Read Jeremiah 51
Highlights:
Judgment against Babylon; fall of Jerusalem; captivity of Judah.
For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come (Jer. 51:33).
The walls of Babylon were 87 feet wide and 360 feet high. Its palace and vast architectures appeared unconquerable. But Babylon's splendor and gigantic world empire did not keep God from bringing about its defeat after 70 years, as foretold by Jeremiah. To this day, ancient Babylonia is uninhabited (51:62).
The world as we know it, is a “system” as well as a “planet.” Babylon represented a system in which there are many attractive things to entice the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (I John 2:16).
However, behind all worldly activities is a power that seeks to defeat and destroy the work of God — a satanic system that controls the world that . . . knew not God (I Cor. 1:21) and hated Christ (John 15:18). There are so many of these systems in the world. They include false religions, drugs, alcohol, illicit sex, and violence, as well as many others that draw us into sin.
When God ordains the destruction of a nation, He does it right the first time. Unless He wills it, that nation is gone forever. There have been many great world powers: Egypt, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome. All fell for one reason. The Word of God prophesied it. It is important to remember God has all the power. He is in control of all things. No army, fortified city, or great human leader can stop the plan of God from coming to fruition.
But what about other worldly activities? Things like ball games, tournaments, vacations, and even our own jobs. We might think to ourselves that these are just recreation and our work. How could these things fall into this same way of thinking? Anything that could be found taking the place of God in our lives could be looked at in this light. However, we are told to redeem the time (Eph. 5:16). As a child of God, He should be in the forefront of our thoughts. We should use whatever occasion we find ourselves in to witness for Him: Be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort (II Tim. 4:2). We need to manage our time, skills, and finances so that God gets His proper portions, which are our first fruits. God should not get only leftovers while we give prime cuts to the world.
Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues (Rev. 18:4).
Thought for Today:
Do others see Christ in you?
Christ Revealed:
As the Creator of the universe (Jer. 51:15). All things were created by Him, and for Him (Col. 1:16).
Word Study:
51:2 fanners, strangers, destroyers; fan, scatter, disperse; 51:11 device, plan, purpose; 51:17 brutish, foolish; founder, metal caster; graven image, idol he has made; 51:25 mountain, power; 51:31 at one end, from end to end; 51:42 The sea, The flood waters of the Euphrates; 52:31 lifted up the head of, showed favor to.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Staff: Tifany Edwards • Government Officials: Sen. John McCain (AZ) and Rep. Dave G. Reichert (WA) • Country: Solomon Islands (455,000) in the southwestern Pacific • Major languages: 120 indigenous languages • Religious freedom • 66% Protestant; 17% Roman Catholic; 4% spirit worship, ancestor worship, and sorcery • Prayer Suggestion: What a comfort to know that we depend upon His strength (Ps. 71:16).
Optional Reading: Revelation 3
Memory Verse for the Week: Proverbs 3:1-2