The Voice of Jeremiah: This is the message that the LORD revealed to the prophet.
How long, O LORD, must I call for help? Violence is everywhere! Why do you make me see such trouble and evil? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see ruin, destruction and violence. I am surrounded by a nation of people who will not listen and repent. They only love to argue and fight. Their law has become weak, paralyzed, and useless, and there is no justice in the courts. Evil people get the better of the righteous, and so justice is perverted.
Then the LORD spoke: “Keep watching the nations around you, and you will be astonished at what you see, for I am going to do something that you will not believe when you hear about it. I am raising-up the Babylonians, a cruel and violent people, and bringing them to power. They will march across the world and conquer other lands. They are a dreaded people; they spread fear and terror, and are notorious for their cruelty. In pride, they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor; they do whatever they like.”
“Their troops come from distant lands. They are faster than leopards and fiercer than hungry wolves. They come swooping down like eagles to attack and devour their prey. Their army hordes advance in violent conquest and everyone is terrified as they approach. Their captives are as numerous as grains of sand. They treat kings with contempt and laugh at high officials. No fortress can stop them—they pile up earth against it and capture it. Then they sweep on like the wind and are gone, these men whose power is their god.” I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, have spoken.”
The Voice of Jeremiah: O LORD my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal— surely you do not plan to wipe us out? O LORD, my Rock, you have sent these Babylonians to correct us, to punish us for our many sins. But You are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil people doing wrong. Will You wink at their treachery? Should You be silent while the wicked swallow up people more righteous than they? [1]
I will climb my watchtower and wait to see what the LORD will tell me to say and what answer He will give to my complaint. [2]
Then the LORD spoke: “Write the vision so plainly that everyone who passes may be able to read it easily and quickly as he hurries by. Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed.”
“And this is the message: Those who are evil will not survive, but those who are righteous will live because they are faithful to God. Wealth is deceitful. Greedy people are proud and restless—like death itself they are never satisfied. That is why they conquer nation after nation for themselves. But soon, the conquered people will taunt their conquerors and show their scorn for them. They will say, ‘America, you’ve become rich by extortion, taking what isn’t yours, but how much longer can this go on? Now you will get what you deserve; you are doomed!’”
“Suddenly, America, before you know it, you who have conquered others will be in debt yourselves and be forced to pay interest. Enemies will come and make you tremble. They will plunder you! You have plundered the people of many nations, but now those who have survived will plunder you because of the murders you have committed and because of your violence against the people of the world and its cities.”
“You are doomed, America! You have made your nation rich with what you took by violence, and have tried to make your own home safe from harm and danger! But your schemes have brought shame on your nation! By destroying many nations you have only brought ruin on yourself! Even the stones of the walls cry out against you, and the rafters echo the cry.”
“You are doomed, America! Once a nation founded on Me and My Word, you have founded a new nation, one built up by crime, murder, deceit, and wickedness. The nations you conquered wore themselves out in useless labor, and all they have built will go up in flames. The LORD Almighty has done this. But the earth will be as full of the knowledge of the LORD’S glory as the seas are full of water.
You are doomed, America! In your fury you humiliated and disgraced your neighbors; you made them stagger as though they were drunk. You in turn will be covered with shame instead of honor. You yourself will drink and stagger. The LORD will make you drink your own cup of punishment, and your honor will be turned to disgrace. I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, have spoken.”
The Voice of Jeremiah’s plea: O America, the judgment hand of Almighty God is coming down upon you! But, the Lord Jesus Christ the Savior of the world specializes in hopeless cases. He breaks the power of sin and He sets the prisoner free from the bondage of his sin.[3] Repent, mourn your sin, turn back to God, and be saved before it is too late!
[1] Hab. 1:1-13; [2] Hab. 2:1; [3] John 8:34-36; cf. Ps. 102:20
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