Jeremiah Chapter 51: When what’s political is God’s personal plan

This chapter reminds us how political scenes on earth can be God’s personal plan.

While what people saw was Babylon’s political and military conquest, in truth, God was using the empire for His purposes of punishing Israel. God calls the Babylonian Empire, 

“My battle-ax and weapons of war: For with you I will break the nation in pieces; With you I will destroy kingdoms … with you I will break in pieces governors and rulers.” (Jeremiah 51:20-23)

Yet though He may use us, God does not hold anyone in an iron grip. We have free will to make our own decisions – and for them we will stand before God’s judgment.  

Babylon was tremendously violent, building their cities through bloodshed and sin (Habakkuk 1:9; 2:12). They worshiped idols too (Jeremiah 51:47). Above all, they had destroyed God’s temple (Jeremiah 51:11). For these (and more), God would judge them.

No matter how politically savvy or prosperous a nation may be, none is immune to God’s judgment. Even if that nation may be “the praise of the whole earth” (Jeremiah 51:41), as Babylonian was. 

“Though Babylon were to mount up to heaven, And though she were to fortify the height of her strength, Yet from Me plunderers would come to her,” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 51:53)

No amount of good governance, military might, or secular wisdom can protect a nation from God’s wrath.

We are merely human. Unless something is penned in the Bible, we will not know how political moves in the world may be part of God’s personal plans.

However, what we know with all certainty is that God Almighty is the King of Justice. 

While we might feel grief and even rage by the injustice and violence we see governments carrying out across the globe, trust God’s timing. 

Concerning Babylon’s violence, God called for patience. “Yet a little while And the time of her harvest will come.” (Jeremiah 51:33)

True enough, when God’s time was right, the Persian and Medes empire swooped in to put an end to Babylon. Again, this political event was to fulfill God’s purpose of destroying Babylon (Jeremiah 51:11).

Do not lose hope. In His time, God will judge. He will act.

“For the LORD is the God of recompense, He will surely repay.” (Jeremiah 51:56)

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