Jeremiah

Jeremiah 47: Only the LORD stops the sword

Begin in prayer

Before we read how the LORD commands the sword against the Philistines, let us come before Him in prayer. Ask Him to quiet our hearts, to be with our family as we read, and to show us Jesus, who bore God’s judgment for His people.

Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

Psalms 55:22

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You alone command the sword, and that You decide when judgment is finished. Show us Jesus, who bore Your judgment for His people, and help us to turn from our sin and trust Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Jeremiah spoke this word of the LORD about the Philistines before Pharaoh struck Gaza (verse 1). The LORD says waters will rise out of the north and overflow the land and its cities (verse 2). The people will cry out, and the fathers will be too weak to look back at their children (verses 2 and 3). The LORD says the day has come to destroy the Philistines, and to cut off every helper from Tyre and Sidon (verse 4). Baldness has come on Gaza as a sign of mourning, and Ashkelon is brought to nothing (verse 5). The sword asks how long it must go on, but the LORD has given it a command (verses 6 and 7).

As you read Jeremiah 47, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD commands the sword of judgment, and only He can say when it will rest.

The Philistines lived along the seashore, and Gaza and Ashkelon were two of their cities (verses 1, 5 and 7). Jeremiah spoke this word before Pharaoh struck Gaza, so the LORD’s word came before the judgment fell (verse 1). The waters from the north pictured an army that the LORD sends like a flood (verse 2). Baldness and cuts on the body were signs of mourning in that land, so Gaza’s grief could be seen (verse 5). The fathers would be too weak to look back at their children, which shows how great the terror would be (verse 3). The sword can go only as far as the LORD has commanded, so it cannot rest until He says so (verses 6 and 7). Jesus bore the sword of God’s justice at the cross, so that all who trust Him are spared the judgment they deserve. Every sinner stands under the LORD’s command.

How does Jeremiah 47 show us that the LORD commands the sword of judgment, and that only He can say when it will rest?

The LORD sends the waters and the sword.

The LORD says waters will rise out of the north and overflow the land (verse 2). He sends the noise of war, and the day of destruction comes to the Philistines (verses 3 and 4). Jesus is Lord over every army.

Only the LORD can say when the sword will rest.

The sword asks how long it must go on, and it cries out for quiet (verse 6). The LORD answers that He has given it a command, and only He can call it back (verse 7). The sword of God’s justice fell on Jesus at the cross.

Grief cannot turn back the judgment.

Gaza was made bald in mourning, and Ashkelon was brought to nothing (verse 5). Their grief could not stop the sword God had sent. Only Jesus saves from judgment, so come to Him and turn from your sin.

Memorize

How can you be quiet, since Yahweh has given you a command?

Jeremiah 47:7

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, have I turned from my sin and trusted Jesus before His judgment comes?

The sword asks how long it must go on, and the LORD answers that He has given the command (verses 6 and 7). God’s judgment is never out of His hand, and He alone says when it is finished. The waters and the noise of war are His to send, and His to stop.

Jesus is the Son who bore the sword of God’s justice at the cross. Our sin brought that sword, and we could not turn it aside ourselves. Jesus took the blow for His people, and on the third day He rose again. His death is enough for everyone who trusts Him. Jesus welcomes sinners. Please turn from your sin and trust Him, because He will never turn away any sinner who comes to Him.

The judgment the LORD has commanded is real, so do not wait. Come to Jesus today, and turn from your sin with a humble heart. The LORD who gave the command is faithful to everyone who trusts His Son. Rest in His finished work, and be still before the LORD.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD commands the sword of judgment, and only He says when it will rest. Parents, you may want to explain that grief in that land was shown by baldness and mourning. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He keeps every judgment in His hand, and bring the heart question to Him. Let each child pray a short prayer if they are ready.

God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you.

Psalms 63:1

Lord, thank You that You command the sword, and that You alone say when judgment is finished. Forgive us for the times we ignore Your warnings. Thank You for Jesus, who bore the sword of Your justice and rose from the dead. Help us to turn from sin, trust Him, and be still before You this week. Amen.