Words of Judgement, Words of Hope

JEREMIAH announces specific judgments that the Lord vowed to bring on nine nations (Jeremiah 46–51). In reading these sobering words, it is important to remember two truths:

1. God’s wrath was not without cause. There was definite justification for God’s wrath: every single one of the nations listed had turned away from their Creator to worship and serve false gods. Every one of them was guilty, and God’s holy nature required judgment on their sin.
2. God’s wrath was not without remedy. Even as the Lord had called Judah to repent of its sins throughout the years of Jeremiah’s ministry, so He had called the nations to turn to Him and be saved. Tragically, they had refused God’s gracious offer. Now they faced His wrath.

Yet even the Lord’s judgment is redemptive in its purpose. He is willing that no one should perish (2 Peter 3:9), and repentance is always available as an alternative to wrath, right to the end. There was always the possibility that the nations listed in Jeremiah 46-51, or even a handful of individuals in those nations, would fear the judgment of the Lord and turn toward Him.

Courtesy of Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV © 2016 by Crossway Bibles.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.