What The Lord Says About Moab
December 6, 2021
Commentary
This Chapter has to do with God’s Judgements against Moab. The Moabites were descendants of Lot through an incestuous relationship with one of his daughters. The Lord told Jeremiah to tell the nation of Moab that the town of Nebo is doomed and Kiriathaim will be captured, disgraced and left in ruins. (v. 1). He also said that in Heshbon your enemies plan to end your life (v. 2). The people of Horonaim will cry for help as their town is attacked and destroyed (v. 3). He goes on to say that their children will sob and cry on the road to Horonaim (vv. 4-5). He says for them to run for their lives for they will be captured and not one town will escape (vv. 6-8). They are to spread salt on the ground to kill the crops and they are to kill the Moabites or He will put a curse on them (vv. 9-10).
When making wine the grapes were crushed. After 40 days, the wine was poured off from the dregs in the bottom of the jar. If this was not done the wine would be inferior (vv. 11-12). The prophet was saying that because of Moab’s complacency and refusal to do God’s work, Moab would be totally destroyed. After Israel was divided into northern and southern kingdoms, the northern kingdom set up golden calf-idols in Bethel (v. 13) and Dan to keep people from going to worship in Jerusalem, the capital of the southern kingdom (I Kings 12:25-29).You claim that your soldiers are strong and brave but they can not save you (vv. 14-15).
Disaster will soon hit Moab and nearby nations will mourn for you (vv 16-17). The walls in Dibon will be torn down and the people of Aroer will wait beside the road shouting Moab has been defeated (vv. 18-20). He says that he will punish every town that belongs to Moab and their army will be crushed and people will laugh as they collapse in their own vomit (vv. 21-26).
Application
God’s warnings are always serious and I can always be sure that He will do what he says He will do.
Jeremiah 48:1– 26 (NET)
1 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, spoke about Moab: “Sure to be judged is Nebo! Indeed, it will be destroyed. Kiriathaim will suffer disgrace. It will be captured! Its fortress will suffer disgrace. It will be torn down!
2 People will not praise Moab anymore. The enemy will capture Heshbon and plot how to destroy Moab, saying, ‘Come, let’s put an end to that nation!’ City of Madmen, you will also be destroyed. A destructive army will march against you.
3 Cries of anguish will arise in Horonaim, ‘Oh, the ruin and great destruction!’
4 “Moab will be crushed. Her children will cry out in distress.
5 Indeed they will climb the slopes of Luhith, weeping continually as they go. For on the road down to Horonaim they will hear the cries of distress over the destruction.
6 They will hear, ‘Run! Save yourselves; even if you must be like a lonely shrub in the wilderness!’
7 “Moab, you trust in the things you do and in your riches. So you too will be conquered. Your god Chemosh will go into exile along with his priests and his officials.
8 The destroyer will come against every town. Not one town will escape. The towns in the valley will be destroyed. The cities on the high plain will be laid waste. I, the Lord, have spoken.
9 Set up a gravestone for Moab, for it will certainly be laid in ruins! Its cities will be laid waste and become uninhabited.
10 A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the Lord’s work! A curse on anyone who keeps from carrying out his destruction!
11 “From its earliest days Moab has lived undisturbed. It has never been taken into exile. Its people are like wine allowed to settle undisturbed on its dregs, never poured out from one jar to another. They are like wine that tastes like it always did, whose aroma has remained unchanged.
12 But the time is coming when I will send men against Moab who will empty it out. They will empty the towns of their people, then will lay those towns in ruins. I, the Lord, affirm it!
13 The people of Moab will be disappointed by their god Chemosh. They will be as disappointed as the people of Israel were when they put their trust in the calf god at Bethel.
14 How can you men of Moab say, ‘We are heroes, men who are mighty in battle?’
15 Moab will be destroyed. Its towns will be invaded. Its finest young men will be slaughtered. I, the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, affirm it!
16 Moab’s destruction is at hand. Disaster will come on it quickly.
17 Mourn for that nation, all you nations living around it, all you nations that know of its fame. Mourn and say, ‘Alas, its powerful influence has been broken! Its glory and power have been done away with!’
18 Come down from your place of honor; sit on the dry ground, you who live in Dibon. For the one who will destroy Moab will attack you; he will destroy your fortifications.
19 You who live in Aroer, stand by the road and watch. Question the man who is fleeing and the woman who is escaping. Ask them, ‘What has happened?’
20 They will answer, ‘Moab is disgraced, for it has fallen! Wail and cry out in mourning! Announce along the Arnon River that Moab has been destroyed.’
21 “Judgment will come on the cities on the high plain: on Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath; 22 on Dibon, Nebo, and Beth Diblathaim; 23 on Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul, and Beth Meon; 24 on Kerioth and Bozrah. It will come on all the towns of Moab, both far and near. 25 Moab’s might will be crushed. Its power will be broken. I, the Lord, affirm it!
26 “Moab has vaunted itself against me. So make him drunk with the wine of my wrath until he splashes around in his own vomit, until others treat him as a laughingstock.
Illustration: A Memorial to The People Who Died in The Service
The seven-year-old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the boy, and said quietly, “Good morning Alex.” “Good morning pastor,” replied the young man, still focused on the plaque. “Pastor McGhee, what is this?” “Well, son, it’s a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service.” Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque. Little Alex’s voice was barely audible when he asked, “Which service, the 9:00 or the 11:00?” (Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author)