God’s Wrath Against Judah and Other Nations (25:1–38)

Jeremiah had been serving for twenty-three years when he delivered the messages recorded in chapters 25 and 26 (25:3; 26:1). He was called into prophetic service in the year 626 B.C. (1:2) and continued to minister after the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C., a period of over forty years. He was now at the midpoint of his career. When you consider the unsympathetic response of the people both to him and to his messages, you marvel that Jeremiah wasn’t discouraged and ready to quit, but he continued to be faithful to his calling.

The date in 25:1 has led some scholars to conclude that vv. 1–7 are the introduction to the scroll dictated by Jeremiah to Baruch (36:2, 4). After reminding the people that they had not listened to God’s word through the prophets (vv. 1–7), Jeremiah then conveyed that seventy years of exile would be their punishment (vv. 8–14). There follows a remarkable section on the cup of God’s wrath (vv. 15–29). The chapter concludes with word about God’s judgment on all the nations (vv. 30–38).

I. Judah’s Refusal to Listen to the Prophets (25:1–7)

1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), 2 which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying: 3 “From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, this is the twenty-third year in which the word of the LORD has come to me; and I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, but you have not listened. 4 And the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear. 5 They said, ‘Repent now everyone of his evil way and his evil doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever. 6 Do not go after other gods to serve them and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands; and I will not harm you.’ 7 Yet you have not listened to Me,” says the LORD, “that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

A. Jeremiah addressed his words to all the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

At that time he had been proclaiming God’s messages for twenty-three years, i.e., since 627, the year of his call and the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign. He was still able to appear in public without fear for his life (cf. 36:19). Jeremiah had warned the people countless times, but they would not listen to him.

He had remarkable tenacity to continue preaching to such a non-responsive audience. What pastor would remain in a church even two years if no one in his congregation listened to him? The secret of his perseverance is contained in his frequent reminder to his audiences, “The word of the Lord has come to me.”

B. The people of Judah could not claim they had not been warned about the consequences of their faithlessness.

The Lord had sent “his servants the prophets again and again,” but the people would not listen. Their message was essentially the same as Jeremiah’s—put away your gods and your evil practices and God will not punish you.

The people refused to listen. They seemed determined to provoke God’s anger. They did not believe that continued disobedience would bring disaster.

II. Seventy Years of Punishment (25:8–14)

8 “Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Because you have not heard My words, 9 behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,’ says the LORD, ‘and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against these nations all around, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, a hissing, and perpetual desolations. 10 Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp. 11 And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 ‘Then it will come to pass, when seventy years are completed, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity,’ says the LORD; ‘and I will make it a perpetual desolation. 13 So I will bring on that land all My words which I have pronounced against it, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied concerning all the nations. 14 (For many nations and great kings shall be served by them also; and I will repay them according to their deeds and according to the works of their own hands.)’ ”

A. Their continued disobedience resulted in the harsh sentence pronounced.

God was going to summon “all the peoples of the north” against Judah (i.e., the Babylonians and their allies). They would be under the leadership of “my servant Nebuchadnezzar” (a phrase also found in 27:6; 43:10). It seems strange that God would call both the prophets (25:4) and a pagan ruler his “servants.”

The designation of Nebuchadnezzar as “servant” is a reminder of God’s sovereignty. He can use a person to accomplish his purposes whether that person is intentionally or unwittingly serving him.The Babylonians would be the instrument of judgment by whom God would “completely destroy” Judah.

B. Jeremiah’s announcement of Judah’s punishment at the hands of the pagan Babylonians must have puzzled the covenant people of Judah.

God will accomplish all the warnings prophesied by Jeremiah that were written “in this book.” The statement is puzzling because the Book of Jeremiah was far from complete at that time.

In retribution for all its wickedness, the Lord announced that Babylon would be subjugated by many nations. The prediction was fulfilled when a coalition of Medes and Persians under Cyrus overthrew the Babylonian Empire in 539.

III. The Cup of God’s Wrath (25:15–29)

15 For thus says the LORD God of Israel to me: “Take this wine cup of fury from My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it. 16 And they will drink and stagger and go mad because of the sword that I will send among them.”17 Then I took the cup from the LORD’s hand, and made all the nations drink, to whom the LORD had sent me: 18 Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and its princes, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is this day; 19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his princes, and all his people; 20 all the mixed multitude, all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the land of the Philistines (namely, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod); 21 Edom, Moab, and the people of Ammon; 22 all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the coastlands which are across the sea; 23 Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who are in the farthest corners; 24 all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the mixed multitude who dwell in the desert; 25 all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes; 26 all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the world which are on the face of the earth. Also the king of Sheshach shall drink after them. 27 “Therefore you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Drink, be drunk, and vomit! Fall and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.” ’ 28 And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “You shall certainly drink! 29 For behold, I begin to bring calamity on the city which is called by My name, and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished, for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth,” says the LORD of hosts.’

A. The Lord ordered Jeremiah to take a cup of “the wine of my wrath” and force the nations to whom God would send him to drink it.

The cup of wrath in these verses is not a new figure in the Bible. It probably finds its origin in Num 5:11–31. If a man suspected his wife of being unfaithful, she was required to drink a potion prepared by a priest. If she was innocent, the drink would have no effect on her. If guilty, she would experience bitter suffering.

Jeremiah sought out a representative from each of the nations named by God and made that person drink the cup. Jerusalem and Judah are named first, along with their kings and officials. The placement of Judah first was an intentional reminder that judgment begins with God’s people. Pharaoh and his court and all his people, including “foreign people”; perhaps including the Jews in Egypt) would also drink the cup.

B. The objects of God’s wrath would be as helpless as a drunk person facing the sword of a skillful warrior.

None would be able to refuse the cup, i.e., escape judgment. If God would not spare the city that bears his name (i.e., Jerusalem), how could other nations expect to escape his wrath? The expression “the city that bears his name” is unique here to Jeremiah.

The judgment messages against other nations are not insignificant. They contain some important theological implications. God is the God of all peoples, whether or not they acknowledge him. Because he is Creator, all peoples are accountable to him. Because of his holiness, he takes sin seriously; he will punish it wherever he finds it.

IV. God’s Coming Judgment on All Nations (25:30–38)

30 “Therefore prophesy against them all these words, and say to them:‘The LORD will roar from on high,And utter His voice from His holy habitation;He will roar mightily against His fold.He will give a shout, as those who tread the grapes,Against all the inhabitants of the earth. 31 A noise will come to the ends of the earth—For the LORD has a controversy with the nations;He will plead His case with all flesh.He will give those who are wicked to the sword,’ says the LORD.” 32 Thus says the LORD of hosts:“Behold, disaster shall go forth From nation to nation,And a great whirlwind shall be raised up From the farthest parts of the earth. 33 “And at that day the slain of the LORD shall be from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall become refuse on the ground. 34 “Wail, shepherds, and cry! Roll about in the ashes,You leaders of the flock!For the days of your slaughter and your dispersions are fulfilled; You shall fall like a precious vessel. 35 And the shepherds will have no way to flee,Nor the leaders of the flock to escape. 36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds,And a wailing of the leaders to the flock will be heard.For the LORD has plundered their pasture, 37 And the peaceful dwellings are cut down Because of the fierce anger of the LORD. 38 He has left His lair like the lion;For their land is desolate Because of the fierceness of the Oppressor, And because of His fierce anger.”

A. Like a lion roaring in anticipation of seizing his victim, the Lord would roar against Judah in judgment.

“His holy dwelling” in 25:30 should be understood as heaven, not the temple in Jerusalem because it is parallel with “on high.” Another figure describes God like those treading grapes and shouting with animated energy as they work.

By means of highly figurative language, the sound of battle that would bring down God’s enemies is said to reverberate to the ends of the earth. By means of courtroom language, the Lord is said to bring charges against the nations, on all humankind. He will put the wicked to the sword.

B. The figure of the lion is resumed in the closing verse of the chapter.

“He will leave his lair” may be interpreted as God’s judgment coming on a complacent people, even as the lion emerges from his lair to pounce on his unsuspecting prey. The statement that follows, “the land will become desolate,” supports a different interpretation of “leave his lair.”

It could suggest that like the lion that will abandon his lair that has been destroyed, so the Lord is going to abandon Jerusalem and the land he gave to Israel (cf. Ezek 10:18). The sword of the oppressor (i.e., God’s instrument of judgment) is in reality the sword of the Lord.