Week 25 – Book of Jeremiah
Read: Jeremiah Chapter 25
Background
Located along the Euphrates River, Babylon, the capitol of the
Babylonian Empire, is one of the most famous cities of ancient civilization.
The Babylonian Empire (1875-539 BC) is known as a major military and political
power over the years. Four thousand years ago and until its fall in 539 BC,
Babylon knows great success and wealth. Eventually, Babylon becomes “one of the
largest cities in the ancient world and becomes the Neo-Babylonian Empire that
spans from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea.”
Also known as the Chaldeans, the Neo-Babylonian Empire is at it peak
during the 7th and 6th centuries BC. Today, the ruins of
Babylon are about 50-60 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq.
The new kings of this Neo-Babylonia Empire (626-539 BC) help
Babylon to become “the most powerful state in the world after defeating the
Assyrians at Nineveh in 612 BC.” “Babylon becomes a city of
beautiful and lavish buildings. Biblical and archaeological evidence point the
forced exiles of thousands of Jews to Babylon around this time.”
The Babylonian kings build several palaces and many shrines to
false gods. Religious practices of Babylon mostly revolve around mythology and
other idol worship. Lush landscapes of terraced trees and gardens with
waterfalls become known as the “Hanging Gardens of Babylon” and one of the “Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World.” However, “archaeologists have turned up scant
evidence of the gardens” leaving their existence or
location a mystery.
According to Herodotus, an Ancient Greek historian, when Babylon
falls, the city is “14 miles square with two sets of walls, inner and outer, 350
feet high and 87 feet thick.” In less than 100 years of
its peak power, Cyrus the Great of Persian conquers Babylon. The remains today
are no more than “mud-brick” remnants of buildings.
Babylon may have its roots in the Tower of Babel we find in Genesis,
as some scholars think this tower may be in the same area, the southern portion
of Mesopotamia. The people “are recorded as building a tower designed to reach
the heavens. This may have been the beginning of a practice of building towers
with religious significance.” This “contributes to the
long history of Babylon as a center of religious significance, and as a source
of false religion and rebellion against the true God.” There is “no Biblical
reference to Babylon after Genesis 11 until the great prophecies of
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel unfold God’s plan for the ancient city.” In the New Testament, the
name “Babylon” appears but most commentaries suggest it is a reference to Rome
or the Roman Empire.
Study
“Most important were Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning the
duration of captivity, designated as seventy years in Jeremiah 25:11. It
was this prophecy read by Daniel which led to his prayer for the return of the
captives to Jerusalem. (Dan 9:2)” “The destruction of
Jerusalem and the fall of Judah were not accidents; they were appointments, for
God was in control.” This chapter is still in
between part of the exiles leaving and others still in Jerusalem. Jeremiah is
now twenty-three years into his ministry and commentaries place this around 604
BC. What we know is that Jeremiah “continued to be faithful to his calling.”
The chapter is divided into two dominate messages, verses 1-14
as a message to the Jews, verses 15-38 as a message to the Gentile nations.
After re-delivering God’s message to the leaders, Jeremiah now speaks to the
people. The behaviors of disobedience to God, idol worship, and mocking of
God’s servants continues. No one listens. Repent from wickedness is the same
message. God desires His chosen people to dwell in this land forever, a land He
is giving them. Requesting to stop worshiping other gods goes ignored. God
says, “Yet you have not listened to Me.” (V 7) Continuing into verse 8,
“Because you have not heard My words,” God will allow the Babylonian army to
take you away. King Nebuchadnezzar will “utterly destroy” the land. As God sees
it, Nebuchadnezzar is his “servant” in that he is fulfilling God’s purpose, whether
Nebuchadnezzar recognizes this or not.
The Big Reveal come in verse 11, “This whole land shall be a
desolation and an astonishment, and all these nations shall server the King of
Babylon for seventy years.” Until now, the length of captivity has not been
discussed. This is new information. The next verse brings an even bigger
shocker. After seventy years, “I will punish the King of Babylon and the
Chaldeans for their iniquities. I will make it a perpetual desolation.” Babylon
fulfills God’s purposes, but they will be punished for the ruthless way they
treated both Jews and Gentiles.(vs 12-14)
Why seventy years? “One reason God determines a period of
seventy years was that the land might enjoy the rest that the Jews had denied
it. The law of the Sabbatical Year had been ignored for nearly 500 years.” (See 2 Chronicles 36:20-21;
Leviticus 25:3-5) “Failure to observe the Sabbath was tantamount to
rejecting the covenant.”
The message to the Gentile nations comes as God has called
Jeremiah to minister “not only to Judah but also to the other nations.” (1:5,
1:10) The Gentiles, while not
in a covenant relationship with God, are still held accountable for their
sinfulness. “Take this cup of fury from My hand, and cause all the nations to
whom I send you , to drink it.” (v 15) This “cup of fury” is symbolic of God’s
cup of wrath, or anger to the nations.
The last verses remind, “Behold, disagree shall go forth from
nation to nation.” (v 32) Images of a lion, a wine press and a whirl wings
represent suffering and judgment. A repeated image of an improper burial bears
a statement of disgrace. The “shepherds” or the leaders (kings, nobility,
priests, false prophets) are doomed. Harsh words come with images reminiscent
of Jeremiah’s ‘action sermon’ of breaking the clay vessel. “You shall fall like
a precious vessel.” (v 34). This “cup of fury” is God’s displeasure.
For some extra reading, check out Revelation 16-18, to see the
prophecy of Babylon when Christ returns. Babylon’s ‘cup of wrath’ is noted.
Reflection
“Abba! Father! All
things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but
what You will.” Mark 14:36
Despite dwelling in
complete paradise and daily walking with the Creator, Adam and Eve not only
encounter temptation but respond. Disobedience breaks their relationship with
God. They are banned from paradise to toil the land. The consequences of sin
are born in the garden of Eden.
I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still
on the roses;
And the voice I hear,
falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses...
On the night Jesus is arrested, He takes His disciples to pray. The deep
loneliness reaches through the darkness as Jesus comes before His Father. Jesus
recognizes the rebellion of humanity and the gravity of God’s judgement. God’s
plan is for Jesus to follow a path of suffering, to take this “cup” of wrath,
to endure alienation from God as the ransom for all sin. Perfect Love will
submit to God’s will and usher in a renewed relationship with God with “sins
forgiven, heaven secured, joy restored, peace.” Knowing the cost of humanity’s
sin, Jesus’ willing, unselfish response to an incomparable choice fills the
night. Grace is born in the garden of Gethsemane.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells
me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we
tarry there, none other has ever known..
We fall on our knees before our Father
desperate for His healing intervention, His mending touch. With tears and
sorrow and loneliness we cry out in our suffering demanding answers. Other
times, with joy and hope we shout praises to God for miracles we could only
imagine, resolutions greater than our requests, sighs of wonder rise with
prayers of celebration. In all these moments we can feel the embrace of God, a
God who chooses love and forgiveness and peace. We find Jesus in the garden of
a God who can do all things!
We do not trust him
because of what we can prove from our circumstances, but from what is revealed
about His character at the cross. There we learn that even when circumstances
are awful and inexplicable, God will ultimately bring about the good He
intends. Gospel Transformation Notes
Application
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and
sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.1 John 4:10
So, what is “Propitiation”? “Propitiation (Gk. hilasmos)
here means ‘a sacrifice that bears God’s wrath and turns it to favor,’ and that
is also the meaning of the English word “propitiation.” As the perfect
sacrifice for sin, Jesus turns away God’s wrath.”
In this lesson, Jeremiah describes God’s “cup of wrath” for
Judah. Within a new Covenant, God’s wrath for humanity’s sins is satisfied
through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. Will you take the cup of Jesus, the cup
of forgiveness of sins, the cup of redemption, the cup of restoration, the cup
of grace?
Donna Oswalt
