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The Noise of Great Destruction

찬송 : 찬송가 347장 (새찬송가 212장)
2018-12-11 [예레미야(Jeremiah) 51:54 - 51:64]

The Babylonians, who were thoughtlessly rejoicing even though the day of judgement was drawing nearer, would soon hear the noise of great destruction. The noise of the coming destruction would resound loudly across the whole earth.

54	"A voice! A cry from Babylon! The noise of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
55	For the LORD is laying Babylon waste and stilling her mighty voice. Their waves roar like many waters; the noise of their voice is raised,
56	for a destroyer has come upon her, upon Babylon; her warriors are taken; their bows are broken in pieces, for the LORD is a God of recompense; he will surely repay.
57	I will make drunk her officials and her wise men, her governors, her commanders, and her warriors; they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake, declares the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
58	"Thus says the LORD of hosts: The broad wall of Babylon shall be leveled to the ground, and her high gates shall be burned with fire. The peoples labor for nothing, and the nations weary themselves only for fire."
59	The word that Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah king of Judah to Babylon, in the fourth year of his reign. Seraiah was the quartermaster.
60	Jeremiah wrote in a book all the disaster that should come upon Babylon, all these words that are written concerning Babylon.
61	And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: "When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words,
62	and say, 'O LORD, you have said concerning this place that you will cut it off, so that nothing shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, and it shall be desolate forever.'
63	When you finish reading this book, tie a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates,
64	and say, 'Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted.'" Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.

Thinking & Understanding
God’s retribution against the Babylonians would begin with the attack of Babylon’s enemies, which would cause the Babylonians to lament. The Babylonian soldiers would be taken captive and the wall and gates of the city would be burned to a crisp (vv. 54-58). Jeremiah wrote down the prophesy of this destruction and gave it to Neriah’s son, Seraiah, whom he told to tie a stone to the scroll and throw it into the water after reading out the prophesy in Babylon. Just as the scroll could not rise out of the water, so Babylon would surely be destroyed, never to rise again (vv. 59-64).

Who is God?
Vv. 54-56 God always repays what’s due. He would silence the noise of the celebrations of the Babylonians who were delighting in festivals, unaware that they would soon be destroyed by the God of vengeance. Through this, we can know that God demands us to be responsible and respond appropriately inasmuch as he loves us.

What lesson is God teaching me?
Vv. 59-64 We must deliver God’s word. God commanded Seraiah to deliver a message that could incur the wrath of the Babylonians in the heart of Babylon. This required Seraiah’s obedience at the risk of his life. Can we accept God’s word and deliver it exactly as we have received it, even if it means risking our life?

Prayer
Lord, help us to live trusting in your power and righteousness, as you always give back what’s due.