The Lord gave Jeremiah a word of knowledge for the people of Gaza as well as for Egypt, Tyre and Sidon in this prophecy.
“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. 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, 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.’” Jeremiah 47:2-4
A word of knowledge is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Gifts of the Spirit are explained In 1 Corinthians 12. In 1 Corinthians 12:7-8, Paul wrote, “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit.” The word of knowledge manifests as thoughts, images, dreams, or even physical sensations, conveying knowledge for the purpose of guidance.
In John 16:13, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit guides His followers into all truth. If we are guided by truth, we are not deceived. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are navigational in nature. For example, the Greek word for the gift of administration in 1 Corinthians 12:28 is “κυβέρνησις” (kubernesis) means “to steer” or “to rule or govern.” This gift steers people correctly.
When my wife and I took the Gospel to China, the Holy Spirit gave us words of knowledge at times. For example, one time we were at a bus stop. Our plan was to join a gathering of believers that evening. The buses at that stop usually arrived every 10-15 minutes, but there was a long delay. As we began to pray, peace left us. So, we left there and returned home.
The next day, we received news that soldiers had invaded the meeting. One missionary and many Chinese believers were arrested. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, we avoided arrest. If arrested, I would have lost my job, our home, and our visas to be in China.
In Acts 11:27-29, the Holy Spirit gave to Agabus a word of knowledge. “...Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.” Thanks to the Holy Spirit, God’s people did not go hungry during a famine.
In Acts 21:10-11, the Holy Spirit gave Agabus a word of knowledge for Paul. “He took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, ‘Thus says the Holy Spirit, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” This word of knowledge came to pass because Paul went to Jerusalem, but at least, Paul knew beforehand what would happen.
Jeremiah received his prophetic words from the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21 says, “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit gave Jeremiah the right words to say.
Psalm 22:16 says, “They have pierced My hands and My feet.” Psalm 16:10 says, “Your Holy One will not see corruption.” Some Psalms include accurate prophetic words about the Messiah. In 2 Samuel 23:2, David testified, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; His word was on my tongue.” The Holy Spirit gave David the right words to say.
The Holy Spirit gives gifts to those who witness for Jesus. In Acts 5:32, Peter and other apostles testified, “We are His [Christ’s] witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
The Holy Spirit’s word for the Philistines via Jeremiah was that the Pharoah’s army would overflow their nation from the north. Now, Egypt is south of Gaza so why would Pharoah’s army flow over them from the north?
The Holy Spirit gave Jeremiah a word of knowledge. What was not known at the time was that Pharoah would attack Tyre and Sidon to the north of Gaza first, and then attack Gaza afterwards. The Philistines had hoped that the people of Tyre and Sidon would help them against the Pharaoh, but that was not going to happen.
God used the imagery of a flood overflowing Gaza when He spoke of Pharoah’s army overrunning Gaza. In Revelation 12:15-17, the Spirit uses the imagery of a serpent spewing a flood from its mouth to destroy people and the earth opening its mouth to swallow the flood. The flood represents an invading army. The earth swallowing the flood represents God’s deliverance. In the case with the Philistines, God didn’t deliver them. They didn’t ask God to intervene.
Jeremiah prophesied, “The Lord shall plunder the Philistines.” The Lord took credit for Gaza’s demise. They had no use for Him and His prophets. So, He did not help them. In fact, when their fathers heard the sound of hooves and chariot wheels approaching, they fled for their lives. They didn’t look back. They left their children behind. How could they be so heartless?
In Jeremiah 47:4, the Lord mentions the remnant of Caphtor. The Caphtorim and Philistines are both descendants of Mizraim. Mizraim is the Hebrew name for ancient Egypt. In Genesis 10:13, Egypt is listed as “the father of Casluhim from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim.” They are all descendants of Noah’s son Ham according to Genesis 10:6-20.
Later, in Amos 9:7, the Lord brought the Philistines back to their land from Egypt. Amos wrote, “Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?”
“Baldness has come upon Gaza. Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley. How long will you cut yourself? Jeremiah 47:5
Gaza is represented as one who will shave her head. Shaving the head and cutting one’s flesh was a way of mourning among the pagans according to Leviticus 19:28; Jeremiah 48:37. Ashkelon is located on a long strip of lowland along the Mediterranean, west of the mountains of Judea. They too would cut themselves as they mourned their losses.
“O you sword of the Lord, how long until you are quiet? Put yourself up into your scabbard, rest and be still! How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord has given it a charge against Ashkelon and against the seashore? There He has appointed it.” Jeremiah 47:6-7
The Lord speaks the words which the Philistines shall speak when attacked. They will ask the Lord’s sword to rest and be quiet. But Pharoah’s sword will not comply because it has been commanded by the Lord to strike them.
The Philistines were wiped out and replaced by Arab people from the surrounding area. The Greeks and Romans began to refer to this conquered land as Palestine. Jeremiah 47 was an accurate prophetic word about the future of the Philistines.
Jeremiah 47 also reminds us to listen and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit. “Holy Spirit, please help us to keep in step with You. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.”
Attached is a link to a power point version of this article
which I have recorded on my YouTube channel:
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