“I sure hope he gets what’s coming to him!” We’ve all entertained such thoughts, but who would be on your list of those who deserve judgment? Possessors of “white privilege?” Wall Street fatcats who profit from others’ misery? Goons who deface monuments or burn inner-city businesses? Mass-media talking heads who make no attempt to be fair to all sides? We’ve all got different ideas.

And the good news for God’s people is that the worst of their enemies are in fact in God’s crosshairs. The Babylonians besieged Jerusalem, then captured and destroyed it, killing many of its residents and carrying others off into exile (39:1-10). God made it clear that He has no use for such bullies – those who “pillage My heritage” (50:11) would have their own city walls torn down. God said of evil Babylon, “Take vengeance on her; As she has done to others, so do to her” (50:15). Yes, God’s justice is always perfect.

But at the same time, Jeremiah reminded God’s people that they also stood in need of judgment. That’s because the leaders of God’s people, their shepherds, had led them astray (50:6) into all manner of sin against the Lord and against one another (50:7). In short, God’s people deserved God’s punishment just as much as their worst enemies did.

And isn’t this a good thing for all of us to keep in mind? For no matter how despicable certain people may be to us, haven’t we all broken God’s law of perfect love? Haven’t we all failed to love Him with all we are and all we have? Haven’t we all failed to love our neighbors as ourselves? In fact, doesn’t our anger at those with whom we disagree prove that we ourselves have a long way to go on the road to holiness?

So, while we rejoice that God won’t let the wicked go unpunished, let’s remember to pray that He would always temper His justice with mercy. For don’t we all stand in need of God’s grace?

Jeremiah 50:6-10 (NASB)

6 “My people have become lost sheep; Their shepherds have led them astray. They have made them turn aside on the mountains; They have gone along from mountain to hill And have forgotten their resting place.
7 “All who came upon them have devoured them; And their adversaries have said, ‘We are not guilty, Inasmuch as they have sinned against the LORD who is the habitation of righteousness, Even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’
8 “Wander away from the midst of Babylon, And go forth from the land of the Chaldeans; Be also like male goats at the head of the flock.
9 “For behold, I am going to arouse and bring up against Babylon A horde of great nations from the land of the north, And they will draw up their battle lines against her; From there she will be taken captive. Their arrows will be like an expert warrior Who does not return empty-handed.
10 “And Chaldea will become plunder; All who plunder her will have enough,” declares the LORD.