Wed.’s Devo - God's Battle Cry

Read: Jeremiah 51:1-53; Titus 2:1-15; Psalm 99:1-9; Proverbs 26:17 Jeremiah proclaimed a battle cry against Babylon. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies had not forgotten Israel and was coming with vengeance against Babylon. The people will despair but everyone must return to their own land and not mourn Babylon’s death. The whole human race had been foolish because they worshipped worthless idols. But the God of Israel is no idol. God called forth the armies of Ararat, Minni and Ashchenaz to fight against Babylon. The meanings of these armies read like a sentence. When you look up what they mean in the Hebrew, it reads: “The curse reversed through Me, the Lord.The people will be like a man as sprinkled and a fire as scattered.” God spoke of Babylon as a destroying mountain that would be left a burnt mountain. It would be like a volcano when when it had finished spewing its lava on all the country it would fall into the vacuum and become extinct. The surrounding "rocks" alone would mark where the crater had been. This was the appearance of Babylon after its destruction, and as the pumice stones of the volcano were left in their place, being unfit for building, so Babylon would never rise from its ruins. God told Israel that He was their lawyer and he would plead their case and avenge them. The enemies would not go quietly or peacefully but they would be brought down like lambs to the slaughter. Titus was given instruction for the older men to have self-control and be examples of faith, love and patience to the younger men. The older women should be examples to the younger women of how to love their husbands and their children. Employers should honor their bosses and be trustworthy and good. Lord, may your salvation cause us to want to turn away from godless living and sinful pleasures.