Jeremiah 49:34-39: a reflection

34The LORD’s word that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, 35“The LORD of Armies says: ‘Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. 36I will bring on Elam the four winds from the four quarters of the sky, and will scatter them toward all those winds. There will be no nation where the outcasts of Elam will not come. 37I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before those who seek their life. I will bring evil on them, even my fierce anger,’ says the LORD; ‘and I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them. 38I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from there king and princes,’ says the LORD. 39‘But it will happen in the latter days that I will reverse the captivity of Elam,’ says the LORD.”

This is an oracle of judgment against Elam, a foreign nation: God will break their strength, scatter them to the four winds, bring disaster upon them. It is a hard word of judgment. But then, at the very end, comes a surprising turn: But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, says the LORD. Even against this foreign nation, under judgment, God speaks a final word not of destruction, but of restoration and mercy. The judgment is not God's last word, even for the nations.

Notice the surprising note of mercy at the end of the judgment oracle. Elam was a foreign nation, not God's covenant people; and the oracle against them is severe. Yet God adds, at the end, a word of future restoration: I will restore the fortunes of Elam. Even in judgment, even against the nations, God's heart reaches toward mercy and restoration; the judgment is real, but it is not the final word. God's mercy extends even to the nations under his judgment.

That surprising mercy reveals something of God's heart, worth taking to heart. God's judgments are real and severe; but his heart reaches toward restoration and mercy, even toward the nations, even toward those under his judgment. He does not delight in destruction as his final word; even in judgment, his purpose reaches toward mercy. Let this shape how you see God: not as one whose judgments are the whole story, but as one whose heart reaches, even through judgment, toward restoration and mercy, even for the nations. And take hope from it: if God's mercy reaches even to a foreign nation under judgment, promising restoration in the latter days, how much more does his heart reach toward mercy for those who turn to him. God's judgment is not his final word; his mercy reaches even to the nations, and even through judgment toward restoration, revealing a heart inclined to mercy even where judgment must fall.

Lord, this is a severe oracle of judgment against Elam, a foreign nation, that you would break their strength and scatter them; and yet at the very end comes a surprising turn: but in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam. Even against this foreign nation under judgment, you speak a final word of restoration and mercy. Let that surprising mercy reveal something of your heart to me. Your judgments are real and severe; but your heart reaches toward restoration and mercy, even toward the nations, even toward those under your judgment. You do not delight in destruction as your final word; even in judgment, your purpose reaches toward mercy. Let this shape how I see you: not as one whose judgments are the whole story, but as one whose heart reaches, even through judgment, toward restoration and mercy. And let me take hope from it: if your mercy reaches even to a foreign nation under judgment, promising restoration, how much more does your heart reach toward mercy for those who turn to you. Your judgment is not your final word; your mercy reaches even to the nations, and even through judgment toward restoration. Thank you for a heart inclined to mercy, Lord, even where judgment must fall.