Jeremiah 52 Devotional
by Pastor Lawrence Bowlin
This final chapter in the book of Jeremiah seems to be taken almost entirely from a narrative section in the book of 2 Kings. The first three verses of Jer. 52 are exactly the same as what is found in 2 Kings 24:18-20, and then the six following verses, are, again, exactly the same as those found in 2 Kings 25:1-6. The remaining verses of this chapter follow 2 Kings Ch. 25 very closely, only departing from it in two ways. The account in 2 Kings speaks of Gedaliah’s reign as governor, which Jeremiah omits here, and Jeremiah’s account provides a numbering of the exiles from Jerusalem to Babylon that is not mentioned in the corresponding chapter in 2 Kings. Other than those two minute differences, this final chapter in the book of Jeremiah clearly has the same authorship as the man who penned 2 Kings. But why is the information repeated here?
It seems that the last narrative section in the book of Jeremiah occurs in chapter forty- four with Jeremiah and Baruch exiled in Egypt. Then the following chapters are all prophecies concerning the Gentile nations. This final chapter in the book appears to be appended, perhaps by Baruch the scribe, to show how the earlier prophecies of Jeremiah were finally fulfilled within his lifetime almost as a justification for his entire ministry. He told them again and again that these things would happen if they did not repent, and everything fell out exactly as he said.
If you’ve already read over the chapter, perhaps you noticed how cold it comes across. There is a lot of suffering, misery and death that is described here, but it seems entirely devoid of emotions. In the following book, in Lamentations, there are plenty of emotions to go around, but here the facts are given in such a scientific manner. It is simply showing that there are indeed wages for sin, and that the Jews are finally receiving those wages. Of course, there is no such thing as “hell on earth,” but this at least gives us a foretaste of what it is like for all those who refuse to repent of their sins.
Every king, every priest, every leader and every citizen who refused to obey the voice of the Lord and willingly submit to the Babylonians were either slaughtered by them immediately or else had to watch their loved ones be butchered before their eyes before being enslaved and imprisoned themselves. This indeed is a great day of judgement, but it has been a long time coming.
Keep in mind that it has been four hundred years since King Solomon first led the people into idolatry. Since that time, the Lord has brought them one prophet after another, after another still, yet the people still did not repent. If there is anything we can learn from this passage and this book overall it is how patient God is with sinners and just how reluctant He is to strike his own people. Even though sometimes the prophecies seem to be overly repetitive like a broken record, be thankful that God does not provide merely one warning before he strikes a man or a nation.
Nevertheless, a Day of Judgment is coming, as sure as the sun rises, and when the Lord comes, he will not send merely a prophet or a sacrificial lamb; he will send a lion and a conquering king who will not rest until all things are brought under his feet.