Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 535

"Israel is like scattered sheep"

Text: Jeremiah 50:17

THE PUNISHMENT OF BABYLON

The LORD had an important word for His people. This word concerned Israel in the past and Judah in the present. It was a word of explanation that was intended to bring some measure of hope and encouragement.

“‘Israel is like scattered sheep;
The lions have driven him away.
First the king of Assyria devoured him;
Now at last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones’
Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
‘Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,
As I have punished the king of Assyria.'”
Jeremiah 50:17-18

1. “Israel is like scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away.
First the king of Assyria devoured him; now at last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
has broken his bones”

a) The word “Israel”.
It covered both Israel and Judah

b) Two symbols were used:

i) Israel was compared to a sheep.

ii) Assyria was compared to a lion.

c) Assyria devoured Israel as a nation.

d) Babylon arose and destroyed Israel.

e) The king of Assyria was thus punished.

2. “Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold,
I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria'”

a) This word came from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel.

b) He will punish the king of Babylon and his land.

c) Just as He had punished the king of Assyria.

i) As Assyria was destroyed as an empire.

ii) So Babylon would be similarly destroyed.