[:en]SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 25
“Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the Lord, ” and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin. I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp. This whose country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years” (Jeremiah 25:8-11)
“But when the 70 years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nations, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt,” declares the Lord, : and will make it desolate forever” (Jeremiah 25:12)
“Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them: “The Lord will roar from on high; he will thunder from his holy dwelling and roar mightily against his land. He will shout like those who tread the grapes, shout against all who live on the earth. The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth, for the Lord will bring charges against the nations: he will bring judgment on all mankind and put the wicked to the sword” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 25:30-31)
SEVENTY YEARS OF CAPTIVITY (vs. 1-14)
God punished the Israel nation through the Babylonian captivity. Joy and gladness will banished from them. The whole country will become a desolate wasteland and they will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. But after 70 years, God will punish the nation of Babylon. They will be enslaved by many nations.
Jeremiah had been preaching for 23 years without any visible results. People opposed him and would not listen to God’s Word. But Jeremiah remained faithful to His calling even through there was no outward success by men’s standard.
THE CUP OF GOD’S WRATH
God told Jeremiah to let all nations drink the cup filled with the wine of His wrath. Among the nations mentioned are: Israel and Judah, Egypt, Uz, Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, Ashdod, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, Sidon, Dedan, Tema, Buz, Arabia Zimri, Elam, Media, Sheshach. it also includes all the people who live in the desert, and all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. The Lord will roar from on high and bring judgment in all mankind by putting the wicked to the sword. Disaster is coming, storm is rising, people will be slain. Shepherds have nowhere to flee and the leaders of the flock have not place to escape. Because of the Lord’s fierce anger, he will destroy their pasture, the land will become deserted and peaceful meadows will be laid waste.
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