Jeremiah 51:14

 Jeremiah 51:14 adds, The LORD of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee.  God is still speaking about Babylon.  Verse fifteen adds, He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.  God said that He was the Creator of everything, and we either believe that or we don't.  Whether we believe it or not does not change that fact.  Verse sixteen continues, When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.  This is a further statement of the power of God.  Verse seventeen states, Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.  God said that men were brutish, or stubborn, in their worship of idols, or false gods, because these idols have no life in them.  Verse eighteen adds, They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.  God said that these idols were a vanity, or nothing, and that when they were needed that they would vanish.  Idols, which are all things we put our faith in instead God, will always fail to save us spiritually.   Verse nineteen declares, The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name.  God said the people of Jacob, those who had entered into a covenant relationship with Him, were not like the Babylonians, who hadn't.   What separates Christians from the rest of the world is their relationship with God.   Verse twenty adds, Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;  God said the descendants of Jacob, His covenant people, were the ones that He was going to use to defeat the powers of the world that stood against Him, and this would be done by His power and plan.  Verse twenty-one continues, And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;  When we stand by faith in God today, there is no power that can defeat us in the end.  No matter how bad things may look in the eyes of the world, through faith in Christ we have an everlasting victory.  Verse twenty-two says, With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;  Verse twenty-three adds, I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and hiss flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. God said that He would defeat all who stood against Him, and He did this by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  God does not bring us victory by military might, but by faith in Jesus Christ alone.   Verse twenty-four declares, And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD.  God said that the Babylonians were going to be punished for their war against His people.   Though the Babylonians may have been allowed to defeat the people of Judah because they had turned away from God, it was not to be an everlasting victory.  Those people of Judah and Israel who either remained true to God or returned to Him by faith were still the people that God had chosen to work through.   We as followers of Christ today are the people that God will work through to reach the world with the gospel.   Verse twenty-five adds, Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt  mountain.  God said that even though the Babylonians might think of themselves as a mighty mountain He would break them down like simple stones.  Verse twenty-six continues, And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD.  God said when He broke the Babylonians down that there would be no way for them to be built up again.  When God one day comes in judgment, those people and things that He tears down will be torn down forever.   Verse twenty-seven states, Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion.  God told the Babylonians to get ready for the coming war.

Jeremiah 51:1

 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. 

Jeremiah 50:29

 Jeremiah 50:29 says, Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.   God said that all those from Babylon that had stood against Him were to be called together.   Verse thirty adds, Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD.  They weren't being called together for victory, but for defeat.  One day, all those who oppose God will face the same fate.  Verse thirty-one declares,  Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.  God said He was against the people of Babylon who He called the most proud.   Countries today that stand against God often take great pride in their military might, but on judgment day they will find out how little it is really worth.  Verse thirty-two adds, And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.  God said that those who were most proud and stood against Him would fall and their cities would be burned.   Verse  thirty-three states, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.  God said that His chosen people had been taken and held captive.  We as Christians today are not exempt from being imprisoned for our faith, but even if it we are, the victory is still ours.  Verse thirty-four declares, Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.  God said that the Redeemer of the people of Israel and Judah, all of God's chosen people, was strong and would plead their case.  This Redeemer is Jesus Christ and He pleads the case of all who put their faith in Him before God today.  Verse thirty-five adds, A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.  Verse thirty-six continues, A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.  Verse thirty-seven concludes, A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.  God pronounced judgment on all the forces of Babylon that thought themselves to be so smart and powerful.   No matter how smart and powerful people may think they are today, if they stand against God and oppress His people, one day they will face His judgment and punishment.   Verse thirty-eight states, A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.  Not only was the army of the Babylonians going to be destroyed,  but the land itself was going to suffer a drought because of their idolatry.  Verse thirty-nine adds, Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.  God said the land of the Babylonians was to be completely devoid of people.  Verse forty says, As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.  God said the destruction of Babylon was going to be as great as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Verse forty-one declares, Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. Verse forty-two adds, They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.  God said that just as Babylon had been mighty against its enemies, so was the army coming against it going to be even stronger.  No person or country is strong enough to stand against God when He sends His judgment against them, and one day all will stand before Him in judgment.   Verse forty-three states, The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.  God said that when the king of Babylon heard of the coming army that he become  very weak before them.  When those who oppose God and refuse to accept the salvation that He has made available to them one day stand before Him in judgment, they will discover how powerless they really are.   Verse forty-four states, Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me   God asked who could stand before Him, and the answer is no one.  Verse forty-five adds, Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.  Verse forty-six concludes, At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.  God said that the destruction of Babylon would be so complete that other nations would cry at how great the destruction was.

Jeremiah 50:17

 Jeremiah 50:17 says, Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.   God said the people of Israel were like sheep that had been scattered. They had stopped listening to His voice and following His leadership when this happened.  When we, as followers of Christ who are called the sheep of God's pasture, cease to follow His voice, we too can be scattered and defeated by the powers of this world.  Verse eighteen adds, Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.  God said the king of Babylon would be punished as the king of Assyria had been,  God may have allowed these countries to defeat Israel,  but that did not mean that He held them harmless.   Verse nineteen continues, And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead.  God said that He was going to restore the people of Israel to the land He had given them and I believe this was because they were now listening to His voice once more.   Verse twenty states, In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.  God said that He would forgive their iniquity and remember it no more.  Again, I believe this was after the people of Israel came to God in repentance and faith.  Through faith in Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven and forgotten, but they can never be just ignored without that faith.  Verse twenty-one says, Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.  God said that they could go up against the people who had taken their land and be successful if they followed His command.  If we are to be successful in our fight against sin and evil today, we must put our faith in Christ and obey God's word to us.   Verse twenty-two adds, A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.  God said the sound of battle was already in the land.   Verse twenty-three asks, How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!  I believe that God was saying that people would ask how Babylon could have been destroyed.  Verse twenty-four declares, I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.  God said that He had defeated them and they weren't even aware that it was happening.  The countries today that stand against God have already been defeated when God's judgment comes and they don't even know it.  Verse twenty-five adds, The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.  God said that they were defeated by His power, and if we are going to defeat the power of sin in the world today, it will be through the power of God.  We cannot do it by our own ability.  Verse twenty-six state, Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left.  Verse twenty-seven adds, Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.  God told the people of Israel to completely destroy the people of Babylon, just as we must completely destroy sin in our life today if we are to successfully follow Christ.   Verse twenty-eight says, The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple.  God said that those who escaped would proclaim His power and not the power of the people of Israel.   When we overcome sin and the forces of evil today, we must make sure that we give God the credit. 

Jeremiah 50:1

 Jeremiah 50:1 says, The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.  God was now speaking His word against Babylon.  Matthew Henry points out that the king of Babylon had been good to Jeremiah, but that Jeremiah still had to prophesy against him.  We cannot allow personal friendship to keep us from proclaiming God's word to people.  Verse two adds, Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.  The destruction of Babylon was spoken of as an accomplished fact.  The coming destruction of all who deny God and who do not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord is just as certain.  Verse three continues, For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.  The country that would destroy them was to the north.  At least they were told where to expect the destruction to come from.  Verse four declares, In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.  God said that at the time of the destruction of Babylon that all the remaining chosen people of God, both Israel and Judah, would come to Him in repentance seeking Him once more.  If we stray away from God as Christians, we must return in repentance to Him.  Verse five adds, They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.  God said that at this time they would ask the way to Zion and once again enter into a personal covenant relationship with God.  The only way to find our way to heaven is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.   Verse six states, My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.  God said that His people had gone astray and that they had been led astray by their shepherds, the priests and religious leaders of Israel and Judah.  Verse seven adds, All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.  While under God's judgment for their disobedience the people of Israel and Judah were powerless, just as we are today without God's protection.  Verse eight declares, Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.  Verse nine adds, For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.  God told the people of Israel and Judah, who had returned to Him, to get out of Babylon because it was going to be destroyed.  We as followers of Christ today are to be in the world but not of the world,  because God's destruction is coming to this world one day.  Verse ten continues,  And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD.  God said that Babylon would become a spoil of war to those who were going to defeat them.  Kingdoms come and go, but God and His word are eternal.   Verse eleven states, Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;  Verse twelve adds,, Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.  God said that those who had defeated His people and grown fat doing so were about to be destroyed.  Verse thirteen states, Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.  God said no one in Babylon would be spared His judgment and punishment.  Even if God works through lost people of the world to accomplish His will it doesn't mean that they will suddenly become acceptable to Him.  Verse fourteen adds, Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD.  God called on people to unite against Babylon because she had sinned against Him.  Verse fifteen continues, Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.  Verse sixteen concludes, Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.  God said that the coming destruction of Babylon would be complete, just as the coming destruction of all who do not put their faith in God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will one day be complete,

Jeremiah 49:23

 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. 

Jeremiah 49:7

 Jeremiah 49:7 says, Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?   The next country that God spoke about was Edom.  God asked if any wisdom was left jn Teman.  When people do not acknowledge God, there can be no wisdom.  Verse eight adds, Flee, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him.  God said that they would be punished as Esau had.  Esau was punished because of his failure to truly fo)low God with all his heart and for allowing things of the world that brought him momentary satisfaction to become most important to him.  The Edomites, Esau's descendants were going to at last be judged,, because they were same way as Esau had been.  Verse nine asks, If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.  God asked if did not those who gathered grapes leave a gleaning and if did not even thieves leave something behind.  Verse ten states, But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.  God then said because of their sins that nothing was going to be left of the people of Edom.  There will be nothing left of those who do not accept salvation through faith in Christ in God's kingdom.   Verse eleven declares, Leave thy fatherless children, I will  preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.  God said that He would protect the fatherless children and the widows.   God will likewise take care of those we leave behind after we die if we and they put our faith 8n Him.  Verse twelve declares, For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.  God said that the people of Edom would bear the responsibility for their sins.  Veree thirteen adds, For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.  God said that He had sworn by His own nature that this punishment was coming.  Verse fourteen states, I have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.  Verse fifteen adds, For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, and despised among men.  God said that He would make the people of Edom small among the heathen and despised by men.  The Edomites, the descendants of Esau, should have been following God, but they weren't.  Many people today who should find it easy to acknowledge God because of their families simply refuse to do so, and one day God's judgment will fall on them.  Verse sixteen says, Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.  God said that they might feel safe in their hiding places, but there was no safe place for them.  Verse seventeen adds, Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.  God said that everyone would marvel at the destruction of Edom.  Verse eighteen continues, As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.  God said the destruction of Edom would be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.   Verse nineteen states, Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?  God asked who could stand before Him in battle,  and the answer is no one.  Verse twenty adds, Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.  Verse twenty-one continues, The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea.  God said that everyone would hear of the fall of Edom.  Verse twenty-two concludes, Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.  God said that when this invading army came that the men of Edom who thought they were great would have the heart of a woman in her pangs.  So will everyone who has stood against God lose all their strength when God's judgment comes.