Jeremiah 47: 1 – 7
Turn around, don’t drown
1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza. 2 Thus says the LORD: “Behold, waters rise out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood; They shall overflow the land and all that is in it, the city and those who dwell within; Then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall wail. 3 At the noise of the stamping hooves of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers will not look back for their children, lacking courage, 4 Because of the day that comes to plunder all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains; For the LORD shall plunder the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor. 5 Baldness has come upon Gaza, Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley. How long will you cut yourself? 6 “O you sword of the LORD, how long until you are quiet? Put yourself up into your scabbard, rest and be still! 7 How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD has given it a charge against Ashkelon and against the seashore? There He has appointed it.”
As I am composing today’s message I came across this article ‘Nearly half of college students want ‘In God We Trust’ off currency’
A new survey found almost half of college students think the phrase ‘In God We Trust’ should be removed from American currency, with over two-thirds of Democratic-leaning students favoring its elimination.
The poll found 53% said the motto should remain, while 45% believed it should be removed.
Female students were slightly more opposed to the motto staying on currency, whereas male students overwhelmingly supported it. Over 90% of students who said they lean Republican favored keeping the motto, and most students identifying as Independent agreed.
Students who opposed the motto argued it violated the separation of church and state.
“We live in a secular nation, not a theocracy. Best to remove,” said one Clemson University student.
‘I might not be a hotshot Clemson student, but I don’t think putting “God” on currency is the government choosing a particular religion to the exclusion of all other religions.’
Today’s topic is titled ‘Turn around, don’t drown.’ You see that chapter 47 speaks about two areas. – Spiritual and natural. Jeremiah speaks about rising waters which of course matches our title. The other deals with our Holy God’s warning for people to turn around from their sinful evil ways before the deluge falls on them. The words ‘turn around’ refers to ‘repentance.’
Like the attitude of students who have been influenced by the so-called institution of higher learning that we can be the captains of our lives with having God interfere. We need to understand that He Is a Righteous God and will not be just an ‘Emergency God.’ Isn’t it true that when the floods of life come into everyone’s life then people will cry out to be saved.
A couple of men were placing a few signs up in front of their church. They read, ‘Be Aware, danger ahead’, ‘Stop and consider your life’, ‘Turn around, don’t drown.’
A guy driving down the road spotted the church men and pulled over to them. He rolled down his window and shouted at them. ‘You stinking religious nuts, why don’t you mind your own business and quit trying to push your junk on others.’ He then sped away while the two men watched him drive down the road.
In a few minutes the church volunteers heard a loud screeching of tires followed by a loud ‘splash’. The men looked at each other and one commented, ‘Maybe we should have just said on one sign, ‘Bridge out’.
When we refuse to ‘repent’ or ‘Turn Around’ from the sinful lives then we face the dangers of life alone. Many of these are real natural disasters. Interesting enough the people of Florida are facing a level 3 hurricane called Dorian that will hit the coast starting in two days. Do they just stay and wait the storm out and hope it misses them or do they flee now for their lives?
Each year, flooding causes more deaths than any other weather hazard. Most of these drownings and could be prevented—if people better understood the force and power of rushing floodwater. Whether driving or walking, save your life, and the lives of your children and other family members or traveling companions. When you see flood waters ahead: Turn Around Don't Drown.
More than half of all flood-related drownings occur when vehicles are swept away because their drivers attempted to travel through flood water. Many drive around flood barriers because they mistakenly believe their 3,000 pound or more vehicle is so heavy it will stay in contact with the road surface. Think about that for a moment: aircraft carriers weighing 97,000 tons float. Vehicles, including ships, float because of buoyancy.
Keep these facts in mind:
Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
A foot of water will float many vehicles.
Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pick-ups.
The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths occurs when people try to walk through or walk too close to flood waters. It may be hard to believe, but it’s true that as little as six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.
If you come to an area that is covered with flood water, you will not know the depth of the water or the condition of the ground under the water. Road beds may be washed out under flood waters. NEVER drive through flooded roadways. Play it smart, play it safe. Whether driving or walking, any time you come to a flooded area, Turn Around Don't Drown. This is true always but even more so at night, when your vision is limited.
Let us all surrender to our Loving Creator God Who only wants to be part of our lives. Why are we so stubborn and refuse Him?
To the west of Judah was Philistia, with its great semi-independent cities such as Gaza and Ashkelon, and to the north-west the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon. The Philistines had been a constant thorn in the side of Israel ever since they had arrived from the Aegean in the Coastal Plain around 1200 BC where, having been repulsed by Egypt, they had established themselves as a military elite over the Canaanites on the Coastal Plain. During the Judges period, they had almost swallowed up central Israel and Judah, a situation which was partly alleviated by Samuel and was finally solved by David. After David any Philistine encroachment was limited. But ruled over by five semi-independent ‘tyrants’, and relatively strong in themselves, they had still caused trouble for Israel/Judah, either by their belligerence at times of weakness.
1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.
The timing of the prophecy is indicated by the fact that it was ‘before Pharaoh smote Gaza’. This may suggest a date between 609-600 BC. During that period the Egyptians were active in the region several times, including their march to the aid of the Assyrians in 609 BC, as a result of which Josiah was slain, their control over the area until their defeat at Carchemish in 605 BC, and their subsequent repulsion of the Babylonians in that area in 601 BC.
2 Thus says the LORD: “Behold, waters rise out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood; They shall overflow the land and all that is in it, the city and those who dwell within; Then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.
The Philistines settled in the coastal areas of Israel. So, the coming Babylonian invasion is likened to a great flood which inundates the land and overwhelms the cities, somewhat like a Tsunami. The consequence is that the people wail and mourn because of what has come on them.
3 At the noise of the stamping hooves of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers will not look back for their children, lacking courage, 4 Because of the day that comes to plunder all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains; For the LORD shall plunder the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.
The vivid picture portrays the awfulness of seeing the invaders arrive in irresistible force. The hoofbeats of the horses and the noise of the chariots brings terror to the neighborhood such that children are abandoned in the haste to get away. It is a day of destruction and it is a day which will destroy ‘all the Philistines’ and will include their allies in Tyre and Sidon. And all this was because YHWH has determined to destroy the Philistines who had previously arrived (among the Sea People) from Crete and the Aegean, taking over parts of YHWH’s land and harassing His people. Once again, we see that YHWH’s purposes are being brought about by the activities of men, and that although His action is sometimes delayed He never forgets how His people have been treated.
‘To cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains.’ This may suggest that Philistia’s great fault in Nebuchadnezzar’s eyes (their being seen as ‘the helper who remains’) was that they had assisted Tyre and Sidon in their struggle against Babylon, possibly by rebelling at the same time. Tyre, which had gained its independence at the demise of the Assyrian Empire, resisted Nebuchadnezzar’s siege for thirteen years, and proved a constant thorn in the flesh to him.
According to Deuteronomy 2.23; Amos 9.7; the Philistines came from Caphtor, which many see as referring to Crete and its connections. In the second millennium BC the Minoan empire was extensive. But the original origins of the Philistines lay in North Africa (Genesis 10.13-14).
5 Baldness has come upon Gaza, Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley. How long will you cut yourself?
It is clear from this that the great Philistine cities of Gaza and Ashkelon were the prominent ones in the area at this time, although Ekron and Ashdod are also mentioned in 25.20. But despite their importance both of them will be brought down. Baldness is a sign of extreme mourning and of total desolation (Isaiah 7.20). It indicates the removal of their strength and manliness (the hair was a source of strength). Ashkelon will be ‘silenced’ or ‘bought to nothing’, its great pride totally humbled. The relatively few who remain alive outside the cities in the surrounding countryside will cut themselves to indicate their anguish. This cutting of themselves was a regular Canaanite religious practice to indicate mourning and grief. And the question as to how long it will be necessary indicates the dire situation.
6 “O you sword of the LORD, how long until you are quiet? Put yourself up into your scabbard, rest and be still! 7 How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD has given it a charge against Ashkelon and against the seashore? There He has appointed it.”
Nebuchadnezzar is in the end nothing but the sword of YHWH. And the prophet, disturbed at what is coming, asks him how long he intends to go on with his destructive work. He calls on him to sheathe his sword and cease his destructive activity. But then he recognizes that he cannot do so because he is acting on a charge from YHWH. It is YHWH Who has determined on the destruction of Ashkelon and the coastland. It is by His appointment that it is happening. All nations are in His hands. What He has purposed, the wages of sin, must come about.
