King James Bible Study – [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. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Friday, August 23 2024
Chapters: Jeremiah Chapters 49-50
Message: The Strong Redeemer
Hello My Friend,
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. However, if there is one thing that angers God more than those who make light of His judgments are those who use them to their advantage, [Proverbs 24:15-20 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: 16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. 19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; 20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.]
God’s judgment upon Israel came to pass, many of them were scattered around the other nations as He foretold would happen. The surrounding nations, many sworn enemies of Israel may not have followed God, but they did know that He exists and that the judgment that Israel was facing was because of God’s anger toward them. That did not mean that God was done with Israel or that they would not receive judgment themselves. God, already foretold the judgment of Egypt, Philistine, and Moab, and as we continue in the reading of Jeremiah, now comes the fate of the rest of them, beginning with Ammon. The Ammonites, who were kin to Moab, 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 49:1-2,4-5 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. 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.]
[O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures,] The reason why Ammon is referred to as a backsliding daughter is because they had denied their descent from Lot and his faith in God and turned to idolatry. The overthrow of Ammon took place in the fifth year after the destruction of Jerusalem, after King Baalis had executed the murder of Gedaliah, [Jeremiah 40:14 And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.]
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. Unfortunately, their example is not a very good one, while a few stayed faithful, most of them rebelled. Now, we come to the judgment placed upon them along with Edom, Esau’s descendants, who was Jacob’s (Israel) brother.
[Jeremiah 49:7-8,11-13 Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished? 8 Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him. 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, whom Edom had forsaken for false gods, would be the Help of the orphans and widows after the men would have fallen in battle. God’s mercies are available to all who, in true sorrow over their sins, turn to Him for help regardless of who their earthly parents are. Once a person faith in God, He is the one who opens their heart to come to the knowledge of His Son. [Romans 2:9-11 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.]
Even the fact that Israel had been chosen as God’s people did not give them exemption and deliverance from God’s punishment if they took part in the idolatry of the heathen; how much more, then, would the heathen be subject to the judgment of God. The punishment had fully been determined upon by God for two reasons, their deceiving other nations into believing that they were untouchable and their pride.
[Jeremiah 49:16-18,20 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. 17 Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. 18 As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it. 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.]
[thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down] Never underestimate how fast God can bring someone down off their pride. 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. 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, the city of my joy!] Damascus, was known as the city of joy, priding themselves of all their carnal joys, but now it is filled with sorrow. Instead of leaving they remained there during the siege and are now afraid to make a move. As much as salvation is free by the grace of God through our faith in Christ alone there is a time to work after we are saved. Serving God is what keeps us accountable, faithful, and from becoming slothful. This is the way that Kedar was and now they too were being judged.
[Jeremiah 49:28,31-32 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. 31 Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone. 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.]
[the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care,] The people of Kedar dwelt in the deserts of Arabia, prided themselves of their substance. 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. They thought they were untouchable in the wilderness since no conqueror would venture to follow them into the desert. Like the man who did not use his talent was cast into outer darkness, those who are careless with theirs will be also.
[Matthew 25:24-28,30 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26-27 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.]
It is possible for the saved, born again Christian to dwell without care simply because they 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 their 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 49:35-38 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.]
[I will break the bow of Elam,] 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 judged 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 50:2-5 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. 5 They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.]
[they and the children of Judah together…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 50:8-9,14-15 Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks. 9 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. 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. 15 Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.]
[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.]
God, commands His people to get out of the world, and go forward toward the land that God has given them, cheerfully with Christ leading the way. We are not like the goats in the sense that we are full of pride, but cheerfully, without fear, boldly and confidently, and encourage others to follow them as the goats do. What God really sees His people as are sheep scattered all over the world. God, goes on to describe Israel as sheep.
[Jeremiah 50:17-20 Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. 18 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. 19 And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead. 20 In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.]
[the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none;] This is what Christ does the second we accept Him as our Saviour, every sin is removed and will never be found. He also reserves us for His Kingdom, which is something that we all need to be thankful for. We all have the opportunity to know of and come to Christ. So, it does not matter if we are born of someone from royal blood or a servants blood, all whom accept Christ as their Saviour are joined together by His blood, reserved, pardoned of our sin, and made of body of Christ, [1 Corinthians 12:12-13 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.]
It may take a while for Christ to return, and bodies might be sleeping in our graves, but the wait will be worth it for all saved. Those who are too proud to receive Him will face a profound judgment that even Satan is trying to escape, but there will be no escape.
[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.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Jeremiah 50:20 In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve. Jeremiah 50:34 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.]
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, and forgiveness to get through each day. 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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