The Best Drink - Jeremiah 25

“The Word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon).” Jeremiah 25:1

According to Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary, the above verses provide us a specific year for this prophecy. King Nebuchadnezzar mounted the throne January 21, 604 BC. He had previously entered Judea during the reign of his father Nabopolassar but was not yet king then.

“Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying: ‘From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, this is the twenty-third year in which the Word of the Lord has come to me; and I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, but you have not listened.’” Jeremiah 25:2-3

The Lord had been giving the people of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas His Word for 23 years via Jeremiah. They may have heard his voice, but they were not listening. The meaning of the word to hear in Hebrew also carries with it the meaning to act on it.

“And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear.” Jeremiah 25:4

Jeremiah was not the only voice calling them to prepare for the Babylonian captivity. God sent to them Urijah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, and Ezekiel as well. God’s prophets worked long hours for them. Their poor following was not due to a lack of effort on their part. No, the Lord sent them to prophesy to hard-hearted people.

In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul encouraged his young protégé Timothy, “Preach the Word! Be ready in and out of season. Reprove, rebuke and exhort with complete patience and teaching.”

“They said, ‘Repent now everyone of his evil way and his evil doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord has given to you and your fathers forever and ever. Do not go after other gods to serve them and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands; and I will not harm you. Yet you have not listened to Me, says the Lord, that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.’” Jeremiah 25:5-7

Repent is the off ramp from the highway to hell. To repent is to turn from sin to God.

Idolatry is like the sewage pipe from which sin flows. God is the river from which life flows.

Have you ever been talking to someone who says, “Yes, yes,” but if asked what was said, they cannot repeat it. They heard a voice but did not pay attention to what was said to them.

Once, two children were playing under a tree. Mom saw a snake above them. She said, “Children, come now!” They complied immediately without questioning. They moved just in time before the snake dropped to where they had been sitting.

James 4:8, 10 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

The reward for listening to God is God. Being close with Him! Double-mindedness is like being a cojoined twin. Which head gets to rule the body, the one who listens to God or the one who listens only to itself? The Lord says, “Humble yourself.” Be singularly focused on glorifying God!

“Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: because you have not heard My words, behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, says the Lord, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against these nations all around, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, a hissing, and perpetual desolations.” Jeremiah 25:8-9

Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord. He guides it wherever He pleases.” Revelation 17:17 speaks of God putting war in the hearts of kings to “fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.” This is God’s judgment on those who forsake Him.

“Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp.” Jeremiah 25:10

God took away their mirth, their marriages, their millstones by which they made bread and He took away their lamps by which they navigated safely in the darkness.

Revelation 18:22-23 repeats this judgment to the people living in the last days, saying, “...The voice of a mill shall be heard no more at all in you. And the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in you. And the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in you...”

The evil they had perpetrated was great and the consequence for it was great!

“And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon 70 years.” Jeremiah 25:11

Israel’s exact number of non-observed Sabbath-Years was 490. Every seventh year, Israel was to not plant crops. They were to give the land a year of rest. God promised to meet their needs during that rest year. They did not do this from the time of Saul until the time of their captivity, a period of 490 years. 490 ÷7 = 70. So, the land was owed 70 years of rest. Daniel’s “70 weeks” (years) are based on Jeremiah’s prophecy. For more details see Leviticus 26:34-35, 2 Chronicles 36:21, and Daniel 9:2.

In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asked Jesus how often he should forgive a brother who sins against him. Jesus answered Peter, saying, “I do not say to you, up to 7x, but up to 70 x 7.” 490 is the number of years for which God forgave Israel for breaking the Sabbath covenant with Him.

“Then it will come to pass, when 70 years are completed, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, says the Lord; and I will make it a perpetual desolation.” Jeremiah 25:12

In Daniel 4:27, Daniel said to Babylon’s king, “O king, let my advice be acceptable to you. Break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Nebuchadnezzar did not listen to Daniel. A year later, in Daniel 4:28-34, he was boasting, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty? While this word was in his mouth, a voice fell from heaven: ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!’” He behaved like an animal for a time, until the Lord gave him back His mind.

“So I will bring on that land all My words which I have pronounced against it, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied concerning all the nations.” Jeremiah 25:13

During 604 BC, the first year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign and the fourth year of King Jehoiakim’s reign (See Jeremiah 36:1-2), God directed Jeremiah to document his prophecies.

God’s Word is internationally inclusive. Jesus Christ gave John the Apostle prophecies for the seven churches of Asia, but also for the nations in the Book of Revelation. Revelation 10:11 says, “You must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”

“For many nations and great kings shall be served by them also. And I will repay them according to their deeds and according to the works of their own hands.” Jeremiah 25:14

The Babylonian captors became the captives of other nations.

“For thus says the Lord God of Israel to me: ‘Take this wine cup of fury from My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it. And they will drink and stagger and go mad because of the sword that I will send among them. Then I took the cup from the Lord’s hand, and made all the nations drink, to whom the Lord had sent me: Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and its princes, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is this day...” Jeremiah 25:15-18

Jerusalem shall drink from the wine cup of God’s fury. “Jerusalem — put first: for ‘judgment begins at the house of God.’ They being most guilty whose religious privileges are greatest!” [JFBC]

1 Peter 4:17 says, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God. And if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the Gospel of God?”

“To Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his princes, and all his people...” Jeremiah 25:19

Egypt shall drink from the wine cup of God’s fury. “Pharaoh — put next after Jerusalem because the Jews had relied most on him, and Egypt and Judea stood on a common footing. See Jeremiah 46:2, 25 for more details. [JFBC]

“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).” Jeremiah 25:20

The kings of the Philistines shall drink from the wine cup of God’s fury. These nations provided soldiers for Egypt. “Mercenary foreign troops serving under Pharaoh-Hophra from the area between the Mediterranean Sea and Idumea.” [JFBC]

“Edom, Moab, and the people of Ammon.” Jeremiah 25:21

They shall drink the wine cup of God’s fury. The Edomites are descendants of Isaac’s son` Esau. The Moabites and Ammonites are descendants of Lot.

“All the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the coastlands which are across the sea.” Jeremiah 25:22

They shall drink the wine cup of God’s fury.

“Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who are in the farthest corners.” Jeremiah 25:23

These cities of Arabia shall drink from the wine cup of God’s fury. Dedan is an ancient oasis and city-state in northwest Saudi Arabia. Dedan: grandson of Abraham’s concubine Keturah. Tema “Tayma” an oasis city in northwestern Saudi Arabia. A significant stop on ancient trade routes. Tema was a grandson of Abraham. Esau was his father. Teman was one of twelve chiefs in Edom – 1 Chronicles 1:53.

“All the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the mixed multitude who dwell in the desert.” Jeremiah 25:24

They shall drink the wine cup of God’s fury.

After Babylon took the people of Judah captive, the Edomites expanded their territory into Judah. God warned Judah’s neighbors that they also shall be judged. Edom as a distinct political entity no longer exists. primarily located in what is now southwestern Jordan.

“All the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the mixed multitude who dwell in the desert; all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes.” Jeremiah 25:25

Zimri like Dedan was one of Abraham’s sons by Keturah (Genesis 25:2). The people of Zimri, Elam, Medes mainly dwelt in Persia (modern day Iran), but also included people beyond them. Zimri later came to be called Susa. They shall drink the wine cup of God’s fury.

“All the kings of the north, far and near, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the world which are on the face of the earth. Also, the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.” Jeremiah 25:26

“Sheshach—from the Babylonian goddess, Shach. The term Shace was applied to a festival at Babylon, alluded to in Jeremiah 51:39, 57. Jeremiah alludes to the time of Judah’s captivity.” [JFBC]

“Therefore, you shall say to them, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: drink, be drunk, and vomit! Fall and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you. And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, thus says the Lord of hosts: you shall certainly drink!” Jeremiah 25:27-28

The nations do not want to drink from the wine of God’s fury, but the Lord’s Word to them is “You shall certainly drink!” They can choose their sin, but not its consequence.

What does the cup of wrath contain? It contains the curses of the Law. Romans 4:15 says, “The Law works wrath.” Revelation 14:9-10 speaks prophetically of those who receive the mark of the beast. They shall drink of the wine of God’s wrath.

“For behold, I begin to bring calamity on the city, which is called by My Name, and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished, for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth, says the Lord of hosts.” Jeremiah 25:29

Yes, God disciplines His children when we sin. God is not a nepotist. Nepotism is the practice among those with power or influence to grant unmerited perks and privileges to their children, relatives, friends and associates. God began the purification process with His own people.

“Therefore, prophesy against them all these words, and say to them: the Lord will roar from on high and utter His voice from His holy habitation. He will roar mightily against His fold. He will give a shout, as those who tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.” Jeremiah 25:30

God uses the imagery of a lion roaring against his flock. His roar would first be heard in the pasture of Judah where His sheep were, and from there resound to all people of the earth.

God uses the imagery of a grape harvest to symbolize His wrath. Revelation 14:19 says, “The angel thrust his sickle into earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.”

This passage corresponds with Isaiah 5:3-6: “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will lay it waste.”

“A noise will come to the ends of the earth—for the Lord has a controversy with the nations. He will plead His case with all flesh. He will give those who are wicked to the sword, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 25:31

Instead of pleading for them, the Lord pleads against them. God is gracious, but not to the point of no return. He sent the flood on the people in Noah’s day. He sent the fire on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in Lot’s day. He sent Israel into captivity in Jeremiah’s day. The Lord purges violence and rebellion in due season..

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: behold, disaster shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the farthest parts of the earth.” Jeremiah 25:32

Like a tornado or hurricane which begins in a moment and then spins far and wide, so God’s judgments shall begin and pass “from nation to nation” until all has been fulfilled.

“And at that day the slain of the Lord shall be from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall become refuse on the ground. Wail, shepherds, and cry! Roll about in the ashes, you leaders of the flock! For the days of your slaughter and your dispersions are fulfilled; you shall fall like a precious vessel.” Jeremiah 25:33-34

It is likely that in some places no one shall remain to lament, gather or bury the dead. Thus, their bodies litter the earth. The mention of falling vessels is reminiscent of the message that Jeremiah gave the political and religious leaders of Jerusalem when he took them out to the valley of shattered vessels. In essence God is saying, you were once vessels of honor, but because you rejected Me, you are now shattered vessels.

The words “you shall fall like a precious vessel” connects this passage to Psalm 2:8-9 and Revelation 2:26-27. In Psalm 2:8-9, the Lord says, “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

In Revelation 2:26-27, Jesus says, “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels—as I also have received from My Father.” The concept here is that one who walks with Christ will shatter the spiritual strongholds over people so that a new day can begin.

“And the shepherds will have no way to flee, nor the leaders of the flock to escape.” Jeremiah 25:35

Earlier, the Lord said that the nations will not want to drink from the wine of God’s fury, but the Lord’s Word to them is “You shall certainly drink!” Here, He tells Israel’s spiritual and political leaders that they shall not escape the consequences of their evil doings.

“A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and a wailing of the leaders to the flock will be heard. For the Lord has plundered their pasture, and the peaceful dwellings are cut down because of the fierce anger of the Lord. He has left His lair like the lion; for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of His fierce anger.” Jeremiah 25:36-38

Proverbs 20:2 says, “A king’s wrath is like the roar of a lion; he who angers him forfeits his life. “If the anger of Nebuchadnezzar cannot be evaded, how much less that of God?” [JFBC]

The wine from the cup of God’s fury is not a pleasant drink. It causes people to stagger. The word for ‘stagger’ in Hebrew suggests that something poisonous is in the cup. The Lord says in Jeremiah 25:27, “Drink, get drunk and vomit, and fall to rise up no more because of the sword I will send among you.”

In Isaiah 51:22, a miracle happens. One minute the sons of Jerusalem are drunk, but in the next moment, the Lord says, “See, I have taken out of your hand the cup that made you stagger; the cup of My wrath. You will never drink it again.” We are delivered from the wine of God’s fury when we believe in and profess His Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Jesus Christ drank the cup of God’s wrath. In Matthew 26:38, while in the Garden of Gethsemane, He said to His disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow because He knew how terrible God’s wrath is. In Matthew 26:39, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, take this cup from Me!” If the Son of God did not want to drink from this cup, do you want to drink from it?

Jesus Christ had to drink the cup to satisfy God’s wrath against sin. God is righteous. He is holy. He always follows the rules. He does not tolerate sin. So that is why Christ took our sin upon Himself. Christ drank the bitter cup of God’s wrath that we deserved. In John 19:30, when He died on the cross, He cried out, “It is finished.”

Because Christ drank the cup of wrath in our place, we who believe in Him and profess Him as our Lord and Savior need not drink it. Thanks to Christ, God can say to us, “You will never drink this cup of My wrath again”

What did Jesus offer His disciples before going to the Garden of Gethsemane? In Matthew 26:27-28, “He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’”

Romans 5:9 says, “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”

Christ endured the wine press of God’s wrath, so that we can enjoy the wine of God’s love. Christ bled. We drink. The best drink! Praise the Lord!


[JFBC] = Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary