Jeremiah 47:1

 Jeremiah 47:1 says, The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.  Jeremiah now heard God's word against the Philistines.  The Philistines had always been enemies of the people of Judah, and the Pharaoh of Egypt would evidently defeat them.  Verse two adds, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.  Still, Matthew Henry says this word from God came while the Philistines were still at full strength and probably before Jerusalem fell.  The Philistines were told that there was a great power to the north, the Chaldeans, who were coming to destroy them.   Sometimes God's enemies destroy themselves even today.   Verse three continues, At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;  God warned them that fathers would abandon their children out of fear.  Matthew Henry says this means that the men would cry like children, but also that they would abandon their children without even looking back at them.  Some people today put self preservation above everything and everyone, even family.  Verse four declares, Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.  Jeremiah was to tell the Philistines that their coming defeat was a judgment of God.  Just because God punishes and destroys one of His enemies doesn't mean that others are safe.  Even if God works through some of His enemies to punish and destroy others, that does not mean that they will escape His judgment forever.  Verse  five adds, Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?  God said the great cities of the Philistines would be laid bare.  God asked how long would they cut themselves, which showed great sorrow.  No matter how much sorrow we may have nor how extreme our way of showing it may be, if we have not put our faith in Jesus Christ it will be of no use.  Verse six  asks,  O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.  Jeremiah asks how long God is going to send His sword against people.  Jeremiah still has compassion for them, and even as God punishes His enemies today, we as followers of Christ should still have compassion on them.  We should want them to come to salvation and not want their everlasting punishment.   Verse seven concludes, How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.  Jeremiah still recognized the certainty of God's punishment of the Philistines, just as we must acknowledge the certainty of His punishment of those who do not put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.