Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Jeremiah 49-50.
Today we continue to read of the wrath that will be poured out against all nations. Remember, God told the nations that as Jerusalem will be punished, so too will you.
As I was reading today's message, I was reminded that God called this carnage his "cup of wrath":
Thus the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. 16 They shall drink and stagger and be crazed because of the sword that I am sending among them.” (Jeremiah 25:15-16)
“Then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Drink, be drunk and vomit, fall and rise no more, because of the sword that I am sending among you.’
“And if they refuse to accept the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: You must drink! 29 For behold, I begin to work disaster at the city that is called by my name, and shall you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the Lord of hosts.’ (Jeremiah 27-29)
As I contemplate this horror, I was also reminded that we shall again see God's cup of wrath many centuries later mentioned in the garden of Gethsemane:
"And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:39-46)
John also brings the cup of God's wrath into our view in the book of Revelation:
"And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:9-11)
We have read many chapters of false prophets in Jeremiah's day proclaiming that God would never attack his bride Israel. Today, the post-modern mind reads these words, and just like the false prophets of old, scoffs at the idea of a final coming judgment of God.
God sent a great many prophets to warn Jerusalem of their coming drink of God's wrath, and God has given us Messiah and many others to foretell of a future drink of God's wrath.
The question is: what will you do with this information?
Will you scoff, or fall on your knees?
