Jeremiah 51:49-57: a reflection

49“As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall, so the slain of all the land will fall at Babylon. 50You who have escaped the sword, go! Don’t stand still! Remember the LORD from afar, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.” 51“We are confounded because we have heard reproach. Confusion has covered our faces, for strangers have come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’s house.” 52“Therefore behold, the days come,” says the LORD, “that I will execute judgment on her engraved images; and through all her land the wounded will groan. 53Though Babylon should mount up to the sky, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet destroyers will come to her from me,” says the LORD. 54“The sound of a cry comes from Babylon, and of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans! 55For the LORD lays Babylon waste, and destroys out of her the great voice! Their waves roar like many waters. The noise of their voice is uttered. 56For the destroyer has come on her, even on Babylon. Her mighty men are taken. Their bows are broken in pieces, for the LORD is a God of retribution. He will surely repay. 57I will make her princes, her wise men, her governors, her deputies, and her mighty men drunk. They will sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake up,” says the King, whose name is the LORD of Armies.

In pronouncing the fall of Babylon, that seemingly invincible empire, God declares that no height or fortification can put her beyond his reach. Though Babylon should mount up to the sky, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet destroyers will come to her from me. Babylon might build herself up to the heavens, fortify herself with every defense, and think herself safe; but no height, no fortification, could put her beyond the reach of God's justice. The proud empire that seemed invincible was not beyond God's reach; her defenses could not save her from the judgment he had appointed.

Notice the truth declared: no height or fortification puts anyone beyond God's reach. Babylon was the great power of her day, seemingly invincible, fortified, exalted; she might mount up to the sky and fortify her strength. But God declares that even so, destroyers would come to her from him; her height and her defenses could not put her beyond his justice. The proud and fortified are not beyond God's reach; no defense, no eminence, no strength can shield the wrongdoer from the justice of God. What seemed invincible was not; the empire that fortified itself to the heavens still fell before God's appointed judgment. No fortress can be built high enough to escape him.

That is worth taking to heart, for no height, strength, or fortification puts anyone beyond the reach of God's justice. We can look at the proud and seemingly invincible, those who fortify themselves with power and defense and seem beyond any reckoning, and think them untouchable; but God declared that even Babylon, mounting to the sky, could not escape his justice. No eminence or defense puts the wrongdoer beyond God's reach. Do not be dismayed by the seeming invincibility of the proud and fortified, as though they were beyond all reckoning; no height or fortification puts anyone beyond God's justice. Trust that no height, strength, or fortification puts anyone beyond the reach of God's justice, as God declared that Babylon, though she mount to the sky and fortify her strength, could not escape the destroyers he would send; for the proud and seemingly invincible are not beyond God's reach, and no fortress can be built high enough to escape his appointed justice.

Lord, in pronouncing the fall of Babylon, that seemingly invincible empire, you declare that no height or fortification can put her beyond your reach. Though Babylon should mount up to the sky, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet destroyers will come to her from me. Babylon might build herself up to the heavens, fortify herself with every defense, and think herself safe; but no height, no fortification, could put her beyond the reach of your justice. The proud empire that seemed invincible was not beyond your reach. Show me the truth declared: no height or fortification puts anyone beyond your reach. Babylon was the great power of her day, seemingly invincible, fortified, exalted; she might mount up to the sky and fortify her strength. But you declare that even so, destroyers would come to her from you; her height and her defenses could not put her beyond your justice. The proud and fortified are not beyond your reach; no defense, no eminence, no strength can shield the wrongdoer from your justice. What seemed invincible was not. Take that to my heart, for no height, strength, or fortification puts anyone beyond the reach of your justice. I can look at the proud and seemingly invincible, those who fortify themselves with power and defense and seem beyond any reckoning, and think them untouchable; but you declared that even Babylon could not escape your justice. Keep me from being dismayed by the seeming invincibility of the proud and fortified, as though they were beyond all reckoning; no height or fortification puts anyone beyond your justice, Lord. Help me trust that the proud and seemingly invincible are not beyond your reach.