Day 243

Babylon Is Fallen

Read: Jeremiah 51-52

Chapter 51 continues the theme that Babylon also will fall because of her pride. “I am against you, O proud one, says the Lord God of hosts” (50:31). Her fall is also linked to her terrible treatment of Jerusalem. She was God’s instrument in the fall of Jerusalem, but she will be punished because her own motives were sinful.

The Medes are predicted to be the instruments of God in bringing about the fall of Babylon, and the Medes and the Persians did conquer Babylon the night that Daniel interpreted the handwriting on the wall to the king of Babylon.

Babylon is a symbol of the sinful world in the New Testament. Here Jeremiah tells the Jews to leave Babylon because she will be destroyed. In 2 Corinthians, Paul uses similar language to tell Christians to separate themselves from the sinfulness of the world.

The book of Revelation picks up this language telling of the destruction of Babylon referring to the fall of Rome, which is probably called Babylon in Revelation because to use the name Rome would endanger Christians who had the book.

Chapter 52 is a historical appendix showing that Jeremiah’s predictions of the fall of Jerusalem came true. We can be sure that God’s word to us will also come true.

PRAYER
Father, we thank you for the assurance that nations which oppress others today will also be punished. Amen.