August 9, 2022: Day 169 – Jeremiah 49-52 and Proverbs 25

The prophet Jeremiah gives a series of oracles, or prophecies, agains the nations that had abused Judah.  We see him speak against Ammon and Edom and Damascus.  But then he starts to speak out against Babylon, and he doesn’t stop.  

As I was reading through this section it became clear what trauma the people of Israel had experienced that the total and complete destruction of Babylon was required.  It made me think of what perspective would those who had been in slavery have for the nation that took them into slavery.  I had to think of our own national history.  Why do we expect people of color to move on with their lives and forget what happend to their ancestors when we have in Scripture a very clear indication that Jeremiah prophecied destruction for the nation that took his people into slavery.  

It makes me wonder why some see our nation as blessed over other nations when we have been the Babylon that is reflected in Scripture that has taken captive the people of the Lord.  I know, it was a hundreds of years ago, but the prophecies of Jeremiah speak to the nation as a whole and speak about its destruction.  It should put us on guard.

In Proverbs we read something that appears in Romans as well.  Look at Proverbs 25:21 – “If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on their heads, and the Lord will reward you.”  That should remind us of Romans 7:17-21.