiel and Amos give specific reason for judging Israel's perennial enemies.
Application
God always justly pays back injustice.
Prayer
God, may my dealings with others always be just, and may I trust You to execute vengeance on my behalf. Amen.
Jeremiah 48 False Trust of Moab
1.Of Moab. Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel: Woe... it is laid waste... put to shame and broken down.2. The praise of Moab is no more... Come, and let us cut her off from being a nation... the sword shall pursue you.4. Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.5. For by the ascent of Luhith with continual weeping shall they go up; for at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distress of the cry of destruction.6. Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness.7. For, because you have trusted in your works and in your treasures, you also shall be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity, his priests and his princes together.8. The destroyer shall come on every city, and no city shall escape; the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed; as Yahweh has spoken.9. Give wings to Moab, that she may fly and get her away: and her cities shall become a desolation, without any to dwell therein.10. Cursed is he who does the work of Yahweh negligently; and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.11. Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has settled on his lees, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither has he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed.12. Therefore, behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will send to him those who pour off, and they shall pour him off; and they shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles in pieces.13. Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence.14.How do you say, we are mighty men, and valiant men for the war?15. Moab is laid waste, and they are gone up into his cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Hosts.16. The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hurries fast.25. The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, says Yahweh.26. Make him drunken; for he magnified himself against Yahweh: and Moab shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision.27. For wasn’t Israel a derision to you?28. You inhabitants of Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock; and be like the dove that makes her nest over the mouth of the abyss.29. We have heard of the pride of Moab. He is very proud; his loftiness, and his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart.30. I know his wrath, says Yahweh, that it is nothing; his boastings have worked nothing.33. Gladness and joy is taken away from the fruitful field and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to cease from the wine presses: none shall tread with shouting; the shouting shall be no shouting.35. Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, says Yahweh, him who offers in the high place, and him who burns incense to his gods.38. On all the housetops of Moab and in its streets there is lamentation every where; for I have broken Moab like a vessel in which none delights, says Yahweh.39. How it is broken down! How they wail! How Moab has turned the back with shame! So shall Moab become a derision and a terror to all who are around him.40. For thus says Yahweh: Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread out his wings against Moab.41. Kerioth is taken, and the strongholds are seized, and the heart of the mighty men of Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.42. Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he has magnified himself against Yahweh.43. Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are on you, inhabitant of Moab, says Yahweh.44. He who flees from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he who gets up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring on him, even on Moab, the year of their visitation, says Yahweh.45. Those who fled stand without strength under the shadow of Heshbon; for a fire is gone forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and has devoured the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.46. Woe to you, O Moab! the people of Chemosh is undone; for your sons are taken away captive, and your daughters into captivity.47. Yet will I bring back the captivity of Moab in the latter days, says Yahweh. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
Observation
48:1-47.The Moabites, the descendents of Lot's son (Gen 19:37), are to be judged for their arrogance and pride, as well as trust in their works and their false god Chemosh. The king of Moab, Mesha (2Kg 3:5), attributed his victories over Israel's king to Chemosh (recorded on the Moabite Stone: "And Chemosh drove him before my sight."). Chemosh's idol would be carried off to Babylon along with his people. Everything Moab trusted in would be destroyed. Like the Israelites, the Moabites would return from captivity, but unlike them, the nation would disappear.
Application
Those who arrogantly trust in their works or a false god for security and safey will be sorely disappointed.
Prayer
God, You alone are worthy of my trust; help me see wherever I may be trusting dumb things like idols or myself. Thanks. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God judges stubborn pride and those who engage in sensual pagan worship, be they Jew or Gentile. However, His judgment is tempered by His promises to His people most of the time. Those who stupidly believe lies and fight against God are doomed to destruction. God corrects the faulty thinking of His faithful servants when necessary. His judgment is something scary to be avoided by seeking His will and doing it.Us in a nutshell: Our capacity for self-deception and distorting reality are astounding. If we humble ourselves, fear God, and seek His will, we have a chance at a renewed relationship with Him.