Jeremiah called Babylon God’s battle-ax (Jer. 51:20–23), and Ezekiel called Babylon God’s sword. (The word sword is used more than a dozen times in this chapter.) God pulled His sword out of the scabbard (vv. 1–7), prepared it for use (vv. 8–17), and then pointed it toward Jerusalem (vv. 18–27) and Ammon (vv. 28–32). The Ammonites had united with Judah against Babylon but had escaped invasion. However, their judgment eventually came.
God uses unbelievers to accomplish His purposes and can even overrule their pagan methods of making decisions (vv. 18–23; Prov. 16:33). God’s people did not obey the declared will of God, but the pagan nations obeyed God and did not know it. What a paradox!
The prophet’s responses to this message attracted the attention of the people, for he sighed (vv. 6–7) and wailed (v. 12). What is your response to the message of the coming judgment of God (2 Pet. 3:10–18)?
