THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Jeremiah: Prophet Of Judgment Followed By Blessing

Part LXXXII: God's Judgment On Moab's Excessive Pride

(Jeremiah 48:29-47)

I. Introduction

A. Pride is the worst of sins, for Satan fell due to pride (1 Timothy 3:6; Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 1284).

B. Similarly, "Moab's chief problem was her pride (cf. Isa. 16:6)" (Ibid., p. 1196), so God addressed it last in His case against Moab in Jeremiah 48:29-47, and we view this passage for our insight and instruction (as follows):

II. God's Judgment On Moab's Excessive Pride, Jeremiah 48:29-47.

A. The Lord predicted complete destruction would come upon Moab for Her excessive pride, Jeremiah 48:29-46:

1. Jeremiah 48:29 ESV names Moab's chief sin, claiming the Hebrews had heard of Moab's pride, that she was very proud in her sense of loftiness above others, pride, arrogance and haughtiness of heart.

2. God responded that He knew of Moab's "insolence," her "boasts" and "deeds" that were false as Moab's proud attitude and boasts of her greatness could not relieve her of God's judgment, Jeremiah 48:30 ESV.

3. Thus, God said he would offer up a mourning wail for Moab, that he would cry out for all the people of Moab, mourning for the men of the Moabite chief city of Kir Hareseth, Jer. 48:31 ESV; Ibid., p. 1196.

4. "Borrowing from Isaiah 16:9, Jeremiah indicated that God would weep along with the city of Jazer for the vines of Sibmah which had been destroyed," Ibid.; Jeremiah 48:32a.

5. Since Moab was known for its vineyards, "Jeremiah expanded the image to picture all Moab as a vineyard (Ibid.) that though it had spread as far as the Dead Sea, destroyers would fall on her ripened fruit and grapes, harvesting them like a vine that is plucked of its fruit," Ibid.; Jeremiah 48:32b. Consequently, the agricultural countryside would be devoid of happiness that usually accompanied harvest, for there would be shouts of alarm instead of the peacetime shouts of happiness at harvest time, Jeremiah 48:33; Ibid.

6. From Heshbon, Elealeh and Jahaz in the north of Moab to Zoar, Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah in its south (Ibid.), the entire land of Moab would be devastated by invaders, Jeremiah 48:34.

7. Also, God would cause Moab's idolaters and their idolatrous practices in its high places to cease, v. 35.

8. The Lord thus said His heart would moan for Moab like a mourning flute, His heart as a mourning flute for the men of Moab's chief city of Kir Hareseth, and the riches they had gained would perish, Jeremiah 48:36.

9. The Moabites would perform the mourning practices typical of pagans in the Ancient Near East, with every head being shaved, every beard cut off, the hands gashed and sackcloth worn around the waist and on every housetop and in the city squares nothing but lamentation, all because God had broken proud Moab like a clay pot for which no one cares, Jeremiah 48:37-38 ESV.

10. Where Moab had been so lofty in her pride, she would be turned back by God's judgment in shame, becoming an object of ridicule and a horror to all of the nations around her, Jeremiah 48:39 ESV.

11. Jeremiah 48:40-44 revealed that Moab's enemies would swoop down upon her like an attacking eagle, spreading its wings over her to seize her in its claws, taking captives, Jeremiah 48:40-41a. Even Moab's mighty warriors would be as fearful as a woman in labor at the attack of the invaders, Jeremiah 48:41b.

12. The Lord reminded Moab that she would be destroyed for having magnified herself against the Lord (Jer. 48:42), that such rebellion would lead to all being unalterably judged: "those who would try to flee God's terror would fall into a pit. Any who managed to get out of the pit would be caught in a snare" so that "God would make sure that all in Moab would take part in . . . her punishment," Ibid.; Jer. 48:43-44.

13. The fugitives from Moab would stand by helpless, for God's judgment had gone out into the whole nation, destroying it and taking its sons and daughters captive, Jeremiah 48:45-46.

B. Nevertheless, in even greater grace than all of Moab's sin or great pride, Jeremiah 48:47 predicts God will again reverse the captivity of Moab in the latter days, that He would restore the nation's fortunes in the end, Ibid., p. 1197. "The use of 'days to come' would imply that this restoration will occur during the millennial reign of Christ (cf. Deut. 4:30; Jer. 49:39; Dan. 2:28; 10:14)," Ibid.

Lesson: For her great pride against even the Lord, God promised to destroy Moab utterly. Nevertheless, in even greater grace, God promised to restore the fortunes of Moab in the coming Messianic Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Application: (1) May we avoid the terrible sin of pride. (2) If we are guilty of this sin, may we turn from it, confessing it to the Lord and finding His forgiveness and restoration in His great grace.