Babylon has become a metaphor for all the cities around the world. People are rushing about their business, serving their idols, whether it is their job, money, devices, sports/sport stars, movies, or whatever they decide to put before God. Fear has overrun the world of late, for many could not continue in the way God laid out before them. Just like the Babylonians being guilty of “striven against the Lord,” hence they lost their peace (Jeremiah 50:24). Striven means that the Babylonians went through great efforts to achieve or obtain something, just like the people today. Therefore, this following verse feels so appropriate today:
My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace [sic]. Jeremiah 50:6 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jer.50.6.KJV
God has placed His people separate from the people of the world. God did not want the Israelite’s to assimilate or segregate with the people of Babylon, but they had to sanctify themselves as God’s people. But the Israelite’s (including Christians around the world) do not always adhere to this. We let the world dictate to us what they believe is right and which isn’t. Jeremiah said that the Israelite’s had to:
Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.
Jeremiah 50:8 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/jer.50.8.KJV
What does Jeremiah mean when he talks about “he goats”? According to Bible Tools (see notes), goats “represents strong-mindedness, singleness of purpose, and leadership rather than following” (Bible Tools). The Amplified Bible explains it like this: God needs us to “serve as example and as leaders in the flight.”
But there are a clear difference between goats and sheep. A short while ago I went into a field to take some photos of sheep. The sheep kept running away, even when I stood still, spoke quietly to them, or sang to them (well that would’ve driven anyone away, really). I got my photos, although only from afar. The goats where a different matter, all together. The goats came running along, most likely wanting treats. Just like people sometimes going to church and praying whenever times get tough. They need God to restore or provide something for them, and after receiving their needs,their faith seems to dwindle.
Jesus, too, spoke about the differences between goats and sheep:
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Matthew 25:32-46 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.25.32-46.KJV
Who are Jesus referring to in this piece? When will this happen? Well, Jeremiah said:
Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?
Jeremiah 50:44 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/jer.50.44.KJV
You will notice that the same words,spoken by Jeremiah, appear in my previous piece. Please see:
https://lightbearersquest.com/2020/07/06/bitter-cup-of-judgment/
It was so important to note that Jeremiah had to repeat these words. We know that Jeremiah referred to Jesus, and that Jesus referred to himself, as the ‘shepherd’ who will divide the sheep (righteous) and the goats (unrighteous). When … no one knows. But Daniel gave us a clue:
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Daniel 12:1 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/dan.12.1.KJV
My prayer today: Lord, Almighty God, please have mercy on us. Guide us on Your path and protect us from the evil one’s machinations. #GodCanDoThis
Notes:
The characteristics of goats I found in:
Lightbearer's Quest 