Jeremiah 50:21-27 – God is the source of our achievements.

The subject of Jeremiah 50:21-27 is still God’s judgment of Babylon. Referring to Babylonians as Merathaim and Pekod, the Lord urged the continual attack on them to bring about Babylon’s downfall. Here, we see a play of words with the names of the two referred to. Merithaim sounded like “double ruin” and Pekod sounded like “punishment.” They were used to imply the outcome of Babylon. Her attackers were being urged to assault her and to “slay and utterly destroy it.” Verse 21 then explicitly said that what they were told to do were clearly the instruction of the Lord. The noise of the destruction and wrecking of Babylon affirmed what was taking place in Babylon.  

In a taunting tone, the Lord then laments the plight of Babylon. Ironically, Babylon which was once so mighty and powerful smashing others, was now herself being shattered. She was now at the receiving end of the strike. How the table had turned.  Once the dominant power of earth, Babylon, the hammer had been cut off and broken and had become the object of horror. Verse 25 makes affirms that the catastrophe of Babylon was the making of the Lord.  Here we are told that she had come against the Lord. But weren’t they God’s instrument in dealing with His people? How could they be said to be coming against the Lord when she was the instrument God had chosen to use? 

The answer probably lies in the fact that they had attributed their success to their god Marduk and claimed that it was this idol that had brought them success. This would certainly be an affront to God when they audaciously gave the credit of His work to an idol, a false idol.  In no uncertain terms, verse 25 asserted that the destruction of Babylon was the work of God. He had released all His divine arsenal against her to bring about her utter destruction.  Verses 25-27 then describe the effect of what God had brought upon Babylon. Her enemies would invade her granaries and carry away her grains as their spoils of war. And her warriors would be like sacrificial animals doomed for slaughter.

 

Babylon had attributed their success to their idol. They took the credit of God and gave it to their worthless god. We must never take away the credit that is due to God and give it to others. Always render to God what s God’s. Let us honor God for all the successes we have achieved in life.  He is the source of all that we have and all that we can potentially become in life. Don’t take that away from Him.