Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 46-47 and Romans 9:24-33

Jeremiah 46 – The next four chapters are Jeremiah’s oracles on the nations: Egypt, Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus and others. He begins with an oracle against Egypt. This is a poetic look at their defeat under Neco at Carchemish (605 BC) on the Euphrates.  The poetic retelling of the battle of begins with the Egyptian side, getting ready for what they are confident will be a victorious assault.; but the Lord is not going to favor them today. Nebuchadnezzar will conquer Egypt and defeat the Egyptian gods. “The people of Egypt are put to shame; they are conquered by the people of the north. I, the Lord, have spoken” (46:24). The Lord will punish the god of Thebes, Amon, and hand the pharaoh over to the Babylonians.

But then comes another word of assurance to Israel: “But you, my servant Jacob, fear not; be not dismayed, O Israel.  Behold, I will deliver you from the far-off land, your descendants, from their land of exile. . . .You, my servant Jacob, never fear, says the Lord for I am with you; I will make an end of all the nations to which I have driven you, But of you I will not make an end: I will chastise you as you deserve, I will not let you go unpunished” (46:27).

           

Jeremiah 47 - Oracle against the Philistines  –  the coastal cities of the Philistines are attacked by the Pharaoh and then by the forces of Nebuchadnezzar (605-604 BC).The Philistines were thought to have been a  “remnant” people from the island of Crete (Caphtor); they too fall to the Babylonians.

Romans 9:24-33 - Paul goes into verses from the prophets that confirm God’s sovereignty in the matter of who will find his favor and who will not.  The prophets Hosea and Isaiah always prophesied that the Lord would extend His salvation to “the nations,” to those people who were not part of the chosen people. And Isaiah also talked about the “remnant,” the few among the “chosen people” who would persevere in faithfulness, even though they did not completely achieve salvation through the Law alone.  It is from faithfulness that “righteousness” flows, not from works, and faithfulness means not merely an assent to God’s reality but a willingness to be led by Him in one’s life – never perfect perhaps but with integrity (9:30-32).