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Chapter 45-49. In Chapter 47 we hear that the usefulness of the
Philistines to God is no more so they will be destroyed. It is God's
desire that none should perish, but they also have to recognize God on
God's terms. God is also about justice and fairness, and He knows our
hearts.
In Chapter 48 the destruction of Moab is foretold. Verse 32 states that
God will cry with them, but He is sovereign.
It is stated at the end of many chapters that a day will come when God
will put things right.
In Chapter 49 verse 12 states that sometimes innocents will drink the
cup of God's wrath, and that He will make things right. Seemingly a
scary verse, it is comforting when thought about.
The notes I had are as follows:
Chapter 45
This chapter is back in time Chronologically, but may fits here from the prophetic aspect. These are bad times, God is piling on the pain , its one thing after another- which sounds like our day to day existence. There seems to be no end in sight.
But God says - what He has built He is about to wreck, what He has planted, He is about to rip up, and He is doing this all over the earth. Forget about making big plans for ourselves- we should focus on His plans, His will, His work. He also promises to protect us through His changes.
Chapter 46
A message for godless nations. The two world powers at this time were Egypt and Babylon. This was after the fall of the Assyrians. There was a Battle at Carchemish and the Babylonians won establishing them as the dominant power. Judah saw the coming the Babylonian threat and aligned with Egypt instead of relying on God. The first part of this chapter is a message to the Egyptians. They prepare for battle, and look impressive, but the soldiers have no resolve- panic breaks out, they run. Egypt with its impressive army including alliances (or hired soldiers) with Cush (Ethiopia), Put and Lud. But God is in control He will decide the outcomes. The Egyptians will look for help, cures, but they won't find any that work, only anguish.
Babylon had Jerusalem under siege and pulled back briefly to go fight the Egyptians. This message came to Jeremiah during that time (before the fall of Jerusalem). Egypt had hired soldiers, and looked impressive, they took the pay when it was easy, but when the real battle starts they won't be in it. They will run. The Babylonians will overrun them easily and level the country.
Then God says that Pharaoh will be turned over to Nebuchadnezzar. This didn't happen at this battle, but later after the fall of Jerusalem when the exiles fled to Egypt for "safety". True safety is only found in God.
God will save Jacob from that far country (the exiles in Babylon- at least in this instance). God will protect His people - depend on it. He isn't finished with them yet. The godless nations around them have to be finished off. They are only being fairly punished.
Chapter 47
The Philistines were in the land of Israel, and a constant concern during a lot of the kingdom of Israel and Judah. Goliath was one for instance. This chapter talks about the complete destruction of them. Its God's judgment on them, He never arbitrarily judges nations into extinction, its probably the result that they did not (for a long period of time) respond to His calls to come to Him. We don't have a record of God attempting to bring the Philistines (as a people) into His kingdom, and I believe its stated that He will use them in some way to help develop Israel.
One of the great misconceptions of the Bible that comes from not reading it fully and thoroughly is that God seems to arbitrarily decide who He will keep up and who He will destroy. The earth proclaims His majesty, His power and His glory, and His desire is that none should perish. He offers relationship with Himself to all, but some choose to reject that offer. In their choice to reject Him, He may use those people to help build the faith of those that do accept Him. There are plenty of examples of that. But the usefulness of those that reject Him seem to have limits, and the Philistines had reached that limit, so God's will for them was for them to be no more.
God is about doing justice, and taking care of each other. He is fair- He is probably the only one that is fair completely. In reading this chapter often the death of small "innocent" children come to mind as the invaders sweep in from the north (Babylonians). God is a god that insists on fairness, He knows the entire story, and He makes things fair even when we seemingly can't see how. The obvious difference is that we too often focus only on this life and not eternity. That is where His focus is. What a marvelous God.
Chapter 48
This is a prophecy concerning Moab. Lot had two daughters and both took advantage of their drunk father by sleeping with him. Moab was the son of one, and Ammon (ch 49) the son of the other. These two sons became nations. Moab had helped Nebuchadnezzar against Judah, siding with Judah's enemy, and was later destroyed by Babylon. This chapter predicts that. Cities leveled and of course the pain and suffering associated with that. Chemosh the god the primary god they worshiped (with child sacrifice) will be "hauled off" (Message) - an idol evidently. All the cities will be destroyed, and the land will become desolate. Why? Moab has always taken it easy, never worked, never faced trouble. They didn't serve God. They didn't listen to God, and since it is His world, He grew tired of it and acted. When men don't serve Him, they elevate themselves to the place of god, and then convince themselves they are god rather than God. He acts to correct and train.
Moab had made cruel jokes about Israel, and when they were caught in bad company. They became prideful (thinking they didn't need God). God doesn't want to do it, and is not happy about it (verse 32), yet He is sovereign, and they are disobedient. verse 42 says it best- there will be nothing left of Moab because of his defiant arrogance against God.
God will after destruction of Moab set a day that He will put things right in Moab, but for now judgment.
Chapter 49
Ammon - Lot's other daughter's son that also became a nation. The Ammonites took land from the Israelis. God is saying Ammon will be destroyed (Rabbah is the chief city), and then the Israelis can get their land back - God said it- its going to happen. Their god milcom (malcom, molech- children were sacrificed to it) will be hauled off. All because of their pride, they thought they were safe and couldn't be touched. Yet after God will make things right with Ammon.
Edom (from Jacob's brother Esau) a prophecy that God was going to bring doom to them (why?- because they don't practice justice, practicing justice and fairness comes about from knowing God. If you don't know God how can you be just? How can you be fair? Your motives are selfish and self serving. Yes there are people who don't acknowledge God that He works through anyway because He is God and can do that.
The accounts of Edom will be settled, they rejoiced at the fall of Jerusalem. We should not rejoice over other's misfortunes- even if it God's response to their lack of obedience to Him. Rather we should pray that they turn to Him and that He administers mercy.
Verse 12 is interesting - its about people suffering from God's wrath that don't deserve it, and here is confirmation that it happens. I tend to think of little children who haven't reached an age of decision, but there are others. God's judgment often affects their lives, and God is also the God of fairness, so how do we resolve that? I think its clear that justice and fairness don't necessarily apply to this life that we often cling to, but that God will make things fair in eternity. What comfort. If we are charged with making things fair in this life, then we better wrap everyone in bubble wrap, for it can't be done by human means. Yet over and over that is the claim made for this or that new law.
Edom will be charred ruins, dropped to last place among nations. Why? because of their pride. The helpless will be dragged off, and their cries will be heard, but Edom will be powerless. The prideful nation- powerless.
A message for Damascus, the once famous city will fall apart.
Kedar and Hazor will be attacked by Nebuchadnezzar and he will prevail.
Against Elam, their country will be destroyed making them refugees, and they will live in constant fear. Since Elam is Persia and now Iran, is this fear what is driving them? Yet Elam will be "made right" by God.
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