What Happens to Those Who Burn Incense to The Gods of Moab

Topic: Pride

Passage: Jeremiah 48:27–35

June 23, 2020

Commentary

Moab who had once treated Israel as one caught among thieves (v. 27) was now forced to abandon her towns and dwell among the rocks to hide from the invader who sought her life (v. 28). Moab would now experience scorn, ridicule and calamity. Her past history of peace and physical security had made her proud and now all the past security comes to an end. Surrounding nations observe the just punishment of Moab for the sin of magnifying herself against a Holy God. Moab was condemned for its pride (v. 29). God cannot tolerate pride because pride is taking personal credit for what God has done or looking down to others. God does not condemn taking satisfaction for a job well done but He stands against over estimating our own importance (Rom. 12:3). Bragging will never save you (v. 30). God’s compassion reaches to all creation, even to his enemies (v. 31).

After Jeremiah hears of the judgment of God on Moab he laments and weeps, even as he describes her sad desolation (v. 32). Joy and gladness are gone from this once fruitful land (v. 33). There is shouting but not that of joy. Instead the awful cries of terror and pain rise from all over the land (v. 34).. The wealth that Moab had acquired was gone and the land would be in ruin. Unfortunately her arrogance and boasting could do nothing to prevent her destruction. The Lord says he will put a stop to Moab’s worshiping false god’s and burning incense to idols (v. 35).

Application

Moab was condemned for her pride. Pride involves taking personal credit for what God has done or looking down on others. God does not condemn me for taking satisfaction in what I do (Ecclesiastes 3:22), but He stands against false pride, the overestimating of my own importance.

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!