John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 51:56

"for the destroyer is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, their bows are broken in pieces; for Jehovah is a God of recompenses, he will surely requite." — Jeremiah 51:56 (ASV)

He confirms the previous verse; for as what he was speaking about was difficult to believe, he presents God to them and shows that God would be the author of that war. He now continues his discussion and says that desolators shall come against Babylon. He had ascribed to God what he now transfers to the Medes and the Persians.

He had said, Jehovah has desolated or wasted, שדד יהוה, shedad Jeve; he now says, coming is a desolator, שודד, shudad. Who is he? Not God, but Cyrus, together with the united army of the Persians and the Medes; indeed, with vast forces assembled from many nations. Now, that the same name is given to God and to the Persians, this is done with regard to their ministration.

Properly speaking, God was the desolator of Babylon; but as in this expedition he employed the services of men, and made the Persians and the Medes, as it were, his ministers and the executioners of his judgment, the name that properly belongs to God is transferred to the ministers whom he employed.

The same mode of speaking is also used when blessings are spoken of. He is said to have raised up saviors for his people, even though he himself is the only Savior, nor can any mortal assume that name without sacrilege (Judges 3:15; 2 Kings 13:5). For God’s unique glory is taken away when salvation is sought through the arm of men, as we have seen in Jeremiah 17. But though God is the only author of salvation, it is no objection to this truth that he employs men in accomplishing his purposes.

So also, he converts men, illuminates their minds through the ministers of the gospel, and delivers them from eternal death (Luke 1:17). Doubtless, if anyone were to arrogate to himself what Christ is pleased to concede to the ministers of his gospel, he could by no means be tolerated. But as I have already said, we must bear this in mind: though God acts by his own power and never borrows anything from anyone, nor stands in need of any help, what properly belongs to him is, in a manner, applied to men, at least by way of concession. So now, then, the Prophet calls God the desolator, and afterwards he honors the Persians and the Medes with the same title.

He adds that the valiant men of Babylon were taken, according to what we have previously seen: that the city was taken in such a way that no one resisted. Then he adds that their bow was broken; this is a case of a part representing the whole, for under the word bow he includes all kinds of armor. But as bows were used at a distance, and as enemies were driven from the walls by shooting arrows, the Prophet says that no use would be made of bows, because the enemies would show themselves in the middle of the city before the watchmen saw them, as we know was indeed the case. We now perceive why the Prophet mentions the bow rather than swords or other weapons.

The reason follows: Because Jehovah is the God of retributions, and recompensing her recompenses, that is, he will recompense. The Prophet here confirms all that he had said and reasons from the nature or character of God himself. Since, then, the fall of Babylon would hardly be believed by the faithful, the Prophet does not ask what God is in himself, but declares that he is the God of retributions. It is as though he had said that it is characteristic of God, and cannot be separated from his nature, to be the God of retributions; otherwise, his judgment would be nothing, and his justice would be nothing. For if the reprobate succeeded with impunity, and if the righteous were oppressed without any aid, would not God be like a stock of wood or an imaginary thing? For why does he have power, except to exercise justice? But God cannot be without power.

We see now, then, how forceful this confirmation is with which the Prophet closes his discourse. For it is as if he had said that no doubt could possibly be entertained about the fall of Babylon, because God is the God of retributions. Either there is no God, he says, or Babylon must be destroyed. How so? For if there is a God, he is the God of retributions; if he is the God of retributions, then he will surely recompense. Now, it is well known how wicked Babylon was, and in what various ways it had provoked the wrath of God. Therefore, it was impossible for it to escape his hand unpunished, since it had in so many ways sought its own ruin.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that when you hide your face from us today, the miserable despair we fear may not overwhelm our faith, nor obscure our view of your goodness and grace. Instead, may your power, which can raise us above the world, always appear to us in the thickest darkness, so that we may courageously fight to the end and never doubt that you will at last be the defender of your Church, which now seems to be oppressed, until we shall enjoy our perfect happiness in heaven, through Christ our Lord. — Amen.