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Day 357 (Jeremiah 50:1-20) The word that the LORD spoke against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet. “Declare among the nations, proclaim, and set up a standard; proclaim—do not conceal it —say, ‘Babylon is taken, Bel is shamed. Merodach is broken into pieces; her idols are humiliated; her images are broken in pieces.’ For out of the north a nation comes up against her, which will make her land desolate, and no one will dwell therein. They will move, they will depart, both man and beast. In those days and in that time,” says the LORD, “The children of Israel will come, they and the children of Judah together; with continual weeping, they will come and seek the LORD their God. They will ask the way to Zion, with their faces toward it, saying, ‘Come and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that will not be forgotten.’ My people are lost sheep. Their shepherds led them astray; they turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place. All who found them devoured them; and their adversaries said, ‘We have not offended, because they sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’ Move from the midst of Babylon, go out of the land of the Chaldeans; and be like the rams before the flocks. For behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country, and they will array themselves against her; from there she will be captured. Their arrows will be like those of an expert warrior; none will return in vain. Chaldea will become plunder; all who plunder her will be satisfied,” says the LORD. “Because you were glad because you rejoiced, you destroyers of My heritage, because you grew fat like a heifer threshing grain, and you bellow like bulls, your mother will be deeply ashamed; she who bore you will be ashamed. Behold, the least of the nations will be a wilderness, dry land, and a desert. Because of the wrath of the LORD, she will not be inhabited, but she will be wholly desolate. Everyone who goes by Babylon will be horrified and hiss at all her plagues. Put yourselves in array against Babylon all around, all you who bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she sinned against the LORD. Shout against her all around; she has given her hand, her foundations have fallen, her walls are thrown down; for it is the vengeance of the LORD. Take vengeance on her. As she has done, so do to her. Cut off the sower from Babylon, and he who handles the sickle at harvest time. For fear of the oppressive sword, everyone will turn to his own people, and everyone will flee to his own land. Israel is like scattered sheep; the lions drove him away. First, the king of Assyria devoured him; now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon broke his bones. Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I punished the king of Assyria. But I will bring back Israel to his home, and he will feed on Carmel and Bashan; his soul will be satisfied on Mount Ephraim and Gilead. In those days and in that time,” says the LORD, “The iniquity of Israel will be sought, but there will be none; and the sins of Judah, but they will not be found; for I will pardon those whom I preserve.” Many people find joy in others’ calamities. They believe they brought trouble to themselves, and they are getting their due. God prophesied through Jeremiah the captivity of His people to the Babylonians. However, the Babylonians were not to mistreat His people. Because they laughed at their trouble, God would punish them. Many Christians see trouble as Satan coming against them. They don’t realize God might be trying to get their attention because they sinned against Him. Their trouble becomes a point of joy to those who don’t trust God, as they slander God and His people. As God never forsook His people, but stood by them and fought for them, He will stand by you too. He will fight for you and bring you back into fellowship with Him. God will avenge you on all those who laughed at your trouble. He will bring disaster into their lives because they mistreated you. Instead of joy and gladness at your trouble, you will find joy in God’s protection and deliverance from those who come against you. Have you strayed from God’s presence? Return and see God’s deliverance and know His salvation in your life. Then rejoice and be glad because God’s love never left you. Let’s pray: Father, help me find joy and gladness in Your presence. Let me rejoice in Your deliverance when I return to You, repenting of my sin and acknowledging Jesus as my Savior and Lord. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 5 July 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay