King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Chapters: JEREMIAH 49-50
Study: Their Redeemer is Strong
Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,
One cannot read the chapters for today and not think about this passage, [John 10:11-16 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.]
[Shepherd; A man employed in tending, feeding and guarding sheep in the pasture.] Before Moses was called by God to lead Israel to the promised land, he was a shepherd. Before David was called by God to be king of Israel, he was a shepherd. God, often refers to man as sheep, we are lovable, get distracted easy, and often wander off into danger, so we really do need a shepherd to keep us safe and guide us back to the pasture to keep us from wandering. Jesus, said this to Peter after His passion and He was about to leave the earth,
[John 21:15-17 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.]
Jesus, entrusts His sheep to pastors, deacons, and teachers of His Church, sadly, many, especially today, are leading His sheep astray and therefore they are facing judgments like they never knew. Unfortunately, since they are being led astray they are unaware of the judgments and are more lost than the lost. And as we continue in the reading of Jeremiah, God’s judgment upon Israel came to pass, many of them were scattered around the other nations in an attempt to escape the judgment. Unfortunately, there was no escape, wherever they went, God placed judgment upon those nations as well. He had already foretold the fate of Egypt, the Philistines, and the Moabites, now come the fate of the rest of them. The Ammonites, were also descends of Lot, after the Northern Kingdom of Israel was invaded by the Assyrians, the Ammonites had taken Gilead for themselves, which had belonged to the tribes of Gad.
[Jeremiah 49:1-5 Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities? 2 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD. 3 Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together. 4 Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me? 5 Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth.]
[Who shall come unto me?] The Ammonites, were of the tribe of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, whom were the result of incest as was Moab by the way. God, had allowed the tribes of Manasseh, Reuben, and Gad, to live in the land of Gilead, but after Samaria was invaded by the Assyrians, the tribes were taken into captivity, and that was when the Ammonites had taken it for themselves and prided themselves on that. Pride, leads us no where, but into a pit, [Proverbs 16:17-18 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. 18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.]
[I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon,] This means that God will chasten them, but will not deny them the opportunity to get saved. God, did not use the children of Jacob to show the world who He is, and just leave the rest of us to die and end up in hell. He used them to show the world that HE is the one and only living God, and their Creator, and that all have the opportunity to become His children, [Romans 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.]
Unfortunately, Israel, was not the best example as they had become more rebellious than the world, but the day will come when they will finally come to Christ as well as many other nations, except one nation, Edom, who happened to be kin to Israel, and it would be destroyed completely. Now, we come to the judgment placed upon them along with Edom, Esau’s descendants, who was Jacob’s (Israel) brother.
[Jeremiah 49:9-13 If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough. 10 But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not. 11 Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me. 12 For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it. 13 For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.]
[Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive;] God, does not hate anyone, but He will down right tell you that He hates Esau, [Romans 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.] And do you know why? Esau, sold his birthright over a bowl of red beans, which is why they are called Edom, [Genesis 25:29-31,34 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. 31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.]
[they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken;] We all have a cup that we must bear in our lifetime, something that would bring us to the point that only God can see us through. That cup is not the same for each of us, and let me tell you, it will bring us much sorrow, but it is something that by the strength of Christ and our faith we will endure. Jesus, said it this way when some of the disciples wanted to sit on the right and left of Him in the Kingdom.
Mark 10:36-40 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.]
God, did not use the children of Israel to show the world who He is and just leave the rest of us to die and end up in hell. He used them to show the world that HE is the one and only living God, their Creator, and for the rest of the world to follow by their example. Unfortunately, their example is not a very good one, hence the judgment. Edom, gloated over God’s judgment of Israel, and that would bring them to their own destruction.
[Jeremiah 49:16,19-20 Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD. 19 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me? 20 Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.]
[Thy terribleness hath deceived thee,] What was so terrible that Edom did? They thought that they were untouchable. Perhaps they thought that since they had nothing to do with God that He would not judge them? Perhaps they thought that they were high enough that no one could touch them? Nevertheless, they were going to be brought down because of their pride. Pride, will bring down even the strongest Christian, [Proverbs 16:18-19 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.]
[and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?] There are a lot of shepherds that appear to be of Christ’s flock, but are far from it. In fact, Jesus, warns us about this, [Matthew 24:22-24 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.]
Now, once a person believes in God, He is the one who opens their heart to come to the knowledge of His Son. Edom, was not unknown to the ways of God, they were just as prosperous as Israel was, but they refused to make Him their God. Pride, will keep anyone from making wise decisions, and cares less about the consequences it brings in those decisions. Now, comes the fate of Damascus.
[Jeremiah 49:23-26 Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. 24 Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail. 25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! 26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.]
[How is the city of praise not left,] This was known as the city of joy, priding themselves of all their carnal joys. The people of Kedar, who dwelt in the deserts of Arabia, prided themselves of their substance. Hazor, Hazor was the metropolis of the country, whose king had several petty kings and kingdoms under him. They were arrogant, proud, and prided themselves on their wealth and prosperity.
[Jeremiah 49:28-30,32-33 Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east. 29 Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side. 30 Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you. 32 And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the LORD. 33 And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it.]
[Their tents and their flocks shall they take away:] They were shepherds, and had no treasures, but stock upon land, no money, but flocks and camels. They had no soldiers among them, for they were in no fear of invaders, no merchants, for they dwelt alone. Notice that God will always take away the very thing that we depend on the most to prove that He alone is who we need to depend on, [1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.]
[and hath conceived a purpose against you.] We need to understand that God never wants to deny us the things we have need of, nor does He just throw these tests at us just to see if we are going to obey Him. What God is doing when He takes away the things we take so much pride in is show us that there is more to life than what we possess or are capable of, [Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.]
Those who are saved and on our way to heaven are not to dwell here carelessly, our independence of care is to trust in the love and sufficiency of God. It is possible to dwell without care simply because we undervalue life. It is also possible to dwell without care because of God’s grace in that one puts their confidence in their being justified of sin. Think about it, God is our Creator, He took great care to create us by His design, He did not make any mistakes, He made us how He wants us to be, and if we are going to despise our birthright, then God will despise us as well. And now we come to Elam.
[Jeremiah 49:35-39 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. 36 And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. 37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: 38 And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD. 39 But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.]
[I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.] Elam, acted against Israel by helping Nebuchadnezzar when he invaded Judah, hence the reason for its punishment. They were proud of their weapons and abilities, but now they would be useless and defenseless while God sent judgment on them. Those who glory in their man made weapons and put their abilities without recognizing God will learn quickly just how useless and defenseless they are, [Psalms 20:6-8 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.]
While God did use Nebuchadnezzar to judge Israel, unlike Edom, it shall not be for ever, and that did not mean that Babylon would escape judgment, they too would after Judah’s captivity ended. In fact, God goes on to give Babylon their judgment as well. And what was the reason? The false gods and idols they worshiped.
[Jeremiah 50:2-4,6 Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces. 3 For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast. 4 In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. 6 My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.]
[they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.] While Babylon is being judged, Judah, will come to their senses and seek God. Many of them did take the dangerous trip back to Israel after their captivity ended, but unfortunately the majority of them stated behind and ended being in the crossfire of their judgment, [Nehemiah 7:66-67 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, 67 Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.]
You see, Babylon had been glorying in the fact that God used them to fulfill the judgment upon Judah, especially since they could care less about God. God, may use heathens to get His people to repent, but when He has fulfilled His purpose for them, they too will be judged, unless they too repent. God goes on to explain how He will judge Babylon.
[Jeremiah 50:9-14 For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain. 10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD. 11 Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls; 12 Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert. 13 Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues. 14 Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD.]
[an assembly of great nations from the north country:] The Persians and Medes, were under Cyrus, and would be the first to overthrow Babylon shortly after Nebuchadnezzar died. The tears that Israel would shed would not be over their leaving Babylon, but by their coming to God in Godly sorrow. Once we realize how sinful we are and that we need God, that is when we start searching for Him, and those with a true heart do find Him, through Christ, [2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.]
[because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage,] You see, Babylon, has been glorying in the fact that God used them to fulfill the judgment upon Judah, especially since they could care less about God. God, may use heathens to get His people to repent, but when He has fulfilled His purpose for them, they too will be judged, unless they repent. God, goes on to literate that, and details the judgment placed upon them.
[Jeremiah 50:31-34 Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee. 32 And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him. 33 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go. 34 Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.]
[Their Redeemer is strong;] How amazing is it that Jesus stands in front of us, just like a shield, before His Father and pleads for us to be pardoned of the judgment we faced for our sins? Our Shepherd, the one laid down His own life for all who believe in Him. He only redeems those whom believe in and receive Him as their Saviour, therefore, He is their Redeemer, and their Redeemer is strong. He is so string that He grabs onto their souls, ad holds each one of them tightly, and no one can pluck them out of His hand, [John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for making me one of Yours when I put my faith and trust in Your Son as my Saviour. I am not one of Yours because of the family You sent me here through, or for anything that I have done. I am Yours because I asked Your Son to save me by my faith in Him, and then You gave life to my soul by placing Your Spirit into it. We truly are like sheep, prone to wander and get into trouble if we do not stay close to You. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your mercy, grace, forgiveness, help me become a reflection of Your Son so that others can find Him and become theirs as well. I love You, Lord and ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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