The Philistines were Israel’s constant enemy and they were a Canaanite people who live along the shore on what today is called the Gaza strip. We have here a description of what will happen the Philistines when they would be attacked by Egypt (v1). The fact that God can make this clear prophesy through Jeremiah of what will happen, speaks of God’s sovereign control.

The judgment through Egypt is pictured like a great flood which can’t be stopped and which goes everywhere (v2). judgment to come would be no joke and would bring crying even among tough men.

The attack from the horses and chariots of Egypt would cause previously loving fathers not to be able to look in care for their children (v3). As the Second Commandment reminds us, our sin will bring consequences on our children and therefore this is another reason as to why sin must be feared.

Judgment means people’s many helpers will be shown to be no help at all (v4). The only help that can sustain in judgment is  the Lord. We need to be sure we’re anchored in Christ, who alone can save us from shame (v5).

God’s sword of judgment is spoken to like a person (v6-7). The call for it to go into its scabbard and cease will not happen until God’s perfectly righteous judgment is fulfilled. The lesson is we must flee to Jesus for safety.