They Could Have Been Saved; But They Weren't

Jeremiah 51:9 KJV

We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.

Most of the commentaries ascribe this either to the nations allied to Babylon (they would have helped if they could, but there was nothing more to be done) or to the prophets such as Daniel who, preaching in Babylon, could have helped the nation if she had listened to him. They reject that it would be the Jews as a nation because they would have had no favorable sentiment toward Babylon.

I think there is another option; that this is the voice of the Lord.

·       He would have healed Babylon

·       He would have shown them mercy and grace.

·       He would have forgiven her transgressions and healed their land if they had called upon Him

But they did not. Their destruction lay squarely on their own shoulders for God would have healed them. He gave them, in effect; prophets preachers and witnesses aplenty through the Jews He had allowed to be taken captive there. He placed outspoken and godly men as Daniel and the three Hebrews before the king. He gave them time to hear and to repent but they did not.

I see this as an Old Testament illustration of the New Testament doctrine of election. God would save all but not all are saved. He has given

·       Ample opportunity

·       More than enough witnesses and

·       Time and space for repentance

Those who are lost, therefore, are lost of their own doing.

Babylon was destroyed. So will be the end of all who, though they could have been saved, weren't.