“The Lord has brought about our vindication;
come, let us declare in Zion
the work of the Lord our God…
“Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon;
make the watch strong;
set up watchmen;
prepare the ambushes;
for the Lord has both planned and done
what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon…
“It is he who made the earth by his power,
who established the world by his wisdom…
Every man is stupid and without knowledge;
every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols…
Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,
for… Israel is the tribe of his inheritance.
“You are my hammer and weapon of war:
with you I break nations in pieces;
with you I destroy kingdoms…
“I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea before your very eyes for all the evil that they have done in Zion, declares the Lord.
“Behold, I am against you…
I will stretch out my hand against you,
and roll you down from the crags,
and make you a burnt mountain…
You shall be a perpetual waste,
declares the Lord…
The land trembles and writhes in pain,
for the Lord’s purposes against Babylon stand,
to make the land of Babylon a desolation,
without inhabitant…
“Then the heavens and the earth,
and all that is in them,
shall sing for joy over Babylon,
for the destroyers shall come against them…
Babylon must fall for the slain of Israel,
just as for Babylon have fallen the slain of all the earth.” Jeremiah 51:10,12,15,17,19-20,24-26,29,48-49
To Israel’s chagrin, Jeremiah prophesied harsh judgment, and to their hope, God’s vindication. The cruel instrument- Babylon- the Lord had used to punish Israel would itself be called to horrific account. His people could believe, in all their suffering, that one day, all would be well. (Psalm 30:5)
Many distance themselves from God for fear of or disgust at His judgment. They cannot see how love and justice coexist, when actually, holiness is upheld by both. It is an alien work of the Lord to judge, yet also a merciful one. The Maker of all things has intrinsic and redemptive purposes man cannot fully understand. But we can know He is supreme, and supremely good in every plan and all His ways, and that in sovereign knowledge and holy perfection He both sustains and destroys according to His divine scale. (Genesis 18:25-36; Exodus 34:6-7; Isaiah 28:21-22; Habakkuk 3:2,16-18; John 16:8-11; Acts 17:31; Romans 9:14-18)
If we take issue with God for harsh judgment, would we contemplate His righteousness and holiness? How would our attitude change if we thankfully marveled that there is no darkness or sin in Him, and that none receives wrath without rejecting Him? Would we consider heaven where there is only light and no sorrow or pain or uncleanness? Would we trust that God’s whole character, every impulse and attribute, is perfect? (Isaiah 60:19-21; Romans 1:18-21; 1 John 1:5; Revelation 21:3-8,23-27)
To humble ourselves before the true and upright Judge is to acknowledge His sovereign goodness and authority. It keeps us in our place as servants dependent on mercy, and inspires love for those not yet saved. How will we honor the Lord as Judge today?
Lord, keep me grateful for and compelled by Your strange and wonderful judgment, to the praise of Your grace.
As the rain and snow 