2.9.3.3.3 - The Judgment

God showed great patience with the southern kingdom. If we consider the ministry of Jeremiah alone, he prophesied warning to Judah for a period of 40 years (626-586 B.C.). This is a relatively long time and witnesses to the patience of God in withholding judgment.

During this period, God gave a great deal of information concerning the nature of the judgment which would follow. He revealed that the instrument of His judgment would be the growing regional superpower: Babylon.¹ He also indicated that the overthrow of Judah would be by way of siege and that they would suffer famine,² resulting in the destruction of Jerusalem by fire.³ As a result, the nation would be carted off to Babylon⁴ for a period of seventy years (see Seventy Sevens).⁵ Rather than resisting this judgment from God, the people were encouraged to prosper in Babylon and seek the well-being of the city.⁶

God also revealed that the basis for the coming judgment was to be found in the curses associated with the Mosaic Covenant,⁷ especially the violation of the sabbath for the land every seven years. He also revealed that the nation used in judgment (Babylon) would find itself subsequently judged for opposing Israel.⁸

Notes

¹ Concerning Babylon attacking Israel: Jer. 1:14-15, 4:6, 13; 5:15; 6:1, 22; 8:16; 10:22; 13:4-7, 20; 15:12; 20:4; 21:4, 10; 22:25; 25:9; 27:6-8, 12-22; 28:14; 32:24, 36; 33:5; 34:1, 7, 21; 35:11; 36:29; 37:8; 38:2-3, 17-18; Eze. 1:3; 10:22; 11:24; 12:13; 17:3, 12; 19:9; 21:19-22; 23:23; 24:2-14.

² Concerning famine during siege of Jerusalem: Jer. 6:6; 8:3; 11:22; 14:16, 18; 15:2; 16:4; 19:9; 24:10; 32:24; 33:4; 52:4; 32:24; 33:4; Eze. 21:22; Eze. 4:1-3, 16-17; 5:16-17; 6:11; 7:15; 14:13, 21.

³ Concerning the destruction of Jerusalem by fire: Jer. 9:11; 12:7; 15:6; 17:27; 19:8, 11; 21:10; 25:18, 29; 26:9; 32:29-31; 34:2, 22; 37:8, 10; Eze. 4:7; 5:5-8, 14-15; 10:2; 12:20; 15:6-8; 16:35-43; 21:2, 22; 22:19-22; 24:6, 21. Fulfilled: Jer. 39:8; 44:8; Eze. 33:21.

⁴ Concerning captivity in Babylon: Jer. 5:19; 8:19; 9:16; 10:18; 13:17-19, 24; 15:1-2, 14; 16:13; 17:4; 20:4-6; 22:26-28; 24:5; 29:18; 32:28; Eze. 4:13; 5:10; 6:8-9; 7:24; 11:9; 12:11-15; 22:15; 36:19. Fulfilled: Jer. 39:9; 40:1.

⁵ Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10.

⁶ Jer. 27:11; 29:4-7, 28.

⁷ Concerning the Mosaic Covenant serving as the basis for judgment: Jer. 11:7-8 cf. Lev. 26:26, 29, 31, 33-34; Deu. 28:36, 49-58.

⁸ This principle applies throughout the Times of the Gentiles, including our own day. Concerning subsequent judgment of Babylon: Jer. 12:14; 25:12-14, 26; 30:16, 20; 50:18, 34; 51:24.