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Text: Jeremiah 49:28-33
Egypt, Philistines, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, and Kedar – the seventh judgment.
Hazor’s history
- The kingdoms of Hazor are another very ancient people whose national identity is completely annihilated and removed from the map shortly after being scattered by Nebuchadnezzar.
- This nation was mentioned many times in ancient history by Egypt and other nations.
- Joshua encountered King Jabin of Hazor when in the promised land.
The theology of nations
- People and nations are born in a race against corruption. And when it comes to nations, the LORD created a nation out of a faithful man named Abraham. But the nation was corrupted by cultures that love money, power, and pleasure.
- Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
- Proverbs 28:2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
The prophecy is divided into two commands by God that begin with Arise (28,33). The judgment is scattering, but unlike Damascus, there is no death in the streets. The tents and cattle that Nebuchadnezzar’s army will plunder and take for a ransom for the lives of the Kedarites.
Arise (vss 28-30)
- This is straightforward enough. Nebuchadnezzar is going to scatter these people.
- Events have multiple causes
- One of the things people do that they need to be aware of is ascribe single motivations to events, generally making them black and white. It’s a convenient and easy way of thinking about things. It’s why conspiracies and Illuminati and these other beliefs are so easy for ignorant people. It’s just easier to have one group that controls everything, therefore the solution is simple and the explanation is simple. This mentality turns people into liars and false accusers where people who don’t agree with you don’t agree with you because they have bad motives. They don’t love the truth like you do. No. You’re a hypocrite who doesn’t pay attention you don’t care for other people.
- Here you have the kingdoms of Hazor scattered. Why is it being scattered? B/C the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar wants to take the real estate and cattle? Yes. B/C God is intending to disperse these people? Yes.
- So you have two wills at work at the same time. You say did God do it or did man do it? Yes. Both. Is it spiritual or is it physical? Yes. Both.
- Free will can be a messy thing. It’s layers of motivations and competencies interacting with each other. It’s full of overlapping and clashing desires. Occasionally they’ll line up with the will of the Creator, but generally not.
- This is one reason the Bible is so important in that it gives man this perspective.
- Flee, don’t fight
- What if the will of God is the destroyer? What if it’s not time to build up or plant, it’s time to tear down and demolish?
- You know, I would love to read a book about captaining a sinking ship. There’s enough stuff out there about how to grow your business and your church. But what if the institution needs to be destroyed? Where’s the advice that says here’s how you oversee a demolition project.
- Flee idolatry.
- Flee fornication.
Arise (vss 31-33)
- Careless nation – Not being burdened with a lot of care can be a good thing. You’re not built by God to go around paranoid about everything.
- But in this case, the carelessness comes from a sort of enjoying the landscape and the prairie is our home mentality.
- There is a balance though from not worrying about everything to being prepared for some things.
- This is another reason the Bible is so needed. It not only gives a better understanding of events but prescribes a balance in everyday life.
- Pray and work.
- Prepare the horses for battle and trust the LORD.
- Teach all nations and have faith in God.
