The commander’s master, the king of Assyria, has sent him to say bad things about the living God. Maybe the Lord your God will hear all those things. Maybe the Lord will punish the enemy! So pray for the people that are still left alive.’”
Those officers said bad things against the gods the people of the world worshiped. Those gods are only things people made with their hands. In the same way, those officers said the same bad things against the God of Jerusalem.
A person who helps poor people succeed\par will get many blessings. {\cf2\super [256]} \par When trouble comes,\par the Lord will save that person.\par
But I did not destroy them. The other nations saw me bring Israel out of Egypt. I did not want to ruin my good name, so I did not destroy Israel in front of those other people.
But I know what their enemies would say.
The enemy would not understand.
They would brag and say,
“The Lord did not destroy Israel.
We won by our own power!”’
Is that the way you should pay back the Lord {for all that he did for you? No!}
You are stupid, foolish people.
The Lord is your Father.
He made you.
He is your Creator.
He supports you.
The great city split into three parts. The cities of the nations were destroyed. And God did not forget \{to punish\} Babylon the Great. He gave that city the cup filled with the wine of his terrible anger.