Study Desk

When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar, and He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge. Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his molten images are a lie, and there is no breath in them.

Jacob's Portion is not like these, for He is the Maker of all things, and of the tribe of His inheritance-the LORD of Hosts is His name.

"You are My war club, My weapon for battle. With you I shatter nations; with you I bring kingdoms to ruin.

Before your very eyes I will repay Babylon and all the residents of Chaldea for all the evil they have done in Zion," declares the LORD.

Prepare the nations for battle against her-the kings of the Medes, their governors and all their officials, and all the lands they rule.

For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: "The Daughter Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is trampled. In just a little while her harvest time will come."

Do not let your heart grow faint, and do not be afraid when the rumor is heard in the land; for a rumor will come one year, and then another the next year of violence in the land and ruler against ruler.

Then heaven and earth and all that is in them will shout for joy over Babylon because the destroyers from the north will come against her," declares the LORD.

For the LORD will destroy Babylon; He will silence her mighty voice. The waves will roar like great waters; the tumult of their voice will resound.

For a destroyer is coming against her-against Babylon. Her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken, for the LORD is a God of retribution; He will repay in full.

This is what the LORD of Hosts says: "Babylon's thick walls will be leveled, and her high gates consumed by fire. So the labor of the people will be for nothing; the nations will exhaust themselves to fuel the flames."

For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.

As for the two pillars, the sea, the twelve bronze bulls under it, and the movable stands that King Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the weight of the bronze from all these articles was beyond measure.

So Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes, and he dined regularly at the king's table for the rest of his days.

And the king of Babylon allotted to him a daily portion for the rest of his life, until the day of his death.

Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. For the LORD has brought her grief because of her many transgressions. Her children have gone away as captives before the enemy.

Jerusalem has sinned greatly; therefore she has become an object of scorn. All who honored her now despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns away.

Her uncleanness stains her skirts; she did not consider her end. Her downfall was astounding; there was no one to comfort her. Look, O LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!

The adversary has seized all her treasures. For she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary-those You had forbidden to enter Your assembly.