Jer 30:24 | KingComments | STEP | There follows another word about the great tribulation which is here called “the tempest of the LORD” and “wrath” and “a sweeping tempest” ( ). This word concerns the wicked. God’s burning wrath does not turn away from them, but remains on their head (cf. ). Before there can be blessing, the guilty must be judged. This is said precisely here, lest the careless be given false assurance in their sins. Despite promises of hope, God always remains faithful to the holiness of His nature in all His actions. The LORD stands behind the judgment being carried out by Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah uses the picture of a sudden tempest to describe that judgment. The LORD is doing His work of redemption by showing His power in judgment. The blessings spoken of by Jeremiah are only for the God-fearing. God’s anger will take its full course and effect ( ). It cannot be stopped. For the believer, it cannot be stopped either, but he may know that it has been averted and come down on the Lord Jesus. Those who do not believe will have to bear God’s wrath themselves. We cannot always understand how God expresses His anger and thereby brings about the thoughts of His heart. There will come a time when we will understand. We may already understand much of it when we read the book of Revelation, where much is revealed about the exercise of God’s anger.

‏ Jeremiah 30:24

Judgment and Then Blessing

There follows another word about the great tribulation which is here called “the tempest of the LORD” and “wrath” and “a sweeping tempest” (Jer 30:23). This word concerns the wicked. God’s burning wrath does not turn away from them, but remains on their head (cf. Jn 3:36b). Before there can be blessing, the guilty must be judged. This is said precisely here, lest the careless be given false assurance in their sins. Despite promises of hope, God always remains faithful to the holiness of His nature in all His actions.

The LORD stands behind the judgment being carried out by Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah uses the picture of a sudden tempest to describe that judgment. The LORD is doing His work of redemption by showing His power in judgment. The blessings spoken of by Jeremiah are only for the God-fearing.

God’s anger will take its full course and effect (Jer 30:24). It cannot be stopped. For the believer, it cannot be stopped either, but he may know that it has been averted and come down on the Lord Jesus. Those who do not believe will have to bear God’s wrath themselves. We cannot always understand how God expresses His anger and thereby brings about the thoughts of His heart. There will come a time when we will understand. We may already understand much of it when we read the book of Revelation, where much is revealed about the exercise of God’s anger.