Jeremiah 48 - Destruction of Moab

by Katrina

LINK: Jeremiah 48

BACKGROUND
Moab was a nation east of Judah, along the coast of the Dead Sea. Historically, there had been a lot of interaction between the Israelites and the Moabites. The Moabites were the descendants of Lot by his older daughter (remember way back in Genesis 19, when she and her sister got their father drunk and lay with him following the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah). When the Israelites were in the desert, God told them not to harass Moab or provoke them to war, because their land was not what God planned to give them. Moses and the people confirmed the covenant with God on the plain of Moab right before Moses died. Another time, Moab refused to allow Israel's soldiers to march through their land. Balak was king of Moab when he asked Balaam to curse the Israelites for him. Ruth was from Moab. David hid from Saul among the Moabites. During the height of the nation, Israel conquered Moab and ruled it. The Moabites later rebelled against Israel's rule over them and gained independence. In later years, approaching the time of Jeremiah, Israel and Moab fought several times, and Moab joined with Babylon against Judah. Now Jeremiah speaks this prophecy against Moab. Jeremiah's prophecy was fulfilled beginning in 581 B.C. when Moab was conquered by Babylon. A few years later Moab was invaded by Arabs and completely disappeared.




Archaeological Note - In 1868 a German missionary discovered what is known as the "Moabite Stone" in the land that was Moab (modern Jordan). It is a record of the events of 2 Kings 3 (Moab's rebellion against Israeli rule) from the perspective of Mesha the king of Moab. Here's a fascinating article on the stone and what it says.











REFLECTION
Notice the reasons God gives for this judgment against Moab:

1. trust in their own self-sufficiency (vs 7)
2. indifference (vs 11)
3. arrogance toward the LORD (vs 26, 42)
4. self-exaltation among others (vs 29)
5. worshiping false gods (vs 35)

Although God is bringing disaster on Moab, He is clearly not gloating or happy about it. Notice how He describes His own feelings on the matter:

1. I shall wail, cry out, moan, weep for Moab (vs 31-32)
2. My heart wails for Moab like flutes (think "funeral") (vs 36)

And although this entire chapter tells of the complete destruction of Moab, God concludes with a promise to restore Moab one day to share in the Messianic kingdom (vs 47).

Even though the people of Moab are out-and-out against God, He still has a place in His heart for them. Even though God is going to judge them for their arrogance, He isn't happy to do so and weeps at their destruction. And even though He is about to destroy them, He also has a plan to one day restore them.

APPLICATION
How do you view the people around you? Do you hate them for their arrogance, their sin, their hatred of God, their worship of idols or false gods? Even those who are against God are still loved by God. He weeps at their destruction. Let's not hate them but share Jesus with them.

PRAYER
Lord, you make your love for all the nations clear. We are amazed by your love, not only for other people, but also for ourselves. I was just as much an arrogant sinner as the next guy, but you loved me and saved me. Help me learn to love those around me as you do. In the name of Jesus, amen.