Jeremiah 46
“‘Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, for I am with you,’ says the LORD. ‘I will completely destroy the nations to which I have exiled you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you, but with justice; I cannot let you go unpunished.’” (Jeremiah 46:28, NLT)
It is interesting that Jeremiah was not only a prophet to Israel but also to the nations. The word of the LORD is not limited to one nation, language or culture but is universal. God is sovereign over every nation. God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. But this also means that the nations of the world will give an account to the LORD.
The LORD used Assyria in the northern kingdom to discipline His people and Babylon in the southern kingdom. God called King Nebuchadnezzar “My servant” (Jeremiah 25:9). However, the Babylonians had gone too far and cruelly abused the Jews. Moreover, Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson (Belteshazzar) blasphemously drank wine from the LORD’s sacred vessels and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone (Daniel 5:4). Therefore, God said He would judge and even destroy the nations He used to discipline His people Israel. But He would preserve His chosen people.
Whenever I am tempted to doubt God’s love for me…whenever I think that He may withdraw from me because of something I’ve done or I’ve failed to do…I remember how God has treated Israel. When they rebelled against Him, He did not let them go unpunished. But He has never withdrawn His love from them. Even in times of judgment, He remembered His mercy and promised that He would restore them. How much more can we depend upon God’s faithfulness and lovingkindness knowing that we have been “accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6) and that Christ is our Advocate (1 John 2:1)? It is true that the Lord may discipline us with justice, for this is proof of His love (Revelation 3:19). But if we belong to Christ, then He will never withdraw His presence from us. He is with us and will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Blessed assurance!