Jeremiah 49-51 “One Global System or One Holy Nation?”

“One Global System or One Holy Nation?”

In , all people spoke the same language and so they agreed to make a name for themselves and ignore the glory of God’s name (, ). But God intervened and confused their language to frustrate their unified effort to deny worshipping Him ().

I. An Alliance Against God’s People –

A. This alliance or confederacy was against, not only God’s people, but against God Himself –

but against God Himself –

1. Ammon worshipped Moloch although related to the Israelites they consistently fought against them – . Amman is the capital of Jordan today.

2. Damascus in Syria is also judged –

3. Hazor – today’s Lebanon –

4. Elam - thought to be today’s Iran –

These nations will drink the cup of God’s wrath –

B. Babylon –

1. A great city once ruled by Hammurabi with his legal codes written on a basalt column and kept in the temple of his god.

2. Nebuchadnezzar’s Hanging Gardens described by the historian Herodotus as of such great splendor that it was one of the Seven Wonders of the world

3. Nebuchadnezzar himself took great pride in his city () until humbled to proclaim God’s dominion ()

4. But by the time of Belshazar, Babylon forgot God –

5. God judges Babylon –

The Living God judges the nations that forgot Him –

II. Babylon is a Code Word –

A. For the world system opposed to God –

1. The global economic alliance –

2. God had used Babylon to judge the nation of Israel and also Egypt –

B. God gives two commands.

1. Pray for the peace of Babylon and prosper in it –

2. But at another point to flee from it. This world is not our home – , ;

We are to be in the world, but not of it. Our strength is not in the economy or our political system but the freedom of our souls to live with a clear conscience before God –

III. Hope –

A. God’s judgment rescued and purified God’s people –

1. Pardon for sin for God’s people –

2. The new covenant promised to a troubled people –

B. Grace to the nations God judges

1. To the Ammonites –

2. To Elam –

3. Fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost –

God Himself is raising up one holy nation that encompasses the globe ().

People from these judged nations will worship the Father through the Savior Jesus

Christ.