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Babylon is a dominant world power in Jeremiah’s time that God uses to accomplish His purposes. The prophet says that even Babylon will answer to God. East of Chaldea, the Persian Empire will take over the region and conquer Babylon. This time the Persian King Cyrus will be used by God to alter the course of events.

Jeremiah now conveys his firm belief that it is the God of Israel—not kings and their armies—who shapes history. He delivers a strong message from God concerning Babylon (who oversteps her bounds in the treatment of Judah and the other nations). Intermixed is Jeremiah’s message of hope for those in exile. One day, the people of Judah will return home from Babylon. Those who make the journey will find that God never stops loving them, even as He disciplines them.

Eternal One: Tell the nations of the world; announce it to them all.
        Raise a flag—get their attention—tell them! Hold nothing back; tell them,
    “Babylon has fallen; Bel has been put to shame:
        Marduk has been shattered. Her images are disgraced;
    There’s nothing left of Babylon’s idols but broken pieces.”

Now it is Babylon’s turn to be attacked from the north; another nation will destroy her land. No one will live there; both man and beast will run away.

But in those days of judgment and when the time is right, I, the Eternal One, declare this: The people of Israel and those of Judah will come to Me together. With tears in their eyes, they will come and seek the Eternal their God.

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“Announce and proclaim(A) among the nations,
    lift up a banner(B) and proclaim it;
    keep nothing back, but say,
‘Babylon will be captured;(C)
    Bel(D) will be put to shame,(E)
    Marduk(F) filled with terror.
Her images will be put to shame
    and her idols(G) filled with terror.’
A nation from the north(H) will attack her
    and lay waste her land.
No one will live(I) in it;
    both people and animals(J) will flee away.

“In those days, at that time,”
    declares the Lord,
“the people of Israel and the people of Judah together(K)
    will go in tears(L) to seek(M) the Lord their God.

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