John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 50:14

"Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against Jehovah." — Jeremiah 50:14 (ASV)

The Prophet now turns to address the Medes and Persians, and urges them, in the name of God, to destroy Babylon. We have already said why the Prophets assume authority over all nations: so that they might show that God’s power is connected with His word. For people do not easily grasp the power of God’s word, and think that the air is merely beaten by an empty sound. Therefore, the Prophets show that God has His hand extended whenever He speaks, so that nothing is announced in vain. This then is the reason why the Prophet now, as before, commands the Persians and Medes to strive vigorously in attacking Babylon.

He says, first, Set in order—that is, the battle, or the assault—set in order against Babylon; and then, around, so that no escape might be open to them. He adds, All you who bend the bow, for this mode of fighting was common among the Medes and Persians, as was seen elsewhere. The Orientals still follow the same practice: they throw darts at their enemy and move here and there, as they do not engage in pitched battles. He afterwards says, Throw or shoot at her, spare not the arrow; the singular is here used for the plural. He adds the reason: because they have acted wickedly against God.

Though the iniquity of Babylon was manifold, there is yet no doubt that God here undertakes the cause of His Church. Therefore, of all the sins of the Chaldeans, the chief was this: that they had oppressed the Church of God. For we know with what favor God regards His children, so that he who hurts them touches the apple of His eye, as He testifies elsewhere (Zechariah 2:8). Jeremiah proclaims this remarkable display of love when he says that the Chaldeans had acted wickedly against Jehovah, specifically because they had tyrannically oppressed His Church.

Now God, so to speak, considers nothing separate from His children: and from this we learn a useful doctrine—that the salvation of His Church is so precious in the sight of God that He regards the wrong done to the faithful as done to Himself. Thus, there is no reason for us to torment ourselves when the ungodly harass us, because God will eventually demonstrate that our salvation is no less dear to Him than people’s own eyes are to them.