Don’t Burn Incense to the gods of Moab
June 23, 2020
Commentary
Moab had once looked down on Israel and treated her with scorn (v. 27). Now the situation was reversed. The Moabites would be forced to leave their cities and hide among the rocks from the invading army (v. 28). The nation that had enjoyed peace, prosperity, and security would experience shame, fear, and destruction. Surrounding nations would witness God’s judgment upon Moab because of its pride. Jeremiah specifically points to Moab’s arrogance, self-confidence, and boasting (v. 29). Pride is dangerous; it causes people to take credit for what God has done and to look down on others. God does not condemn healthy satisfaction in honest work, but He opposes an attitude that exaggerates personal importance. Moab’s proud words and boasting could not save her from judgment (v. 30).
Yet even in judgment, God’s compassion is evident. Jeremiah mourned over what would happen to Moab and expressed deep sorrow for the nation (vv. 31–32). The Lord takes no pleasure in destruction, even when judgment is necessary. The fruitful land that once knew joy and abundance would lose its gladness (v. 33). The sounds heard throughout the country would no longer be celebrations, but cries of distress and suffering (v. 34). The wealth and prosperity Moab had gathered would disappear, and the land would be left in ruin.
In the end, neither wealth, security, nor pride could protect Moab from the consequences of its sin. The Lord declared that He would bring an end to the nation’s worship of false gods and its burning of incense to idols (v. 35). Moab had placed its trust in things that could not save. False sources of security cannot take the place of the Lord. Anything we value above God will eventually disappoint us.
Application
Do I take credit for what God has done in my life? Am I looking down on others or comparing myself with them? Have I placed my trust in possessions, achievements, or security instead of the Lord? Is there any idol competing for my devotion? Is pride influencing my thoughts and actions, not humility and dependence on God?
Jeremiah 48:27–35 (NET)
27 For did not you people of Moab laugh at the people of Israel? Did you think that they were nothing but thieves, that you shook your head in contempt every time you talked about them?
28 Leave your towns, you inhabitants of Moab. Go and live in the cliffs. Be like a dove that makes its nest high on the sides of a ravine.
29 I have heard how proud the people of Moab are, I know how haughty they are. I have heard how arrogant, proud, and haughty they are, what a high opinion they have of themselves.
30 I, the Lord, affirm that I know how arrogant they are. But their pride is ill founded. Their boastings will prove to be false.
31 So I will weep with sorrow for Moab. I will cry out in sadness for all Moab. I will moan for the people of Kir Heres.
32 I will weep for the grapevines of Sibmah just like the town of Jazer weeps over them. Their branches once spread as far as the Dead Sea. They reached as far as the town of Jazer. The destroyer will ravage her fig, date, and grape crops.
33 Joy and gladness will disappear from the fruitful land of Moab. I will stop the flow of wine from the winepresses. No one will stomp on the grapes there and shout for joy. The shouts there will be shouts of soldiers, not the shouts of those making wine.
34 Cries of anguish raised from Heshbon and Elealeh will be sounded as far as Jahaz. They will be sounded from Zoar as far as Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah. For even the waters of Nimrim will be dried up.
35 I will put an end in Moab to those who make offerings at her places of worship. I will put an end to those who sacrifice to other gods. I, the Lord, affirm it!
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