Jeremiah 25:17-26: a reflection

17Then I took the cup at the LORD’s hand, and made all the nations to drink, to whom the LORD had sent me: 18Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, with its kings and its princes, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is today; 19Pharaoh king of Egypt, with his servants, his princes, and all his people; 20and all the mixed people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod; 21Edom, Moab, and the children of Ammon; 22and all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the isle which is beyond the sea; 23Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who have the corners of their beard cut off; 24and all the kings of Arabia, all the kings of the mixed people who dwell in the wilderness; 25and all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes; 26and all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the world, which are on the surface of the earth. The king of Sheshach will drink after them.

In a solemn vision, the prophet is given a cup of God's judgment to make all the nations drink, one after another, near and far; and the sweep of the list makes clear that no nation is exempt from accountability before God. I made all the nations to drink, the prophet says, and the list runs on: Jerusalem and Judah first, then Egypt, the Philistines, Edom, Moab, Tyre, and on and on, to all the kingdoms of the world. God's judgment begins with his own people and reaches to every nation; none is exempt, none above accountability before God. All are accountable to him. This shows that all nations and people are accountable to God, none exempt. All are accountable to God; none is exempt from his justice. God's judgment reaches every nation, near and far. No one is above accountability before God. All must answer to God, beginning with his own people.

Notice the sweep and the impartiality of this vision of judgment. The prophet makes all the nations drink the cup, one after another; and the list is comprehensive, beginning with Jerusalem and Judah, God's own people, and reaching out to nation after nation, near and far, to all the kingdoms of the world. The point is clear: no nation is exempt from accountability before God; all must answer to him. And it is striking that the judgment begins with God's own people, not others; God does not exempt his own from accountability. This reflects a sobering truth: that all people and nations are accountable to God, that none is above his justice, that all must finally answer to him. We can imagine that some are exempt, that the great nations, or we ourselves, are somehow above accountability; but none is. All are accountable to God, from the greatest to the least, beginning even with God's own people. This should sober us, reminding us that we too are accountable to God, that we will answer to him. And it should humble any presumption that we, or any, are above his justice. We do well to live in the awareness that all, including ourselves, are accountable to God. All people and nations are accountable to God; none is exempt. We too must answer to God; none is above his justice. Live aware that you are accountable to God. God's justice reaches all, beginning with his own people.

That is worth taking to heart, for all people and nations are accountable to God, none exempt from his justice, and we do well to live aware that we too must answer to him. We can imagine that some are exempt from accountability, that the great, or those in power, or we ourselves are somehow above God's justice; but this vision makes all the nations drink the cup, beginning even with God's own people, so that none is exempt. All are accountable to God. Do not presume that you, or any, are above accountability; live aware that you too must answer to God. Live in the awareness that all people, including yourself, are accountable to God, none exempt from his justice, as the prophet was given a cup of God's judgment to make all the nations drink, one after another, beginning with Jerusalem and Judah, God's own people, and reaching out to Egypt, the Philistines, Edom, Moab, Tyre, and on to all the kingdoms of the world; for the sweep of the list makes clear that no nation is exempt from accountability before God and all must answer to him, and it is striking that the judgment begins with God's own people rather than others, since God does not exempt even his own from accountability, which reflects the sobering truth that all people and nations are accountable to God and none is above his justice, so that we can imagine some are exempt, the great nations, or we ourselves, but none is, and this should sober us, reminding us that we too are accountable to God and will answer to him, and humble any presumption that we or any are above his justice, so that we do well to live in the awareness that all, including ourselves, must answer to God.

Lord, in a solemn vision, the prophet is given a cup of your judgment to make all the nations drink, one after another, near and far; and the sweep of the list makes clear that no nation is exempt from accountability before you. I made all the nations to drink, the prophet says, and the list runs on: Jerusalem and Judah first, then Egypt, the Philistines, Edom, Moab, Tyre, and on and on, to all the kingdoms of the world. Your judgment begins with your own people and reaches to every nation; none is exempt, none above accountability before you. All are accountable to you. Show me the sweep and the impartiality of this vision of judgment. The prophet makes all the nations drink the cup; and the list is comprehensive, beginning with Jerusalem and Judah, your own people, and reaching out to nation after nation, to all the kingdoms of the world. The point is clear: no nation is exempt from accountability before you. And it is striking that the judgment begins with your own people; you do not exempt your own from accountability. This reflects a sobering truth: that all people and nations are accountable to you, that none is above your justice, that all must finally answer to you. I can imagine that some are exempt, that the great nations, or I myself, are somehow above accountability; but none is. This should sober me, reminding me that I too am accountable to you, that I will answer to you. And it should humble any presumption that I, or any, are above your justice. Take that to my heart, for all people and nations are accountable to you, none exempt, and I do well to live aware that I too must answer to you. Keep me from presuming that I, or any, are above accountability; help me live aware that I am accountable to you, Lord, and will answer to you, in humble reverence before your justice that reaches all, beginning even with your own people.