Jeremiah 50:33-46: a reflection

33The LORD of Armies says: “The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together. All who took them captive hold them fast. They refuse to let them go. 34Their Redeemer is strong. The LORD of Armies is his name. He will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. 35“A sword is on the Chaldeans,” says the LORD, “and on the inhabitants of Babylon, on her princes, and on her wise men. 36A sword is on the boasters, and they will become fools. A sword is on her mighty men, and they will be dismayed. 37A sword is on their horses, on their chariots, and on all the mixed people who are in the middle of her; and they will become as women. A sword is on her treasures, and they will be robbed. 38A drought is on her waters, and they will be dried up; for it is a land of engraved images, and they are mad over idols. 39Therefore the wild animals of the desert with the wolves will dwell there. The ostriches will dwell therein. It will be inhabited no more forever, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation. 40As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and its neighbor cities,” says the LORD, “so no man will dwell there, neither will any son of man live therein. 41“Behold, a people comes from the north. A great nation and many kings will be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth. 42They take up bow and spear. They are cruel, and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea. They ride on horses, everyone set in array, as a man to the battle, against you, daughter of Babylon. 43The king of Babylon has heard the news of them, and his hands become feeble. Anguish has taken hold of him, pains as of a woman in labor. 44Behold, the enemy will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan against the strong habitation; for I will suddenly make them run away from it. Whoever is chosen, I will appoint him over it, for who is like me? Who will appoint me a time? Who is the shepherd who can stand before me?” 45Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD that he has taken against Babylon; and his purposes that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely they will drag them away, even the little ones of the flock. Surely he will make their habitation desolate over them. 46The earth trembles at the noise of the taking of Babylon. The cry is heard among the nations.

In the oracle against Babylon, which held God's people captive and refused to let them go, God speaks a word of hope for the oppressed: Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of Armies is his name. He will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth. Though the oppressors held God's people fast and would not release them, their Redeemer was strong, and would take up their cause, pleading it against those who held them, and bringing them rest.

Notice how God describes himself to the oppressed: their Redeemer, strong, who will plead their cause. The people were oppressed, held captive by those who refused to let them go; humanly, they were helpless against their captors. But their Redeemer was strong, and would take up their cause as their advocate, pleading it against their oppressors, and securing their release and rest. They were not left to face their oppressors alone; God himself was their strong Redeemer, who would plead their cause.

That God is the strong Redeemer of the oppressed, who pleads their cause, is a comfort for all who are held, oppressed, or unable to free themselves. When we are held by what we cannot escape, oppressed by what we cannot overcome, we can feel helpless, with no one to take our part. But God is a strong Redeemer, who takes up the cause of the oppressed, pleading it against those who hold them, and securing their release. When you are oppressed or held by what you cannot escape, do not think yourself without an advocate; God is your strong Redeemer, who takes up your cause and pleads it. He pleaded his people's cause against Babylon that held them; he is a strong Redeemer for you too, who will take up your cause against what oppresses you. Do not despair as though you had no one to plead for you; your Redeemer is strong, and will thoroughly plead your cause, securing, in his time, your release and rest.

Lord, in the oracle against Babylon, which held your people captive and refused to let them go, you spoke a word of hope: their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of Armies is his name; he will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth. Show me how you describe yourself to the oppressed: their Redeemer, strong, who will plead their cause. The people were oppressed, held captive by those who refused to let them go; humanly, they were helpless. But their Redeemer was strong, and would take up their cause as their advocate, and secure their release and rest. Give me the comfort of that when I am held, oppressed, or unable to free myself. When I am held by what I cannot escape, oppressed by what I cannot overcome, I can feel helpless, with no one to take my part. But you are a strong Redeemer, who takes up the cause of the oppressed, pleading it against those who hold them. When I am oppressed or held by what I cannot escape, keep me from thinking myself without an advocate; you are my strong Redeemer, who takes up my cause and pleads it. You pleaded your people's cause against Babylon; you are a strong Redeemer for me too. Keep me from despairing as though I had no one to plead for me; my Redeemer is strong, Lord, and will thoroughly plead my cause, securing, in your time, my release and rest. Be my strong Redeemer.