Reading for November 21st

Read Jeremiah 51.1-14. In 51.1-64: Flee. The opposing futures of Babylon and Israel continue to echo each other in this chapter. However, for the first time God orders the exiles to flee from Babylon and return to Zion. God's power dominates these passages to show that God is the sovereign of history. Out of nothing God will create a future the will overturn systems of domination. In verses 1-5: Speaking in the first person, god plans the siege of Babylon. I am going to stir up a ... wind ... i will send winower. God is bringing about cosmic upheaval that will destroy Babylonian power. In verse 5: despite their guilt, God has not abandoned Israel and Judah. In verses 6-10: The exiles must flee. Urgent appeals to them to escape from the vengence about to engulf Babylon open the poem. In verse 8: Babylon has been like a golden cup in God's hand but now has fallen. A voice calls for healing balm, but it is too late. In verse 9: The exiles tried to heal Babylon but they could not, so they flee to Zion to declare God's work. In verses 11-14: War preparations continue. God orders armies to make their wepons ready and to prepare ambushes. The Medes, an empire of the time, will destroy Babylon. Comments or Questions..