Jeremiah 51:12-19 – Everything will happen as God had planned

Interestingly, the Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel had all prophesied about Babylon. Jeremiah’s messages concerning Babylon’s fall, detailed in chapters 51-52, were delivered at the peak of her power when it seemed most unlikely for her to fall. But God who sovereignly controls history used Babylon to fulfil His purpose. She was part of God’s larger design to shape the direction and outcome of Israel and Judah, His covenant people. Having used her to fulfill His purpose, it was time for God to deal with Babylon. Here in Jeremiah 51:11-23, the prophet declared the attack of Babylon by the kings of the Medes. But it was the combined forces of the Medes and the Persians under King Cyrus that Babylon was toppled.

In no uncertain terms, Jeremiah 51:11-12 made it clear that it was the Lord's purpose to bring about Babylon’s fall. The time had come for Him to seek vengeance against Babylon for what they had done to His temple. He would arouse and stir up the spirits of the kings of the Medes to carry out His purpose. God was going to use them to launch the siege on Babylon with the purpose of destroying her.     

Addressing the Babylonians in Jeremiah 51:13, God guaranteed her destruction. Nothing, neither the waters surrounding Babylon nor the treasures they had amassed could guarantee her safety. Their end was drawing near. God continued to make known His intention in verse 14. He swore that an army like a swarm of locusts would engulf Babylon as they attacked her.   Verses 15-16 tell us that no one would be able to resist the Creator God, whose power created the earth, whose wisdom established it, and whose understanding stretched out the heavens.  He has always been the one who controlled the forces of nature – the wind, the clouds, the lightning, and the rain. God declared the stupidity of man to put their trust in their man-made gods and worthless idols.  This is how God put it in verses 17-18. He said:

All mankind is stupid, devoid of knowledge;
Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,
For his molten images are deceitful,
And there is no breath in them.
They are worthless, a work of mockery;
In the time of their punishment, they will perish.

In contrast to the idols, the Creator God is the portion of His covenant people. Verse 19 made clear that He was the one who had chosen them and made the descendants of Jacob His own. 

Three takeaways: Firstly, God is sovereign. He is the creator God, and everything happens according to His purpose. He has full control over everything. People and nations are at His disposal to accomplish His purpose. Secondly, everything happens according to His schedule. Events that happen, especially those that His people will experience take place according to His timetable. Thirdly, it is futile to trust in our own supposed cleverness.  All our “idols” such as our wealth, career, car, position, etc.,  should never be what we rely on. Our trust should be in the Sovereign Lord alone.