… at the sound of the hooves of galloping steeds, at the noise of enemy chariots and the rumble of their wheels. Parents will not turn to help their children; their hands will hang limp. – Jeremiah 47:3

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 18, 2017) Jeremiah 47

Rapid Dominance (maybe better known as Shock and Awe) is a military doctrine that was written by Harlan Ullman and James Wade in 1996. The doctrine preaches spectacular displays of force in order to paralyze the enemy and destroy their will to fight. Rapid Dominance was the military strategy used by the United States during the Iraq War, which might be appropriate because, while the doctrine might have been written in 1996, it was not the first time that Shock and Awe were used in Iraq.

One ancient demonstration of the theory happened in the land when the land was not called Iraq; at that time the nation went by the name of Babylon, and instead of being used against them, Shock and Awe were employed by them. It is this campaign that Jeremiah is speaking of in this passage. Jeremiah’s warning is to the Philistine cities, and it concerns the Shock and Awe of Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian war machine. Jeremiah says that the Philistines will not need to see the Babylonian army coming. All that will be required to strike fear into the hearts of the Philistine people is the sound of the beat of the horse’s hooves and the rattle of the wheels of the chariots that are carrying the invader's many military officers.

When that day came, the fear was going to be debilitating. In fact, it was going to be so bad that the natural behaviors of people were going to be upset. Rabbinical writings on this passage stress that the passage indicates that “the fathers shall not look back to have mercy on their children.” In their fright, they will forget what is natural; their fear will be so great that they will not be able to have pity and compassion on them. The only thing that will matter on that terrible day would be their own safety and deliverance.

The Babylonian Empire did not last very long, but at their height, they struck fear into the known world. And, according to Jeremiah, the sound of their war machine was all it took to paralyze the ones who they were attacking.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Daniel 1