Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"I will bring back the captives of Elam"
Text: Jeremiah 49:39
THE PUNISHMENT OF ELAM
The prophecy against Elam displays both the sovereign majesty of the LORD as well as His mercy. Both aspects are very clear in this text.
“‘For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies
And before those who seek their life.
I will bring disaster upon them,
My fierce anger,’ says the LORD;
‘And I will send the sword after them
Until I have consumed them.
I will set My throne in Elam,
And will destroy from there the king and the princes,’ says the LORD.
‘But it shall come to pass in the latter days:
I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the LORD.”
Jeremiah 49:37-39
1. “‘For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies and before those
who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, My fierce anger,’ says the LORD;
‘And I will send the sword after them until I have consumed them'”
a) Elam would be dismayed before their enemies.
b) The people will face disaster.
c) A sword would consume them.
d) The fierce anger of the LORD would be upon them.
e) This is an amazing prophecy because Elam was not a world power
in the days of Jeremiah.
f) This prophecy thus predicted the Rise and the Fall of the Persian Empire.
g) But the power that reigned supreme then was that of Babylon.
2. “‘I will set My throne in Elam,
and will destroy from there the king and the princes,’ says the LORD”
a) The LORD will set up His majestic throne in Elam.
b) He would first destroy the king and the princes of the Persian Empire.
3. “‘But it shall come to pass in the latter days:
I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the LORD”
a) The mercy of the LORD will be extended to the captives of Elam.
b) If they would repent of their sins, the LORD would cause them to return from their captivity.