Jeremiah 51:47-53 – Focus on the Lord, not on our plight.

In Jeremiah 51:47-49, we see the declaration of the certainty of Babylon’s destruction. Her days were numbered, and the day of reckoning had been marked. Nowhere in Babylon would be spared that judgment. The whole land would be humiliated and brought to shame.  Again God made known that He would be bringing the people from the north to deal with her. As a result, all over her land would lay those who were slain. Then there would be great rejoicing both in heaven and on earth as Babylon fell.  

Having declared the fall of Babylon, Jeremiah 51:50-52 then went on to instruct the captives on what they should do.  Those who had escaped the sword in Jerusalem and were brought to Babylon were urged to remember the Lord in their exile. They must not forget how the sanctuary of the Lord in Jerusalem was desecrated and the shame and disgrace it had brought them.  

 

However, all their plight did not escape the attention of God, who would vindicate Himself. Babylon’s idols and graven images would be punished. None of Babylon’s “supposed” solid defenses would be strong enough to fortify her. Their fortification, no matter how high or lofty would not be able to keep God’s instrument of destruction from reaching her.  There was no way that they could keep God’s appointed destroyers from destroying the land.      

 

Like the people of God then, we should never forget God matter how tough our plight may be.  While we attempt to deal with whatever is happening to us, we must never forget God but rather keep our focus on God. Isaiah 40:28-30 challenges us to wait on God and keep our hope in Him.

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.