Jeremiah 47:5-7

B. The Devouring Sword Jeremiah 47:5-7

In the second stanza of the poem the figure changes from an overflowing stream to a devouring sword. The sword of the Lord creates havoc in Philistia. Gaza and Ashkelon, two of the principal cities of the land, suffer immeasurably. Baldness and the cutting of the flesh mentioned in Jeremiah 47:5 are both signs of deep mourning. By self-mutilation these heathen folks tried to arouse the pity of the gods.

In Jeremiah 47:6 someone asks, O sword of the Lord, how long will it be before you are quiet? Then follows the appeal, again addressed to the sword, Put yourself into your scabbard, rest, and be still! Does this question and appeal come from the prophet or from the Philistine? Some commentators feel that this is a cry for mercy on the part of the Philistine. Since no sign of sincere sorrow for their sin or genuine repentance is manifested, the prophet as God's spokesman, must reject their plea in the following verse. Now this interpretation may well be correct but it is certainly not necessary. It may have been Jeremiah himself who, seeing in his mind's eye the devastation and destruction of Philistia, cries out for the sword of God's wrath to be returned to its scabbard. After further reflection and possible divine revelation Jeremiah realizes that the sword of the Lord cannot be sheathed until its work of judgment is done. The righteous wrath of God must be poured out upon Ashkelon and the whole seashore, all of Philistia (Jeremiah 47:7). Justice must be done. When Almighty God brandishes His sword of wrath there is no stopping until the work is complete.

This brief oracle does not reveal the reason for the divine wrath against Philistia. Certainly the Philistine had been most bitter enemies of the people of God from the time of the judges. This alone would be reason enough for the awful destruction which is here depicted. But in addition to this Jeremiah emphasized again and again that the nations which refused to submit to the yoke of Babylon would have to drink of the CUP of God's wrath. Oracles threatening ruination of Philistia are found in Amos 1:6-8; Isaiah 14:29-31; Zephaniah 2:4-7; Ezekiel 25:15-17 and finally in Zechariah 9:5-7. The latter passage adds to the threat of destruction a note of hope that Philistine would share in the glory of the Messianic kingdom. This promise was fulfilled when Philistia heard the Gospel proclaimed and many of that region became Christians (Acts 8:40; Acts 9:32-43).