Judgment on Babylon (2): Jeremiah 51

Pray Psalm 135.1-4.
Praise the LORD!
Praise the name of the LORD;
Praise Him, O you servants of the LORD!
You who stand in the house of the LORD,
In the courts of the house of our God,
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.
For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself,
Israel for His special treasure.

Sing Psalm 135.1-4.
(St. Gertrude: Onward, Christian Soldiers)
Praise the Savior, praise Him, for His Name is good;
sing, for it is pleasant, to our glorious God!
All whom He has chosen and redeemed by grace,
praise His Name together, praise Him in this holy place!
Refrain v. 1
Praise the Name of Jesus, you who serve His Word!
Raise your voice and praise our good and glorious Lord!

Read and meditate on Jeremiah 51.11-19.

Prepare.
1. How does God identify Himself in these verses?

2. What reason for judgment does He provide here?

Meditate.
In these verses God declares His greatness and power, compared to the “futile” idols made by Babylonian craftsmen. The Babylonians are “dull-hearted, without knowledge” (v. 17), because they trust in vain idols. Their idols are “falsehoods” and “a work of errors” (v. 17). They have no life in them, and they will all perish with the Babylonians who kept them.

God, on the other hand, “the Portion of Jacob” (v. 19), is not like dumb idols. He is Creator and Sovereign over all things. By the power of His Word He sets the waters and brings the storms (vv. 15, 16, quoting from Psalm 135.7). He made the earth and “established” it; that is, He keeps it going. He stretched out the heavens (v. 15). He has chosen Israel as His own special people (v. 19). And He will bring vengeance against the Babylonians for destroying His temple (v. 11).

Here God gives His people yet another opportunity to turn from pagan idols to worship the one, true God. All that He had spoken through the prophets about their going into captivity had come to pass, just as He said. They must believe that what He says about the destruction of Babylon and their return to the land of promise will also come to pass. They have His Word on it, and they know Who He is. He is the LORD of hosts (v. 19).

The Hebrew word חֵ֫לֶק, cheleq, can mean “portion, tract, or territory,” as well as “share” or “interest” or “possession.” God had said over and over that Israel would be His people and He would be their God. This is just another version of the same, but it incorporates the idea of being in the land (“tract”) and “possessing” all the promises made to Jacob (cf. Gen. 28.13-15). As God had been faithful to Jacob, so He would be faithful to His captive people. And so also He is faithful to us, giving us Jesus as our portion and the new heavens and new earth as our possession in Him.

Reflect.
1. What does it mean to know that Jesus is your Portion?

2. Why do you suppose God emphasized His work as Creator and Sovereign here? Are these works of God we should keep in mind as well? Explain.

3. Do people today still worship futile idols? Can you give some examples?

The portion of Jacob then is God, who is not like fictitious gods; how so? because he is the framer of all things. It is indeed by a few words that he makes the distinction between the only true God and the fictitious gods; but in this brief sentence he includes what I have before explained, even that God is the fountain of life, and the life of all, and then that his essence is spiritual and also infinite; for as he has created the heaven and the earth, so of necessity he sustains both by his power. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Jeremiah 51.19 

Lord Jesus, You are my Portion and King; be with me today as I…

Pray Psalm 135.5-21.
Praise God for His greatness, sovereignty, and compassion for His servants. Pray that the nations and peoples will turn from idols to seek Him.

Sing Psalm 135.5-21.
Psalm 135.5-21 (St. Gertrude: Onward, Christian Soldiers)
Great and sovereign, Jesus rules o'er all above,
doing as He pleases, sovereign in His love.
Clouds and seas obey Him, lightning, too, and rain;
He the winds brings forth in pow'r and sends them back again.
Refrain v. 1
Praise the Name of Jesus, you who serve His Word!
Raise your voice and praise our good and glorious Lord!

Egypt's firstborn fell to God's redeeming pow'r;
kings and nations crumbled in redemption's hour.
He the land of promise to His people gave;
thus His Kingdom Jesus gives to all He's pleased to save.
Refrain

Evermore Your Name, O Savior, shall endure!
Your renown throughout all ages is secure.
For You have compassion, vindicating all
those who serve Your Name and on Your saving mercy call.
Refrain

Vain the nations serve the idols of their hands;
mouths and ears they have but cannot understand.
Every idol vain is, lacking life or breath;
all who serve them, like them, shall be lost to lasting death.
Refrain

Bless the Lord you people, all who love the Lord!
Bless Him, you who trust His sovereign, holy Word!
Bless the Lord from Zion, Him Who in it dwells;
praise Him! Lift your voices, all His grace and glory tell!
Refrain

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).