Jeremiah 48:13

The Bible says in Jeremiah 48:13-29, “And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence.[14] How say ye, We are mighty and strong men for the war?[15] Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.[16] The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hasteth fast.[17] All ye that are about him, bemoan him; and all ye that know his name, say, How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod![18] Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds.[19] O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and espy; ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth, and say, What is done?[20] Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; and tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled,[21] And judgment is come upon the plain country; upon Holon, and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath,[22] And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Beth-diblathaim,[23] And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Beth-gamul, and upon Beth-meon,[24] And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.[25] The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the LORD.[26] Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision.[27] For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.[28] O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth.[29] We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.”

Verse 14 gives a good indication of what one of the big problems was that caused the Moabites to come under judgment from God. The Moabites said in verse 14, “We are mighty and strong men for the war.” This is an expression of pride. They thought too highly of themselves and therefore, they did not see their need of God. This spiritual problem that the Moabites had is stated very clearly in Jeremiah 48:29 that says, “We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.” It says in Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” It also says in Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:[17] A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,[18] An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,[19] A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

The Bible says in Jeremiah 48:30-41, “I know his wrath, saith the LORD; but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it.[31] Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kir-heres.[32] O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.[33] And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.[34] From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate.[35] Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.[36] Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kir-heres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.[37] For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.[38] There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the LORD.[39] They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.[40] For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.[41] Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.”

We have a good picture of what God’s heart is like from Jeremiah 48:31-32. Even though the Lord must bring judgment upon Moab, it does not cause Him pleasure to do so. God is sorrowful at the death of the wicked. God said in Jeremiah 48:31-32, “Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kir-heres.[32] O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer.” Jesus said something very similar when He looked over the city of Jerusalem knowing the judgment that would come upon them for rejecting their Messiah. Jesus said in Matthew 23:37-39, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not![38] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.[39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” No one is forced to come to the Lord. Everyone is given a free choice. The Lord does try to speak to every person and influence them to come to Him. It is very sad to think that many people turn away from Jesus and the forgiveness and salvation that He offers. No one feels that sadness any greater then God Himself. It says in Ezekiel 33:11, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

The Bible says in Jeremiah 48:42-47, “And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.[43] Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD.[44] He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.[45] They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.[46] Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.[47] Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.” This passage of scripture emphasizes the fact that there is no escape from God’s judgment by trying to run away from it or trying to hide from it. Sooner or later God is going to get you.

Jonah learned this lesson of the foolishness or trying to run away from God and God’s judgment the hard way. It says in Jonah 1:1-4, “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,[2] Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.[3] But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.[4] But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.” And then it says in Jonah 1:17, “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” At least Jonah learned his lesson. There is a way to escape God’s judgment, and that is by turning back to the Lord Jesus and receiving His salvation. Jonah said in Jonah 2:3-4, “For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.[4] Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.” And Jonah also said in Jonah 2:9, “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” Notice the result of Jonah turning to the Lord: the judgment ended. It says in Jonah 2:10, “And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”

Another interesting phrase that is found in our current passage of Jeremiah 48:42-47 has to do with what is said in Jeremiah 48:45, “They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.” Notice the phrase “because of the force.” Who is the force? The Force is God. The word that is translated “force” comes from the basic Hebrew word that means “strength, power, might.” God is involved in this world with His strength, His power, and His might. God is “the force” from which no one can escape. It is no wonder that the Lord reminds believers in Romans 12:19: “Vengenace is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.”

As great as the judgment against Moab was, even this judgment is ended with a promise of redemption. The Lord said in Jeremiah 48:47, “Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD.” This promise sounds very similar to the promise that was made to the Jewish people. God looks to the future and He sees Jew and Gentile being treated the same way. Both face judgment, but both have a promise concerning redemption. That is also how the Gospel of Christ works. Both Jews and Gentiles are sinners. Both Jews and Gentiles need to find forgiveness and salvation. Jesus died to offer salvation to Jews and Gentiles. Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, you become saved by turning to the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why it says in Romans 3:9-10, “What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin. As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one.” It says in Romans 3:29, “Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also.” It says in Romans 9:24, “Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles.” And it says in First Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

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