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he ruin of Babylon. (1-3,8-16,21-32,35-46;) The redemption of
God's people. (4-7,17-20,33,34)
Verses 1-7: The king of Babylon was kind to Jeremiah, yet the prophet
must foretell the ruin of that kingdom. If our friends are God's
enemies, we dare not speak peace to them. The destruction of
Babylon is spoken of as done thoroughly. Here is a word for the
comfort of the Jews. They shall return to their God first, then
to their own land; the promise of their conversion and
reformation makes way for the other promises. Their tears flow
not from the sorrow of the world, as when they went into
captivity, but from godly sorrow. They shall seek after the Lord
as their God, and have no more to do with idols. They shall
think of returning to their own country. This represents the
return of poor souls to God. In true converts there are sincere
desires to attain the end, and constant cares to keep in the
way. Their present case is lamented as very sad. The sins of
professing Christians never will excuse those who rejoice in
destroying them.
Verses 8-20: The desolation that shall be brought upon Babylon is set
forth in a variety of expressions. The cause of this destruction
is the wrath of the Lord. Babylon shall be wholly desolated; for
she hath sinned against the Lord. Sin makes men a mark for the
arrows of God's judgments. The mercy promised to the Israel of
God, shall not only accompany, but arise from the destruction of
Babylon. These sheep shall be gathered from the deserts, and put
again into good pasture. All who return to God and their duty,
shall find satisfaction of soul in so doing. Deliverances out of
trouble are comforts indeed, when fruits of the forgiveness of
sin.
Verses 21-32: The forces are mustered and empowered to destroy Babylon.
Let them do what God demands, and they shall bring to pass what
he threatens. The pride of men's hearts sets God against them,
and ripens them apace for ruin. Babylon's pride must be her
ruin; she has been proud against the Holy One of Israel; who can
keep those up whom God will throw down?
Verses 33-46: It is Israel's comfort in distress, that, though they are
weak, their Redeemer is strong. This may be applied to
believers, who complain of the dominion of sin and corruption,
and of their own weakness and manifold infirmities. Their
Redeemer is able to keep what they commit to him; and sin shall
not have dominion over them. He will give them that rest which
remains for the people of God. Also here is Babylon's sin, and
their punishment. The sins are, idolatry and persecution. He
that will not save his people in their sins, never will
countenance the wickedness of his open enemies. The judgments of
God for these sins will lay them waste. In the judgments
denounced against prosperous Babylon, and the mercies promised
to afflicted Israel, we learn to choose to suffer affliction
with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of
sin for a season.
