Judgment on Babylon (2): Jeremiah 51

Pray Psalm 146.5, 6.
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever…

Sing Psalm 146.5, 6, 10.
(Hallelujah! What a Savior!: Man of Sorrows)
Blessed are they whose hope resides in the Lord, Christ at His side.
By Him heav’n and earth abide – God forever reigns in Zion!

Read and meditate on Jeremiah 51.5-10, 45, 46.

Prepare.
1. What instructions did God give His people?

2. Why must they be careful to obey Him?

Meditate.
The fall of Babylon would be a great calamity. Babylon was the greatest empire of its day. We can imagine the panic, confusion, and destruction that would attend to its fall.

But the fall of Babylon was the signal for God’s people that their redemption was at hand. God would not forsake His people in this great upheaval (v. 5). Yes, they had sinned against Him and polluted the land of promise with idols and immorality (v. 5). But at the fall of Babylon their punishment and captivity would be complete, and God would return them to their land. Throughout this period of captivity, a remnant in Judah and Israel had been keeping the land and preparing it for their return. With Babylon’s demise, God’s servant, Cyrus, would send His people back to rebuild their city and temple.

So they must flee when instructed by Cyrus to do so (v. 6). They must go out from Babylon at the Lord’s command, lest fear keep them from returning (vv. 45, 46). Probably most of those whom Cyrus would direct to return would have been born in Babylon, so we can imagine that some fear might have gripped them – not unlike it did Abraham, their forefather – to leave the only home they’d ever known for an unknown place.

But when Babylon fell, God would redeem His people and lead them to the place He had been preparing for them in their promised homeland. In the same way, when the Babylon of this world comes under the judgment of God, then Jesus – not some earthly ruler – will come to gather us to that place He has been preparing for us since He took His seat at the Father’s right hand. We must not fear to see the world around us coming apart and coming under God’s judgment. Look back to the promises of God and His work in the past. Look ahead for the coming of our Lord Jesus in power. And in the interim, look up to Jesus and into His Word, and seek His Kingdom and righteousness in every area of your life.

Reflect.
1. Why must we not fear to see the world coming under the judgment of God?

2. What work must we be about as we wait for the return of Jesus?

3. What does it mean to “look up” to Jesus for strength in the present?

The Prophet shows here the cause why God had resolved to treat the Babylonians with so much severity, even because he would be the avenger of his own people. He also obviates a doubt which might have disturbed weak minds, for he seemed to have forsaken his people when he suffered them to be driven into exile. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Jeremiah 51.5

Help me to keep the eyes of my heart on You, Lord, as I…

Pray Psalm 146.1-4, 7-10.
Let this psalm lead you to praise the Lord for His works in the past and His promises concerning the future.

Sing Psalm 146.1-4, 6-10.
Psalm 146.1-4, 6-10 (Hallelujah! What a Savior!: Man of Sorrows)
Praise the Lord, my soul, give praise! While I live, His Name I’ll raise!
And exalt Him all my days – God forever reigns in Zion!

Trust we not in prince or man – no salvation’s in their hand;
Death shall take them, breath and plans – God forever reigns in Zion!

He is faithful evermore; He gives justice to the poor,
feeds the hungry from His store – God forever reigns in Zion!

Jesus sets the pris’ner free, heals blind eyes that they may see,
lifts those burdened painfully – God forever reigns in Zion!

He the righteous loves the best; wand’rers in His grace are blessed;
needy ones in Him find rest – God forever reigns in Zion!

But the wicked who defame His eternal blessèd Name,
Them He brings to ruin and shame – God forever reigns in Zion!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).