Jeremiah 51 reminds me of an expression that may be disappearing today, “Wait until your father gets home!” Traditionally moms nurtured and dads disciplined. This is a critically important step in the development of young men. The statistics about male children raised without a father in the home are frightening. I believe there is a correlation between learning to live under the authority of Dad, and learning to live under the authority of God. This chapter illustrates that our Heavenly Father is fierce in defending His own. Yes, God is Love, but he is also Holy and perfect in righteousness. Partial obedience to His standards is the same as disobedience of His standards. This chapter describes details about God’s defense of His domain. He begins, “I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon… and to devastate her land“. He includes one of the reasons for His response; to prove, “Israel and Judah have not been forsaken by their God“. And here is a recurring theme in scripture; God removes His people before judgment, “Flee from Babylon! Run for your lives! Do not be destroyed because of her sins. It is time for the Lord’s vengeance“. Don’t miss this fact, “He will repay her what she deserves“.
God gave Babylon authority, but she abused her power. “Babylon was a gold cup in the Lord’s hand“. The nation got too big for her britches so God reestablished roles. “He made the earth by His power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding“. God is in control, Babylon was His instrument, “You are my war club, My weapon for battle; with you I shatter nations“. What did Babylon do? The nation replaced God and defiled sacred items, and replaced them with “worthless, the objects of mockery… foreigners have entered the holy places of the Lord’s house“. It was time for God’s discipline, “I will stretch out My hand against you“.
Simply put, God would not allow Babylon to corrupt and abuse their siblings. He responded to the cries of His children, “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured us… and filled his stomach with our delicacies“. Therefore, “I will defend your cause and avenge you“. This rebellion was put to an end. “Babylon will be a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals… Her towns will be desolate… Come out of her, My people! Run from the fierce anger of the Lord… The Lord will destroy Babylon… Babylon must fall because of Israel’s slain… For the Lord is a God of retribution“. My friend, God is in the house. He is paying attention. He demands respect. He upholds His authority. He fiercely protects His own and He desires us to honor Him in word and deed. Most importantly, He extends an invitation to all the fatherless to join His family. “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit… guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession” (Ephesians 1:13-14). If you have been living as though you have no dad, maybe it’s time you come to Know your Heavenly Father?