Year 2, Week 16, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 16, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Jeremiah 49.

Today’s reading continues the fifth segment of the Book of Jeremiah. The fifth segment (chapters 46-51)  is a collection of judgment against the nations as it corresponds to the first segment (chapters 2-20) in that it is a collection of judgments against Judah. Jeremiah 49 is the pronouncement of judgement against the Ammonites, Edomites, as well as Israel’s other neighboring nations: “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will cause the battle cry to be heard against Rabbah of the Ammonites; it shall become a desolate mound, and its villages shall be burned with fire; then Israel shall dispossess those who dispossessed him, says the LORD…Therefore hear the plan that the LORD has made against Edom and the purposes that he has formed against the inhabitants of Teman: Even the little ones of the flock shall be dragged away. Surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate…I will terrify Elam before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, my fierce anger, declares the LORD. I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them” (Jeremiah 49:2,20,37).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the reality that while the LORD held Israel accountable before Himself as a result of their special covenant relationship with Him; nevertheless, God rules as King over all nations, who will give an account to Him: “But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation” (Jeremiah 10:10). Thus, Jeremiah’s calling, while it had something of a primary emphasis toward Judah; he was a prophet to the nations: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). This portion of Jeremiah is simply showing that Jeremiah had been given to address all peoples, everywhere.

The nature of the judgments listed in both yesterday’s and today’s readings all have bearing on the fact that the nations mentioned each had a Semitic family relationship to Israel. Like Moab, both in their origin as descendants from Lot (Genesis 19:36-38), but also in their treatment of Judah in the later days of Jerusalem, Ammon was being called out by the LORD: “And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldeans and bands of the Syrians and bands of the Moabites and bands of the Ammonites, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by his servants the prophets” (2 Kings 24:2). The Moabites and Ammonites were like kin to Israel and they had mistreated their family: “Concerning the Ammonites. Thus says the LORD: “Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then has Milcom dispossessed Gad, and his people settled in its cities?” (Jeremiah 49:1-2). Another example of family mistreatment is found in the Edomites, who were descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. Because of Edomites familial proximity to Israel, they would be held to a greater accountability: “For thus says the LORD: “If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, will you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you must drink. For I have sworn by myself, declares the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a horror, a taunt, a waste, and a curse, and all her cities shall be perpetual wastes” (Jeremiah 49:12-13). When Jerusalem fell, the Edomites rejoiced: “Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” (Psalm 137:7). Many of the indictments against the Edomites from Jeremiah 49 will also be expressed by the prophet Obadiah.

The judgment that was leveled against the nations around Israel was certainly connected to their own idol-loving rejection of the LORD, but it was also related to their mistreatment of Israel. The judgement for their mistreatment against Israel was long ago stated: “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3). A nation would dishonor Israel to the solicitation of bringing a curse upon themselves. And yet, the same promises to Abraham that speak of condemnation also offer salvation: “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ…And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:16,29).

So, as with the possibility of restoration of Moab (see Genesis 48:47, so too there are references of restoration in today’s reading: "But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites, declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 49:6); and: "But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 49:39). But these notions of restoration for Moabites, Ammonites, and Elamites-if there are to be everlasting, would only come by grace through faith in Jesus: “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11-12). 

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe