Jer 51:20-23 | KingComments | STEP | The LORD places Himself in His omnipotence as Creator before Babylon ( ). He brought about the creation by “His power” while working with “His wisdom” and “His understanding” in the process. All of nature responds to His voice ( ). Clouds, lightning, wind, He disposes of them. This is also how the LORD once placed Himself opposite Job, after which Job humbled himself deeply ( ). Babylon, however, has no attention for this almighty God. Babylon is a stupid man, without knowledge of God and therefore completely without knowledge ( ). A goldsmith is also a kind of creator, but of an idol. But what a deception, it is a dead thing. There is no breath or spirit in it. A goldsmith can only make something that is dead. Compared with Who God is, the silversmith’s work is worthless and a work of mockery ( ) that offers no protection in the day of retributive judgment. How completely different is “the portion of Jacob”, which is the living LORD ( ). He is the Former of all things and in the midst of it He has a special relationship with Israel who is His inheritance. He is the LORD of hosts, which is His Name. He is above all heavenly and earthly powers and no one is equal to Him. Babylon is to the LORD a war-club, a weapon of war ( ). Babylon must not imagine to be someone of importance and to have power of her own. Every work of Babylon is a work of the LORD. The LORD will smite nations and destroy kingdoms through Babylon. Everything that falls under the hammer of Babylon is an object of the LORD’s judgment. The hammer of the LORD comes down on “the horse and his rider” and on “the chariot and its rider” ( ); on “man and woman”, on “old man and youth” and on “young man and virgin” ( ); on “the shepherd and his flock”, on “the farmer and his team”, on “governors and prefects” ( ). The word for “shatter” has the meaning of powerful and intense smashing, it is crushingly smashing ( ; ). Babylon is an instrument in the hand of the LORD. This does not mean that the Babylonians do not have their own responsibility. For they have done evil to Zion without the LORD’s instruction ( ). The LORD cannot leave that unpunished, but will repay them. The mighty mountain of Babylon that is destroying the whole earth will be judged by the LORD ( ). He will stretch out His hand against her so that she will roll off her high rock. He will set her on fire with His fire, so that she will become a mountain on fire. The destruction will be so radical that nothing useful will remain that could serve as a foundation for rebuilding the city ( ).

‏ Jeremiah 51:20-23

The Almighty LORD and the Impotent Idols

The LORD places Himself in His omnipotence as Creator before Babylon (Jer 51:15). He brought about the creation by “His power” while working with “His wisdom” and “His understanding” in the process. All of nature responds to His voice (Jer 51:16). Clouds, lightning, wind, He disposes of them. This is also how the LORD once placed Himself opposite Job, after which Job humbled himself deeply (Job 40:1-5 ; Job 42:1-6).

Babylon, however, has no attention for this almighty God. Babylon is a stupid man, without knowledge of God and therefore completely without knowledge (Jer 51:17). A goldsmith is also a kind of creator, but of an idol. But what a deception, it is a dead thing. There is no breath or spirit in it. A goldsmith can only make something that is dead. Compared with Who God is, the silversmith’s work is worthless and a work of mockery (Jer 51:18) that offers no protection in the day of retributive judgment.

How completely different is “the portion of Jacob”, which is the living LORD (Jer 51:19). He is the Former of all things and in the midst of it He has a special relationship with Israel who is His inheritance. He is the LORD of hosts, which is His Name. He is above all heavenly and earthly powers and no one is equal to Him.

Babylon is to the LORD a war-club, a weapon of war (Jer 51:20). Babylon must not imagine to be someone of importance and to have power of her own. Every work of Babylon is a work of the LORD. The LORD will smite nations and destroy kingdoms through Babylon. Everything that falls under the hammer of Babylon is an object of the LORD’s judgment.

The hammer of the LORD comes down on “the horse and his rider” and on “the chariot and its rider” (Jer 51:21); on “man and woman”, on “old man and youth” and on “young man and virgin” (Jer 51:22); on “the shepherd and his flock”, on “the farmer and his team”, on “governors and prefects” (Jer 51:23). The word for “shatter” has the meaning of powerful and intense smashing, it is crushingly smashing (Exo 15:6; Psa 2:9).

Babylon is an instrument in the hand of the LORD. This does not mean that the Babylonians do not have their own responsibility. For they have done evil to Zion without the LORD’s instruction (Jer 51:24). The LORD cannot leave that unpunished, but will repay them.

The mighty mountain of Babylon that is destroying the whole earth will be judged by the LORD (Jer 51:25). He will stretch out His hand against her so that she will roll off her high rock. He will set her on fire with His fire, so that she will become a mountain on fire. The destruction will be so radical that nothing useful will remain that could serve as a foundation for rebuilding the city (Jer 51:26).