Jeremiah 51:1 says, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind; God may have allowed Babylon to defeat Judah, but that did not mean that He was going to allow them to stand against Him unpunished forever. Verse two adds, And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. God said that there would be enemies on every side of Babylon like a great wind blowing against them. Those that stand 8n opposition to God may be successful for awhile, but ultimately they will face His judgment. Verse three states, Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host. God said that although Babylon had thought of themselves as powerful because of their military might that those coming against them would defeat them. Verse four adds, Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets. God said that instead of being viewed as a powerful nation that Babylon would be viewed as a stain in the word after its defeat. When powerful countries fall, the rest of the world usually looks down on them, even if they themselves are really no better. Verse five declares, For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel. God said that He had not completely forsaken Isreal and Judah, even though they had been filled with sin against Him. God had allowed Babylon to defeat Isreal and Judah, but that did not mean that they were not still His chosen people. They were the ones that God had chosen to work through to reveal Himself to the world, just as we are as followers of Christ today. Verse five says, Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. The people of Babylon were told to flee from there, because God was going to give them their recompense. If we find ourselves in a place full of sin today, we need to get away from it spiritually even if we cannot physically. Verse seven states, Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. God had worked through Babylon to accomplish His will, just as He may work through what is being done by the lost people today to accomplish His purpose, but that does not free them from the penalty of their sins. Verse eight adds, Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. God said the fall of Babylon would be sudden. Verse nine declares, We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. God said that He would have healed Babylon, I believe if they had turned to Him in faith. God will likewise heal anyone from the sin in his or her life today if he or she will only reach out to Jesus Christ by faith. Verse ten adds, The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God. The people of Israel and Judah were called on to give praise to God for delivering them, just as we as Christians should give praise to God for delivering us today. Verse eleven states, Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple. God said that He had raised up the Medes to punish the Babylonians. The people of Babylon might have seemed powerful to the world, but they were powerless when standing against God. Verse twelve adds, Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon. God said that no matter what the people of Babylon did to stand and fight against His coming judgment that it would be of no use. Verse thirteen continues,O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness. Babylon may have been rich and powerful, but God said that was coming to an end. No matter how rich and powerful a person or nation may view themselves to be today, when God's judgment comes on them they will find out just how powerless they really are.
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