Judah Exiled to Babylon

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Jeremiah 52

 

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare^[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

(ESV)

 

Jeremiah 52 is the last chapter in the book of Jeremiah and provides a summary of the consequences of Judah’s duplicitous worship of God and Baal. The test of a prophet is whether what he or she says comes true (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). The narrative of Jeremiah 52 indicates that Jeremiah has passed the test of a prophet. This narrative vindicates Jeremiah by showing that,

 

1)      Jerusalem fell (Jeremiah 52:1-11) – Jerusalem fell at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar as foretold by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 21:7; 25:9).

2)      The Temple was destroyed and pillaged (Jeremiah 52:12-23) – Like Shiloh that was abandoned because of the wickedness of Israel, the Temple fell as foretold by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 7:12-15; Psalm 78:60).

3)      The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon (Jeremiah 52:24-30) – Judah went into exile as foretold by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:6).

4)      Jehoiachin was released from prison (Jeremiah 52:31-33) – Jehoiachin was brought back (Jeremiah 28:4).

 

God has warned the people of Judah and Jerusalem about their duplicitous worship of God and Baal and its consequences both in Deuteronomy 28 and throughout the book of Jeremiah. However, rather than repenting of their sin, the people continue in sin and ignore the word of the Lord coming through Jeremiah. Seventy years of exile have begun and will end with the declaration of King Cyrus of Persia that not only allows the exiles to return but also provides what they will need to rebuild (Ezra 1). The exile of the people of Jerusalem and Judah is not for their destruction but their discipline which is for their good (Jeremiah 29:11).

 

Like the exiles in Judah, Christians can suffer consequences if they do not heed the warnings of the Word of God. While we commonly think of the book of Revelation as prophecy regarding the end times, Revelation 2-3 are letters to the angels of seven churches. In the letter to the seventh church, the church in Laodicea, the Lord told them they were neither hot nor cold but lukewarm with the Lord spewing them out of his mouth (Revelation 3:15-16). The reason for their lukewarmness is their trust in their riches and prosperity, believing they do not need anything when God sees them as wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17). God urges the Laodiceans to repent and turn to him because he is standing at the door knocking and ready for them to invite Jesus in (Revelation 3:18-20).

 

As the church finds itself in the last days spoken of by Christ in Matthew 24-25, we must not be like the Laodicean church but like the Church in Philadelphia that kept the Word of God and did not deny the name of the Lord (Revelation 3:8). The Lord has provided an open door for this Church through which they will escape the hour of trial coming upon the world, a reference to the rapture (Revelation 3:8,10). However, God has closed the door for the Laodicean Church, waiting for them to repent and reopen the door. This is a word of warning to the Church today, do not be like the Laodicean Church but like the Church in Philadelphia. We all need Jesus for we all have sinned (Romans 3:23). If you are reading this and have never prayed to accept Jesus as your savior, I encourage you to do so by praying with me now for the Lord stands knocking at the door of your heart waiting for you to invite Him in,

 

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.