Jeremiah 49

CHAPTER 49THEME: Prophecies to nations surrounding IsraelWe have seen that the people who had been left in Judah made the mistake of going down into Egypt. They went there in disobedience to God, and they went out of the frying pan into the fire. The war was over in the land of Israel. No enemy would want to come in to take that land now. The cities had been absolutely run over, burned, left with nothing but debris. Only the ashes of a former civilization were left there.

The remnant should have stayed. They could have built up their land, but instead they ran off to Egypt. God knew that Egypt would be the area of the next big campaign of Nebuchadnezzar. When he took Egypt, he would take these people for the second time. They would be captured again and would suffer again. They thought they were running away from war.

They thought they were going to a land where they would have plenty to eat. They thought only of safety and full stomachs. My friend, when our attitudes and actions and goals are not based on a desire to live for God, when God’s truth is no longer our guide, we have sunk to a low level which won’t bring peace or plenty. This has been the experience down through the annals of history. History has great lessons to teach us if we will but listen. This chapter continues God’s prophecies through Jeremiah concerning the judgment which was coming to the nations surrounding Israel.

Jeremiah 49:6

PROPHECY TO AMMONThe remnant of Judah need not look to Ammon for shelter, because it will be destroyed. There is no nation of Ammon in our day, but notice what God says Ammon is to be restored. These are remarkable prophecies, remarkable verses of Scripture.

Jeremiah 49:7

PROPHECY TO EDOMThere is more space given to the prophecy directed to Edomprobably because Edom was related to Israel. Esau and Jacob were brothers, and the two nations Edom and Israel have not come from these two men. Edom and Israel have not been friendly down through the years. Edom had become a great nation, for God had said that He would make a great nation out of Esau. Edom was in the territory that is south and more to the east of the Dead Sea, an area between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of ‘Aqaba. Edom was in for a judgment from God. They had become a great nation and had furnished advisors to other nations. The rock-hewn city of Petra was such a secure place that it acted as a depository for the great nations. Both Babylon and Egypt carries a bank account there. This was a place where they could store their treasures and feel safe about them.

The city was hewn out of solid rock on both sides, and there was only one little entrance into this rock-hewn city. It was a tremendous place in its day, but God took away all the greatness which it once enjoyed. Their greatness depended largely on the nations round about them that looked to them because they felt Petra was so secure.

Jeremiah 49:13

Bozrah is Petra and Edom. That rock-hewn city is still there today, completely deserted. It is a ready-made city, and if you are looking for an apartment, I can tell you where you can get one that is rent free. Those rock-hewn apartments are lovely, and you could move into one tomorrow if you wished to do so. It’s all there today, and you can have it. No one will come around to collect the rent. No one will try to sell you any of the property. I caution you, however, that you won’t stay there very long. People who have tried to live there just don’t stay. Some years ago the Germans tried to colonize Petra. The colony that was sent into Petra didn’t make a go of it, and before long the people scattered.

Jeremiah 49:16

The great sin of the Edomites was pride, and for this they were judged. They were in a place that was remarkably protected. The entrance to Petra was through a deep and narrow defile, called the Sik, which was about a mile in length. It was just sort of a cleft in the rock in the valley known as the Wadi Musa. The nation had a history of about one thousand years. Then the Nabataean Arabs took it. The Greeks made two fruitless expeditions against it but found it to be an impregnable city. It was inaccessible for modern men until the airplane. We have had the experience of going into the city of Petra with some of our tours and have found it a remarkable place. The city was influenced by Babylon, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. One can see it in the architecture and the remnants of their civilization. God judged Edom and brought her down. Now God says this concerning it, and Ezekiel has a more complete prophecy

Jeremiah 49:17

This is a prophecy which has been literally fulfilled. The city is still there. It cannot be destroyed since it is hewn right into the rocks. God said it would not be inhabited, and it isn’t. Every now and then an Arab pitches his tent there for the night, but he’s on his way the next day. The Arabs have very superstitious feelings about the city. Although the Germans didn’t have superstitious feelings, they couldn’t colonize it either. The Word of God says that “neither shall a son of man dwell in it.” It is a ready-made city; yet it will not become an abiding place for men. This is even more remarkable when you place this prophecy beside the prophecy against Tyre. God had said that Tyre would be scraped so that there would be absolutely nothing left of it, but that it would be inhabited after that. Tyre is an inhabited city today. In contrast, Petra is a city that has never been destroyed yet is without an inhabitant.

Jeremiah 49:20

The city has become desolate, and the nation of Edom has disappeared.

Jeremiah 49:23

PROPHECY TO DAMASCUSDamascus is said to be the oldest inhabited city. There are many other cities that make the same claim, but Damascus probably has some right to it. Here is a prophecy against Damascus stating that the city would be destroyed. It has been destroyed, and it has shifted its position several times. However, the name Damascus continues on with the city, and today it is the capital of Syria.

Jeremiah 49:35

PROPHECY TO KEDAR, HAZOR, ELAMThen there is a prophecy against two very prosperous places, Kedar and Hazor. We know very little about them. They were told that Nebuchadnezzar would smite them, and he did. Then there is also a prophecy against Elam. Elam is to be destroyed but will be restored in “the latter days” (v. Jer_49:39). All of these nations are to suffer the same fate as Israel, so that there is no place for the remnant of Judah to flee for safety. They could turn to no one for help. They looked every place but up. Their only help was in the Lord, but they did not turn to Him. He had given them direction, but they would not receive it. They, of course, decided to go to Egyptto their ultimate destruction.