Jeremiah 49:23 says, Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. This is the judgment that God spoke against Syria, another long time enemy of Israel. They did not believe in God but worshipped false gods instead. No matter how long it takes, God's judgment will one day come to all people, if not in this life then in the one to come. Verse twenty-four adds, Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail. God said that the people of Damascus would be left in fear and anguish. Verse twenty-five asks How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! God said that the people would ask how Damascus, which had been a city of joy, which I believe would have been based on material things, could have fallen so badly. If our joy is based on material things, then one day it will pass away. Verse twenty-five continues, Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts. Verse twenty-six concludes, And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad. God said that the youhg and the powerful men of Damascus would be cut off and the walls of Damascus and the palaces of Benhadad would be burned down. Their army nor their government could save them. If we put our faith in the military or even in the government today and they are not following God's will, then we like all of thse who stand against God will fall. Verse twenty-eight states, Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east. Matthew Henry says these were nomadic people who had no army and that they didn't trade with other nations. Just because people isolate themselves from the rest of the world, if they do not follow God, they too will one day fall. Veree twenty-nine adds, Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side. Nebuchadnezzar was going to take their possessions as well. They may not have been a military threat, but they did have a lot of material wealth. Like military might, our material wealth can never save us from the judgment of God. Veree thirty declares, Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you. God warned them of the coming destruction, just as He warns people today. Verse thirty-one adds, Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone. God said that they had no defenses and the fact that they lived alone would not save them. We have no defense if we do not put our faith in God today. Verse thirty-two continues, And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the LORD. God said that He was behind their coming defeat. Verse thirty-three concludes, And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide therea nor any son of man dwell in it. Though the people of Hazor might not be killed, they were going to lose all their possessions and their city. Verse thirty-four declares, The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, Verse thirty-five adds, Thus. saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. This was God's judgment against Elam, as proclaimed by Jeremiah. Verse thirty-six says, And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. God said that He was going to scatter them to the four winds, or into all nations. Verse thirty-seven adds, For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: God said that He was behind their defeat. God will ultimately judge all nations and all the people of every nation, and if the people have not accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, then they too will find everlasting destruction. Verse thirty-eight declares, And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD. God said that He would set His throne in Edom and all who stood against Him would be destroyed. One day, God is going to set His throne of judgment over every person who has ever or will ever live. Verse thirty-nine concludes, But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD. God said that one day He would restore the people of Edom. If we put our faith in Jesus Christ, no matter what happens to us in this world, God will one day gather us again into His kingdom.
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