BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

The tide of Babylon’s army continues to rise, flooding the nations around Israel with Yahweh’s de-creation judgment. Flames engulf the villages of Ammon. The arrogant Edomites fall from their mountain fortresses, causing the Earth to shudder. Terror wracks Damascus like labor pains. Dust blows through Hazor’s deserted streets. The bows of Elam’s world-famous archers snap like toothpicks. Empires built with evil always crumble.

But then, in the final poem of the book, the tide of divine de-creation turns against Babylon itself. The empire that poured out Yahweh’s wrath drinks from the same cup. This reversal of Babylon’s fortunes raises an important point: Just because violent empires become an instrument of God’s judgment does not mean God approves of violence toward enemies, as Jesus (who is God) teaches throughout his mission.

This war poetry is complex. One key point is that evil empires, whether Israel’s or another’s, might win big by using violence, but will fall by violence as well. The sword begets the sword, as they say.

Yahweh lets Israel fully experience what it’s like to reject his love and guidance, which meant allowing Israel to experience Babylonian destruction and chaos for a time. Then, because Babylon’s blood lust won’t relent, the devastating power that Yahweh once wielded against Egypt will soon be unleashed upon Babylon.

Through all of this mayhem, it’s essential to remember Jeremiah’s other words, which always remind listeners about Yahweh’s willingness and power to redeem. God allows the destruction, but God also rescues and restores the destroyed. As you’ll learn in the video, the Hebrew word for redeem is ga’al—the same word used to describe God’s redemption of the Israelites in Exodus. Ga’al is about restoring family land or lineage that would otherwise be lost.

Oppressive empires, be warned: When Yahweh shows up to break chains and redeem people from oppression, even mountains won’t dare to stand in his way.

Reflection Questions

• Compare Jeremiah’s prophecy against Edom (Jer. 49:7-22) to Obadiah’s prophecy against the same nation (Obad. 1-14). What common language and imagery do you notice?
• Meditate on the poem of judgment against Babylon in today’s reading. Can you find repeated phrases and images from Jeremiah’s other poems of judgment? What does this reveal about Babylon’s fate?