Jeremiah 47

God is in total control do not be troubled or afraid!

Paul later wrote to Christians in Ephesus to encourage them about a different kind of seal: "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory" (Ephesians 1:13-14).

As Jesus prepared to sacrifice Himself on the cross for the sins of the world, He talked to His disciples about this inheritance. He guaranteed that He was going to prepare a place for them and that He would come again and take them into their eternal reward (John 14:2-3). Jesus also guaranteed His disciples the Holy Spirit, who would teach them all things. In light of these promises, Jesus exhorted His disciples not to be troubled or afraid (John 14:26-27).

We, too, share these guarantees if we follow Christ. We can heed Jesus' words and let our hearts not be troubled or afraid. Instead, we can fix our eyes on Him, run this race with endurance, and look forward to the place He is preparing for us. First5

Jeremiah 47

1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza. 2 Thus says the Lord: “Behold, waters rise out of the north, And shall be an overflowing flood; They shall overflow the land and all that is in it, The city and those who dwell within; Then the men shall cry, And all the inhabitants of the land shall wail. 3 At the noise of the stamping hooves of his strong horses, At the rushing of his chariots, At the rumbling of his wheels. The fathers will not look back for their children, Lacking courage, 4 Because of the day that comes to plunder all the Philistines, To cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains; For the Lord shall plunder the Philistines, The remnant of the country of Caphtor.  5 Baldness has come upon Gaza, Ashkelon is cut off With the remnant of their valley. How long will you cut yourself? 6 “O you sword of the Lord, How long until you are quiet? Put yourself up into your scabbard, Rest and be still! 7 How can it be quiet, Seeing the Lord has given it a charge Against Ashkelon and against the seashore? There He has appointed it.” The New King James Version

This oracle of judgment against the Philistines is probably connected to Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Ashkelon in 604 bc, though the editorial heading in verse 1 connects it with an Egyptian campaign against Gaza. However, the region of Philistia was the battleground for part of the confrontation between Babylon and Egypt in 601 bc. 

The Oracle against the nations.

The Philistines Inhabited the coastal plain west of Judah. Pharaoh attacked Gaza. Herodotus records that, after repelling Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion in 601 bc, Neco continued north and captured the Philistine city of Gaza. 

The image of rising waters is used for Egypt, but the warning of danger from the north suggests Babylonian attack. Tyre and Sidon were Phoenician cities, presumably mentioned because they are allies of the Philistines. The coastlands of Caphtor usually identified with Crete, the homeland of the Philistines according to Amos. Archaeological artifacts from the Philistines bear similarities to those found on Crete. The Philistines usually are associated with the Sea Peoples, who entered Syria-Palestine by land and sea through the Aegean basin and Asia Minor around 1200 bc.

Ashkelon was  Philistine seaport that was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 604 bc. 

Ashkelon was an ancient Canaanite city-state on the Mediterranean coast. Joshua lists it as one of the five cities of the Philistines, and it was captured by Judah during the conquest (Judges 1:18). Ashkelon also is mentioned in the story of Samson. Most likely, the Canaanite city was settled by the Philistines after the Sea Peoples failed to conquer Egypt around 1190 bc. 

Ashkelon was a strategic port—a logical place for Egypt to station enemies-turned-mercenaries who had invaded by sea. Ashkelon did not yield to Babylonian rule after the Battle of Carchemish, so Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city in 604 bc. It was rebuilt into a thriving port in the Persian period and continued to be an important regional city until 1270 ad.  Faithlife Study Bible

Lacking courage is literally “from weakness of hands,” describing the paralyzing terror felt by parents as they abandon their children in flight. 

Philistines and Phoenicians are associated through their origins among the sea peoples who came from the northern Mediterranean and Aegean islands to the coastlands of Palestine in the twelfth century b.c. Caphtor is identified with Crete. Tyre and Sidon were the largest Phoenician ports. Gaza and Ashkelon were the last of the Philistine strongholds to fall, along with Ashdod, which is not mentioned. 

Shaving the head and self-inflicted wounds were mourning customs forbidden in Israel.

The image of the sword of the Lord is often used to portray divine judgment. The judgment had long been withheld; the long-suffering of the Lord had reached its end. The NKJV Study Bible

The Philistines had always been enemies to Israel; but the Chaldean army shall overflow their land like a deluge. Those whom God will spoil, must be spoiled. For when the Lord intends to destroy the wicked, he will cut off every helper. 

So deplorable are the desolations of war, that the blessings of peace are most desirable. But we must submit to His appointments who ordains all in perfect wisdom and justice.  Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Jeremiah 25:20 all the mixed multitude, all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the land of the Philistines (namely, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod);

Amos 1:6 

Thus says the LORD:“For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four,

I will not turn away its punishment,

Because they took captive the whole captivity

To deliver them up to Edom.

Amos 1:7 

But I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza,

Which shall devour its palaces.

Zephaniah 2:4 

For Gaza shall be forsaken,

And Ashkelon desolate;

They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday,

And Ekron shall be uprooted.

Zechariah 9:6 

“A mixed race shall settle in Ashdod,

And I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.