The Cup of the Lord’s Wrath

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Jeremiah 25:15-38

 

Jeremiah 25:32

“Thus says the Lord of hosts:
Behold, disaster is going forth
    from nation to nation,
and a great tempest is stirring
    from the farthest parts of the earth!

(ESV)

 

When most people think of the wrath of God, pictures of lightning bolts and judgment come to mind. However, as the people of Judah discovered when going into exile, it is more a picture of invading armies, exile, and abandonment by God due to not making Him their only god of worship (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The passage of Jeremiah 25:15-38 tells of nations drinking the cup of God’s wrath but we as individuals can choose to escape the need to drink of the cup of God’s wrath because this is the cup Jesus drank at the crucifixion (Luke 22:41-42).

 

The text of Jeremiah 25:15-38 tells us who will incur God’s wrath, what the consequences are for drinking the cup of God’s wrath, and why denial of the cup of God’s wrath is unacceptable.

 

1)      Who will drink of the cup of God’s wrath (Jeremiah 25:15-26) – The text of Jeremiah 25:15-26 provides a listing of nations subject to the wrath of God. Included in this list are Jerusalem, the cities of Judah, the armies that will invade Judah and Jerusalem but also all the nations of the World. This inclusion of all the nations of the world means the prophecy goes beyond the scope of the situation in Jerusalem and Judah during the time of Jeremiah’s writing and speaks of a future pouring out of wrath by God upon the world. Therefore, all nations will drink of the cup of God’s wrath with Jesus returning to establish His righteous kingdom on earth (Revelation 20:1-6).

2)      What are the consequences of drinking the cup of God’s wrath (Jeremiah 25:27) – Jeremiah 25:27 speaks of one being drunk and sick from drinking this cup. The cup acts as a sword in the hands of God, causing nations to fall and rise no more. The good news for those in Christ is they are citizens of the Kingdom of God and will reign with Christ for one thousand years.

3)      Why denial of the cup of God’s wrath is unacceptable (Jeremiah 25:28-38) – The prophecy of Jeremiah is certain with denial of its consequences unavoidable. The nations of the world will incur the wrath of God, but this is not the end of the world but a new beginning as the world comes under the reign of Christ. The cup of the wrath of God is a cup of judgment but also a cup of cleansing because it purges the ungodly reign of nations, replacing it with the reign of Christ.

 

When praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked God the Father to remove this cup from him (Luke 22:41-42). When viewed without context, this statement is strange because Jesus did not have a cup with Him. The context here is that Jesus had just completed the Passover dinner with His disciples and during this meal, they would have drunk cups of wine that symbolize various aspects of a walk with God, including the cup of God’s wrath. Jesus as God knew the full measure of God’s wrath was about to be unleashed upon him, for he had the prophecies of Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 that graphically describe the unleashing of God’s wrath upon Him by crucifixion. We must also keep in mind that Jesus, who knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), did not need to do this and only did it out of His deep love for humanity.

 

Because of what Jesus did on the cross, there is no need for anyone to drink the cup of God’s wrath for that was not the purpose of Jesus coming to earth (John 3:17). Drinking the cup of God’s wrath is a decision one makes by rejecting Jesus as his or her savior (John 3:18). I encourage those who have not prayed to accept Jesus as Savior, escaping the cup of God’s wrath to do so by praying with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.