Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Guttenberg, IA and St. Paul Lutheran Church in McGregor, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 25:1-14.
The beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign in Babylon marked a crossroads for Jerusalem. With Egypt off his back, Jehoiakim thought that this could be the chance for Judah to break free from other nations politically. Into that situation, Jeremiah proclaims the sobering truth of God’s Word. His faithful preaching has not been heeded, and the people have not repented. They have continued to go after idols, the works of their hands. Therefore, the LORD is sending Babylon against Judah to take them captive for seventy years. The LORD will use Nebuchadnezzar as His servant to execute His judgment against His people, but neither will Babylon escape judgment for their evil. This text calls us away from any disregard for God’s Word and to look for the mercy of God, who has brought the Savior into the world.
“A Time to Destroy and a Time to Build” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Jeremiah. The prophet calls the people of Judah and Jerusalem to repent of their faithless idolatry and warns them of the destruction that is coming in the Babylonian exile. Yet Jeremiah does not leave us without hope in the midst of such dark days. Jeremiah and all who believe the Word of God he preached survive because of hope that is found in the righteous Branch from the line of David, Jesus Christ.
