JEREMIAH 47A

Judgment of Philistines: Time of message given verse 1

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet
against the Philistines – before that Pharaoh smote Gaza

Judgment of Philistines: Terror of the invasion verse 2- 3

Thus says the LORD
BEHOLD – waters rise up out of the north
and shall be an overflowing flood – and shall overflow the land
and all that is therein
The city – and them that dwell therein – THEN the men shall cry
and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl
at the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses
at the rushing of his chariots – at the rumbling of his wheels
the fathers shall not look back to
their children for feebleness of hands

Judgment of Philistines: Terms of the invasion verse 4- 5

BECAUSE of the day that comes to spoil all the Philistines
            and to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remains
                        for the LORD will spoil the Philistines
                                    the remnant of the country of Caphtor
Baldness is come upon Gaza
Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley
      How long will you cut yourself?

Judgment of Philistines: Pleas of the Philistines verse 6- 7

O you sword of the LORD
            How long will it be ere you be quiet?
                        put up yourself into your scabbard – rest – and be still
            How can it be quiet – seeing the LORD has given it a
charge against Ashkelon and against the seashore?
there has HE appointed it

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 4 Because of the day that comes to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remains: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor. (7703 “spoil” [shadad] means waste, destroy, devastate, deal violently with, ruin, or damage irreparably.)
DEVOTION: The Philistines were a group that was supposed to be killed when the children of Israel came into the Promised Land from Egypt. They didn’t do what the LORD commanded. Instead when Israel was strong they would take payment from them and when they were strong there were continuous battles between them.
Now the ten tribes were in captivity and Judah was going to go into captivity because of their disobedience to the law of the LORD. They were worshiping false gods. They did it in the past and they continued to disobey the LORD through false worship.
Now they were going to the Philistines for help. Wrong answer to a difficult situation. Repentance was the only answer but they chose to continue on the coarse they were on. They were disobeying the LORD’S command to submit to the king of Babylon. Instead they thought they could trust in the Philistines instead of trusting in the LORD.
Too often today we find this happening in our world. Those who claim to be following the LORD are looking to trust in others or things rather than the LORD. We need to remember what happened to the children of Israel and Judah because of disobedience. They went into captivity.
Can this happen today? YES!! Our world is changing and it seems that Christians are worshiping false gods on a regular basis while claiming to be following the LORD. One of the worst beliefs is held by those who think they can compromise the teaching of the Word of God to become rich or successful or popular. Many false teachers are challenging the direct commands of the LORD.
If we are joining with others who disobey the LORD we will face the same judgment as the men of Judah. They had to watch the ones they were trusting in become those who were destroyed by their enemies.
CHALLENGE: All nations that don’t honor the LORD and trust in nations or people more than God will lose!!!

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 6 O you sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere you be quiet? Put up yourself into your scabbard, rest, and be still. (1826 “be still” [damam] means silence, be or grow dumb, cease, tarry, rigid, wait, or motionless.
DEVOTION: Jeremiah is reporting what the LORD has said to him regarding the future of the Philistines.
They had been enemies of the children of Israel since they entered the Promised Land. The tribes never killed all of them when they were supposed to but let them live and pay tribute. That was not what the LORD had commanded them but they were more interested in the tribute than the fighting. They also started to worship their false gods. This displeased the LORD but as we have learned HE was long-suffering with them and the Philistines.
Now was the time of judgment. The LORD was sending the Babylonian army to destroy Egypt but also all the nations in their path. The Philistines were in their path.
Here we find Jeremiah repeating what the Philistines were thinking and saying regarding the destruction the LORD was sending. They wanted the sword to be put away and to let the land rest from all the killing. They wanted the sword to just cease to exist.
They had an opportunity to know who the LORD was through those who were faithful to the LORD but they also continued to worship their false gods. The LORD wanted these false gods destroyed when the children of Israel came into the land but it took centuries before it really happened.
When we face the chastening of the LORD we want it to end but the LORD knows that if it ends too soon we will go back to our old ways. HE wants to correct us to the point that we are heading in the right direction. Does HE think that once HE stops our chastening we will never sin again. NO!! HE knows that we will struggle with our old nature until we die but HE also knows that we can change.
CHALLENGE: When you are under the hand of the LORD because of sin allow HIS chastening to correct THAT behavior. HE knows there are more HE will have to work on in the future. Seek HIS blessing.)

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 7 How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD has given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the seashore? There has he appointed it. (8252 “quiet” [shaqat] means be tranquil, be at peace, rest, be silent, be calm, be inactive, lie still, or be undisturbed.
DEVOTION: This chapter is a judgment on the Philistine people. Some scholars didn’t think these people even existed until recent years. The Bible always tells us the facts. It is the inerrant Word of God. The LORD sent HIS sword to destroy the Philistines.
This verse asks a question regarding HIS sword. The sword is given a task to perform. It was to perform the task at an appointed time. It was to perform its task toward a certain people. It was not to end until it’s task was complete.
The question states that the sword had a charge given it by the LORD and therefore cannot lie still. It has to work for the LORD. The sword of the LORD is going to work in the future too. When the LORD returns and battles the enemy, HE will use the Sword of the LORD again. The time is unknown for HIS return but it is closer today than it was yesterday. If we look at the way our world is going – it could be soon. The details of what happens next are fixed in the mind of the LORD.
We sometimes think we know the mind of the LORD. There are many thoughts regarding what will happen next in our world. Our responsibility is to be watching, listening and working.
Those without Christ will spend eternity in a literal place called hell. It is also called the lake of fire where the devil and his false prophet will spend eternity. Jesus spoke more of hell than of heaven to give warning to the Pharisees in HIS day. They were religious but not followers of the LORD. Jesus sent HIS disciples to witness to the Israelites and Gentiles of their world.
Will the LORD find us witnessing? Are we ready for HIS return? Are we listening for the trumpet sound? Are we trying to help the last person to become a follower of Christ?
Some teach it is not our responsibility but the LORD has chosen to use human being to do HIS work until HE returns. Are we doing HIS work? We have a charge from the LORD until HE sends HIS sword to judge the world.
Our sword today is the Word of God. Our Bible gives us enough ammunition to reach the world with the message of the Gospel. Our sword has two edges. It is meant to strike at the heart of an individual to the point that his inner being is changed as well as his outward being. Our sword doesn’t allow for only external appearances.
CHALLENGE: Judgment is coming. Our responsibility is to try to drag our family and friends from the fires of hell. Witness well and soon!!!)

DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Word of the LORD verse 1

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 2, 4, 6, 7
Word of the LORD verse 1
Judgment of the LORD verse 2- 7
Sword of the LORD verse 6
LORD appointed action verse 7

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Philistines verse 1, 4
Pharaoh verse 1
Gaza verse 1, 5
Tyrus verse 4
Zidon verse 4
Caphtor verse 4
Ashkelon verse 5, 7

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Feebleness verse 3
Helper of disobedient verse 4
Cut yourself verse 5

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Prophet verse 1

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Jeremiah the prophet verse 1

Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)

QUOTES

47:4–5Not only would the Philistines be destroyed, but all who attempted to help Tyre and Sidon. Mention of Tyre and Sidon may suggest that an alliance existed between those cities and the Philistines, though there is no historical evidence that such an alliance existed after 605 b.c. Caphtor is usually identified with Crete, which is generally considered to be the place of origin of the Philistines (cf. Deut 2:23; Amos 9:7).
The Philistine Pentapolis was composed of five city-states: Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, Ekron, and Ashdod. Two of them are singled out for punishment in 47:5. Gaza, about two and one-half miles inland from the sea, “will shave her head [lit. “baldness has come on Gaza”]. This may refer to complete destruction of the city or to a mourning practice common in the ANE (cf. 16:6; 41:5; 48:37). Ashkelon, ten miles north of Gaza, would “be silenced.” The Heb. word dāmâ can mean to be silent or to destroy. The Lord asked the “remnant on the plain” to consider how long they were going to cut themselves (another mourning practice; see 41:5). (Huey, F. B. (1993). Jeremiah, Lamentations (Vol. 16, pp. 385–386). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

47:2–7. The Babylonians were pictured as waters that were rising in the north. They were about to become an overflowing torrent that would sweep away the Philistines. The Philistines would cry out in anguish as the swirl of galloping steeds and enemy chariots rushed through the land. The people would be so overcome by fear that fathers would not even turn back to help their children. Being destroyed, the Philistines would not be able to help their allies, Tyre and Sidon (cf. Ezek. 27–28).
The Philistineswere the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor, that is, Crete (cf. Amos 9:7; Zeph. 2:5). They were one of the groups of sea peoples who made their way to the coast of Palestine (see the map “The World of Jeremiah and Ezekiel,” in the Introduction). Gaza and Ashkelon, two of the five cities that formed the Philistine pentapolis (cf. Josh. 13:3; 1 Sam. 6:4, 18), were singled out for special mention. Gaza was attacked by the Egyptians (cf. Jer. 47:1), and Ashkelon was later destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in November–December 604 b.c. (cf. comments on 36:9). God predicted that the Philistines would be caught in the middle of the struggle between Babylon and Egypt and would be destroyed. As a result, they were to shave their heads and cut themselves—both signs of mourning or grief (cf. comments on 16:6). God’s sword of judgment would not rest till it had attacked Ashkelon and the seacoast and destroyed them (cf. Ezek. 25:15–17). (Dyer, C. H. (1985). Jeremiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1194). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

The Philistine people probably came from Crete (Caphtor, v. 4). They built a wealthy nation by developing a merchant marine that sailed the Mediterranean and acquired goods from many lands. But their destiny was destruction. Tyre and Sidon had been confederate with Judah in an attempt to stop Nebuchadnezzar (27:3).
This time Jeremiah used the image of the rising river to describe the Babylonian army as it flooded over the land (47:2). So terrible was the invasion that parents would flee for their lives and leave their children behind (v. 3; see 49:11). The people would act like mourners at a funeral (47:5) and ask the Lord when He would put up the terrible sword of His judgment (v. 6). But this sword would continue to devour the land until God’s work of judgment was finished. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Decisive (p. 166). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines; the day which God hath set and appointed for the ruin of the Philistines. Tyre and Zidon were neighbouring to the Philistines, as appears from Gen. 10:14, 15; Joel 3:4, and so were often called to their help. God threateneth both to destroy them, and also those that helped them. It appeareth, from Gen. 10:14, that the Philistines and Caphtorims were related; for their first progenitors, Philistim and Caphtorim, were both the sons of Mizraim the son of Ham, one of the sons of Noah. It appears, from Deut. 2:23, that they expelled the Avites, and dwelt in Hazerim to Azzah; whether their country be what was afterwards called Cappadocia or Damiata is not much material for us to know, they were a people confederate with the Philistines, whom God here threateneth to destroy with them. (Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 2, p. 626). New York: Robert Carter and Brothers.)

Ver. 4. Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, &c.] The time appointed by the Lord for their destruction, which should be universal: and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth; these were cities in Phœnicia, which bordered on the country of the Philistines, who were their auxiliaries in time of distress; but now, being wasted themselves, could give them no help when Nebuchadnezzar attacked them; as he did Tyre particularly, which he besieged thirteen years, and at last destroyed it, and Zidon with it: for the Lord will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor; these last are not put by way of apposition, as if they were the same with the Philistines, though they were near of kin to them, coming from Casluhim; who were the posterity of Mizraim, as well as Caphtorim, Gen. 10:13, 14 indeed the Philistines are said to be brought from Caphtor, Amos 9:7 being very probably taken captive by them, but rescued from them; and now in confederacy with them, and like to share the same fate as they. The Targum renders it, “the remnant of the island of the Cappadocians;” and so the Vulgate Latin version. Some think the Colchi, others that the Cretians are meant. R. Saadiah by Caphtor understands Damiata, a city in Egypt; which is the same with Pelusium or Sin, the strength of Egypt, Ezek. 30:15 and it is usual with the Jews to call this place Caphutkia, the same with Caphtor, they say; and, in Arabic, Damiata. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, p. 654). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

John Piper writes: My longing for our church is that we be free from gossip. Let's be forthright and honest and courageous and humble. Jesus was amazingly blunt at times. Love sometimes sounds like that. He could have easily been accused of callousness or lovelessness. But we know he was the most loving person who ever lived. So let's follow him in this matter. He died for us so that all the logs and specks in our eyes may be forgiven. That should give us both courage and care in dealing with others. Especially when we realize that the faults of our brothers and sisters have also been forgiven by Jesus. (Talk to People Rather than about Them by John Piper)

Albert Mohler writes:We must grieve with those who grieve. We must pray for Gospel churches in the Denver area that will be called upon for urgent ministry. We must pray for our nation and communities. And we must pray that God will guard ourselves from evil — especially our own evil. And we must point to the cross. What other answer can we give? (The Dark Night in Denver: Groping for Answers)