Jeremiah 27

Debra Isenbletter

Vs 21-22: These two verses show the loss of these remaining vessels, but it is only a temporary loss, there is a promised restoration (vs 22).

There are two titles presented for the Lord here, the “Lord of Hosts” and the “God of Israel.” I believe that it is the Lord of Hosts who will judge His people. He is the Lord of Armies and will bring the armies of Babylon down in judgment. He judges them when He takes everything away from them. But I believe the God of Israel is the One who will bless His people. He is the One who is “strong” and “mighty.” In this capacity He can be seen in the defense of His people. He is the God of “Israel” (a prince with God) and this is who they are when joined once again to Him. When He blesses them He will bring their vessels back and He will restore all that has been lost.

Those that will be affected by this final judgment are seen in these three houses: The Lord’s House; The King’s House and Every House in Jerusalem. II Ki 25:8-17 describes what Nebuchadnezzar did when he came the final time and destroyed Jerusalem. Jeremiah tells us that he will strip from every house everything of value. II Kings tells us he will burn these houses to the ground, this is utter loss and utter destruction. This is the loss of all things, they will have nothing left. There is a loss of all things that comes from disobedience, it is the result of judgment, and there is no reward. But there is a loss of all things that comes from obedience, it is the result of self-judgment and holds out the promise of a future reward. Paul speaks of suffering the “loss of all things” in Phil 3:7-8. His loss was a result of his obedience and there was a far greater reward in store for him because he desired to know Christ in all the fullness that He might be known, no matter what the cost or what the loss!

Vs 22: “They shall be carried to Babylon .... then I will bring them up...” Jeremiah shows that this is a temporary loss because there is a promised restoration. This verse shows the wonderful promise is that this loss is only “until the day that I visit them.” This visit can be viewed two ways, depending on where you stand in your relationship with the Lord. For Babylon this will be a visit of judgment, but for God’s people this will be a visit of blessing, and in that day He will restore all they have lost. He will have already visited them in judgment for their sins, now is a time of restoration because they have learned to serve and submit. There was a partial restoration after 70 years and Ezra tells us that Cyrus brought forth those “vessels” that had been taken from the house of the Lord and returned them, along with those who went back. God’s people were also “vessels” that were returning and they were vessels that had learned a lesson in captivity.

The Lord’s greatest “visit” is when Jesus came and at that time Israel still didn’t receive the blessings He held out to them, blessings that required the wearing of a yoke, His yoke. He had told them His yoke was easy and His burden light, yet they still rejected it. So He turned away and “visited” the Gentiles and took out of them a people for His name (the Church). Israel’s final blessing will be when the Lord visits them at the end of the Tribulation, there He will deliver them and two wonderful blessings are seen in their Return and their Restoration.

Their Return is seen when the Lord says He will “bring them up.” The phrase means “carry up, exalt, ascend, be high.” The Lord will elevate them above the nations and make them the head and not the tail (Deut 28:13) and they will “fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines” (Is 11:11-14). He will exalt them because they have learned that final lesson through tribulation, the lesson of submission. Their Restoration is seen in the promise that He will “restore them to their place” and restore means “make to rejoice, bring back home, deliver.” He will do all three. He will first “deliver” them, then He will “bring them back home,” and finally because of this they will “rejoice.” When they are restored it will be a time of great joy. They will be glad and rejoice in His salvation (Is 25:9), even the desert shall rejoice (Is 35:1-8). And finally Jerusalem shall rejoice (Is 65:18).

Some Christians are like blotters when it comes to the Word of God. They soak it in, but get it all backwards.

If there is anyone we can’t stand, it is the person who talks while we are interrupting.

Many Christians are anxious to reach the highest point of experience if they can gain the coveted place without climbing.