Jeremiah Gives Seraiah a Scroll:
June 28, 2019
Commentary
It was God’s plan that Babylon must fall because she was responsible for killing many Israelites (v.49). However God makes it clear that there is no future in Babylon and anyone who chooses to remain in Babylon will suffer the fate of the city. On the other hand, if they returned to their home land, they would experience a new beginning under the blessing of the Lord (v. (v. 50). These Israelites in exile felt disgraced, insulted, and full of shame before the world because of what the Babylonians had done to the temple in Jerusalem (v. 51). The Lord promised to send a war ro punish Babylon’a Idols and leave wounded people everywhere (v. 52). The Israelites saw the high walls and huge gates of Babylon and concluded that such fortifications would repel any enemy, but they were wrong. The walls and gates would only become “fuel for the flames” when the invaders arrived (53).
Cries of help come from Babylon and there are sounds of destruction everywhere (v. 54). The shouts of the enemy drown out Babylon’s cries (v. 55). The Lord takes revenge and its soldiers will be captured and their weapons broken (v. 56). The Lord promises that the officials, governors, and soldiers will get drunk, fall asleep and never wake up (v. 57). The walls will be torn down, the gates burned and everything will go up in smoke (v. 58). During Zedekiah’s fourth year as king of Judah he goes to Babylon and Baruch’s brother Seraiah goes along to arrange for accommodations (v. 59). Before they left a scroll was written about all the terrible things that will happen (v. 60). Seraiah was instructed to read the scroll (v. 61) and pray, “Our Lord, you promised to destroy this place and make it a dessert where no people or animals will live (v. 62). After praying, he was to tie the scroll to a rock and throw it into the Euphrates River (v. 63). This Ia. how Babylon will sink when the Lord destroys it (v. 64).
Application
Jeremiah 51:49– 64 (NET)
49 “Babylon must fall because of the Israelites she has killed, just as the earth’s mortally wounded fell because of Babylon.
50 You who have escaped the sword, go, do not delay. Remember the Lord in a faraway land. Think about Jerusalem.
51 ‘We are ashamed because we have been insulted. Our faces show our disgrace. For foreigners have invaded the holy rooms in the Lord’s temple.’
52 Yes, but the time will certainly come,” says the Lord, “when I will punish her idols. Throughout her land the mortally wounded will groan.
53 Even if Babylon climbs high into the sky and fortifies her elevated stronghold, I will send destroyers against her,” says the Lord.
54 Cries of anguish will come from Babylon, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Babylonians.
55 For the Lord is ready to destroy Babylon, and put an end to her loud noise. Their waves will roar like turbulent waters. They will make a deafening noise.
56 For a destroyer is attacking Babylon. Her warriors will be captured; their bows will be broken. For the Lord is a God who punishes; he pays back in full.
57 “I will make her officials and wise men drunk, along with her governors, leaders, and warriors. They will fall asleep forever and never wake up,” says the King whose name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
58 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “Babylon’s thick wall will be completely demolished. Her high gates will be set on fire. The peoples strive for what does not satisfy. The nations grow weary trying to get what will be destroyed.”
59 This is the order Jeremiah the prophet gave to Seraiah son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, when he went to King Zedekiah of Judah in Babylon during the fourth year of his reign. (Seraiah was a quartermaster.) 60 Jeremiah recorded on one scroll all the judgments that would come upon Babylon—all these prophecies written about Babylon. 61 Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you arrive in Babylon, make sure you read aloud all these prophecies. 62 Then say, ‘O Lord, you have announced that you will destroy this place so that no people or animals live in it any longer. Certainly it will lie desolate forever!’ 63 When you finish reading this scroll aloud, tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates River. 64 Then say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink and never rise again because of the disaster I am ready to bring upon her; they will grow faint.’” The prophecies of Jeremiah end here.