Jeremiah 51:45-64 - Come out of her my people

51:45-48

Yet again God’s people are urged to come out of her. We must not remain in the world, if for no other reason than that she was destined for destruction. If they stayed they would join in the suffering of God’s fierce anger. In times of turmoil there are always many rumours, we must not be terrified by such things. God in the business of punishing the idols of Babylon, and His judgement is a controlled process. The earth would rejoice at the fall of Babylon. This will happen at the end of time as well.

51:49-53

Everything comes to an end. If we ever assume that things will always be as they are we are mistaken. The kingdom of God is the only everlasting kingdom. Babylon must fall, just as the world system will fall one day, and it is vital that we do not hold on to the world system. The judgement upon Israel had been devastating, even the holy place had been desecrated. “But days are coming ...” when judgement would come upon Babylon, and there is nothing she can do against the judgement. 

51:54-64

We get more vivid description of the fall of Babylon. To imagine that the world system will last forever is madness. “The Lord is a God of retribution”, this is part if the character of God, part of the good character of God. All the instruments of state will be destroyed, along with all the defences. Jeremiah had sent this message along with Zedekiah to Babylon. The servant was also to give a dramatic demonstration of the fall of Babylon.