What’s the opposite of a banner year? Whatever it is, that’s what our family has experienced in the last year. Grief, frustration, brokenness, envy, death, and sickness stretched us out like a rubber band, taking us further than we thought we physically had the capacity to go.
At some point, every response started to seem rote, even the biblical ones. I stopped talking to certain people, because I knew they would offer a platitude that did nothing to assuage the torrent of grief and sadness. I longed for a true reprieve, a glimpse of the promise that I know in my bones is true: that one day there will be no more sadness and no more death (Revelation 21:4).
The brutal prophecies against the nations in the final few chapters of Jeremiah feel like that: unrelenting, devastating, impossible to withstand. Chapter 49 unwinds the devastations that were to come: the land of Ammon would be like a desolate mound; the chief city Bozrah would be destroyed, “an example for cursing” (v.13). Edom would become insignificant among all nations and uninhabitable (vv.15); fires would consume Damascus (v.27); Elam would lose the source of their power and be finished off, their kings destroyed (vv.35, 37–38). But then we read this:
“Yet, in the last days, I will restore the fortunes of Elam.
This is the LORD’s declaration” (v.39).
There are short verses tucked in each chapter that promise restoration—the Egyptians (Jeremiah 46:26), the Moabites (48:47), the Ammonites (49:6), and the Elamites. And earlier in Jeremiah, God made a promise to His people, the people of Judah who had betrayed Him: “‘I will restore your fortunes, and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you’—this is the LORD’s declaration. ‘I will restore you to the place from which I deported you’” (Jeremiah 29:14).
This is because our just God is also our merciful God. Even in the midst of judgment, executed in His perfect justice and righteousness, He promises to restore His people. He promises to restore their enemies. God is so big and so good.
Jeremiah is a study of God’s character. The reality of His grace and His justice is too much for our brains to comprehend. How, after all the things the Elamites and Ammonites and Egyptians and Moabites did to the people of God, could He promise to restore them? How, after all the ways His people betrayed Him, could God show them mercy? I do not understand it. But I know I need that same mercy.
Charles Spurgeon, a British theologian and pastor, said: “God’s mercy is so great that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, or make space too narrow, than diminish the great mercy of God.” It is this great mercy of our good and just God that we see woven throughout this chapter of desolation. Thanks be to Him.
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40 thoughts on "Prophecies Against Elam"
Love the constant glimmers of hope and restoration and God’s heart in these passages
The Lord forgives me every day. His great mercy to me is endless. And in his example, I can learn to be patient and forgive others, showing great mercy everyday.
Thank God for His mercy.
Lord help me to understand
Thank you my Lord
Something stuck out to me as I was reading. I’ve been feeling so angry and sad and grieved about everything happening right now. For friends who are facing terrible situations, for people affected and on the front lines facing COVID19. Seeing stories and reading prayer requests on here of those affected breaks my heart. Something that broke me today was knowing there are some who I still love who don’t see this virus the same way I do or choose to live in the same precautions I have. It makes me sad and angry that I can’t control or make them see differently (silly me trying to be in control). It comforted me to read verses 7-8 where God is concerned about these people’s lack of wisdom. It gave me comfort for some reason knowing that God sees what I see, he is bigger than I am, and He is ultimately in control.
This study of Jeremiah cannot be more apt during this season as we face the one single situation binding all of us together. Where I am (here in Singapore, I’m time zones away from where most of your readers are) but we’re fighting the same covid war. But we also all stand on the one same promise that our God is always sovereign. This study on Jeremiah is a humble reminder to us (Christians and non Christians alike) to humble ourselves before Him and repent and He will restore our richness.
Shalom everyone and may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guide your hearts, your minds and your souls.
Shalom from Hong Kong, Sherri. Happy to “see” a sister from the same side of the world! And yes, this pandemic binds us all together. ❤️
This bible reading today is reminding me that our only true assurance is Jesus. We shouldn’t put our hope in our money or anything else. All of these things are like sinking sand. May we all remember that during this time.
Kelly, my heart just broke reading your post. I will be praying for your future sister in law.
When I read, “The reality of His grace and His justice is too much for our brains to comprehend.”, I thought to myself Melanie Rainer nail it on the head. Yes, as she wrote a little bit before “our just God is also our merciful God.” and “God is so big and so good.” but comprehending all of what God does is inconceivable. The grace He gives us time and time and time again is beyond belief. Yet do I give that same grace to my fellow human being time and time and time again — no. The justice He brings about is unfathomable but do I take heed — no. I need to remember what the second part of 1 Timothy 6:17 says “Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.” This is a time when we all need to trust in God who gives us everything we need.
Audreye:
I am praying that in this difficult season you feel God’s presence and are strengthened by His love.
Audrye, I know what you are going through. For me, this pandemic that we are going through has not distracted me from losing my husband. In some ways it magnifies my grief. Tomorrow my husband will be gone 6 months. But I’m telling you to hold on. I’m holding on. God is faithful. He will get all of us through this. I’ve been finding such peace in Isaiah 26:3 “ You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You
because he trusts in You.”
Audrye, remember His promises. You are always in my prayers
I’m so sorry.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You. Psalm 89:14 This is who God is. He is love ❤️
Kelly, I’m praying for your future sister-in-law. May God encamp His angels around her and protect her from all harm and evil. I’m praying that God will convict her abusers and cause them to turn their hearts towards Jesus and be saved. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Today, after our reading, The Lord’s Prayer came to mind, so I went to Matthew 6:9 to see what notes I had written there.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name. (greatly revered & honored)
THY Kingdom come. THY will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (God’s purpose NOT mine).
Give us this day our daily bread (necessities, not luxuries of life).
And forgive us our trespasses (sins) As we forgive them that trespass against us. (God’s pardon).
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. (God’s protection).
For THINE is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
GOD is in control!
Ladies, please lift up in prayer my future sister in law, who we just learned is being abused at home. I am sure there are so many others like her and this quarantine is exacerbating it. Praying for everyone out there who does not feel safe as they are stuck at home, to find help.
Lifting you up in prayer today Audrey….you are not alone! I too know where you are at only too well. I have learned that when you love deeply you will grieve deeply. Cry out to Our faithful God and lean in close and He will provide comfort and give rest to your heart, soul and mind. God bless you……be assured there is hope ahead!
AMEN!!!
Audrye, you will be in my prayers! I went through a similar season a few years back. God gently pulled me back info His arms. We are here for you and more importantly God is with you. Don’t give up!!! Hugs
Praying for you Audrye and all of us- your honesty and courage is encouraging and touched my heart- as is your reaching out to God and others. May you feel & know God’s presence and peace tangibly and in abundance- today and everyday! ❤️
Heavenly Father, during this time I will not fear and I will not stress. Help me out my trust in you, every minute of every hour of everyday. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
This quarantine is hard, we all know it. I try hard to remind myself the God is sprouting new growth out of hard ground. More time for reflection and to dig deeper maybe watch a “Christian” movie we might not have otherwise. My prayers for small businesses to survive and for employees out of work or with no daycare for their littles. Prayers for peace of mind and safety. Prayers for people to just behave and stop being divisive. For our leaders to step up and and not play party politics when they all need to work together, the people on the ground just need their help. Blessings to all here and your families. Stay safe my Shes.
“How, after all the ways His people betrayed Him, could God show them mercy? I do not understand it. But I know I need that same mercy.” -Melanie Rainer.
God is powerful over all, and He has the victory. We have this hope and we live in His love through the Holy Spirit in us, Romans 5:5 . We glorify Him with what we have today, Colossians 3:23-24 . Though we cannot see, we follow Him. We believe. John 20:29-31 . We trust in His perfect character and power and not in comfort or wealth. He keeps His promises.
I can’t “reply” but Sara Terry, yes, this unique time is really a time of refining. At first I felt oppressed by it, but now I’m seeing the good. I pray there is good to come of it on a national scale.
I love what the commentary for today says about Jeremiah being a study of God’s character–He is just and holy, but also so incredibly loving and merciful and patient.
In summary of what I posted above: I want to reverence Him and always hallow His Name.
God is faithful to preserve a remnant. He preserved a remnant of His chosen people because He desired for them to turn back to Him, because He is a promise keeping God. He preserved a remnant of Israel’s enemies to give them an opportunity to turn to Him. He doesn’t desire for anyone to perish. God’s goal for all nations is repentance and restoration. How generous and merciful is our God! He will use whatever it takes to draw people to Himself. He is a relentless God.
Praying for many to come to Christ today, even in and through this devastating storm we are presently experiencing. We don’t always have tomorrow.
This time of quarantine has felt like a wildfire to me … burning away everything to leave space for new growth . It has been revealing to me what activities I do ( or dont yet) that am truly called to and which ones I have been doing for the sake of keeping busy . Some of these “busy” tasks are even church related , but my heart went at them from a posture of people pleasing and attempts to fill up space in the days and not of guidance from the Lord. I pray that this season , though it has revealed deep grief and anger and heart idols that are difficult to see with the numb busyness of “normal” life leaves purified space for the Holy Spirit to work and restore !
As I have been reading the chapters about the various nations and the judgement to come for them, I think about Revelation and the various churches. Then I think about our world and I wonder: in the present time, what would God say about us today? The various nations of the world? And how can we, one by one, make a difference in His/story? We are one, but empowered by the One, we can make a difference. You matter ladies. A single lit candle, dispels the darkness. Multiple spread out and glowing, light the room-change the world.
Each one of you sisters are spot on, just as we love our children there is a balance between love and discipline. We only want the best for them and that is what God wants for us, His people it is what He has always wanted. Thank you Lord for the hope we have in the cross and I don’t know what we would do without it. We always have His assurance and love.
Amen Blessed Beth.
Downing tools right now to lift my hands in praise to the One absolute true God! My God that is who you are!
No matter the sin.The hurting. The grief. The devastation. The wrong. The hopelessness. The climb. The frustration. The brokenness. The pain. The hopelessness.
But God..
Absolutely But God, He declares..
Yet, in the last days, I will restore the fortunes of Elam.
This is the LORD’s declaration” (v.39).
I hear and understand this to mean, In the end, (when all is said and done and we are at the end of our rope) and we have nowhere to go, but to HIM, I, (The Lord God) will restore the fortunes ( All things good, in ample stock, not just in monetary form, but physical and most especially in spirit form..blessing, hope, grace, mercy, love, BLESSINGS GALORE) of Elam..( you and me).
When God DECLARES, PROMISES, SPEAKS, I believe and know that these are THE GOODNESS OF GOD TRUTHS, waiting to happen! these are the truest of words.
Standing on His promises of restoration, hope, and beyond belief blessings.
THE LORD GOD HAS DECLARED IT AFTERALL…
Amen!
Hope filled for Gods favour over each of of you and yours, my Sisters. Every blessing wrapped in love, hugs and prayers❤
Going through a season of grief that is tipping into depression. Hope is hard to grasp and everything is raw and heavy. Quarantine doesn’t help but it’s brought this pain to the surface. I have to confront it now. Praying that God will be faithful and restore my heart and life in the painful season. Praying for you all too as I know everyone is facing different challenges through all of this. ❤️
Thank you for sharing this, at least in this place, Audrye. God provides. He alone is our comfort, our healer, our redeemer. He is the God of restoration, reconciliation, and salvation. Praying for you. Keep leaning into Him. He will always hold you.
Audrye, you are topping my prayer list this morning. It’s so tough to revisit grief, but Jesus will walk with you through it and provide healing on the other side. I know this firsthand. Thank you for sharing your heart!
Audrey, praying for you this morning. God can use this time to comfort, encourage, restore, and heal all your hurting places. Hugs to you. ❤️
Audrey, praying for you brought your time of desolation and grief. The mercy of our God is right there with you. We are here to pray for you. Bless you my sister.
Praying! Know that what is in the dark and shadows in each of us is not mightier than the Spirit who is in you.
Praying! Know that the Spirit in you is mightier than anything you may find in your shadows and darkness. The way out is through. Just keep walking, trust that Jesus is there beside whether you see him or not.
Yes, I heard my pastor say a while ago that teachings about God or when we talk about God , we should tell of His grace but this must be balanced with the truth about Him being a Holy, Righteous, and Just God. I don’t remember his exact words, but the point is that a lot of pastors today just preach one or the other. Yes. His grace is amazing, but don’t forget His other attributes. I hope I’m explaining this right! I want to be in awe of Him and not forget His Holiness or not give Him the honor and regard that He is due! I think that can happen if we just think about grace. Of course, when we listen or read anything about God, we to test everything ourselves by reading His Word.