The Moabites worshipped Chemosh. In the days of Balaam, Moabite women seduced the Israelites to worship their god. Later, King Solomon married Moabite women and set up an altar to Chemosh. Chemosh worship yielded bad results. [2]
Moab was arrogant. “We have heard of the pride of Moab. He is very proud in his loftiness, his pride, his arrogance, and the arrogance of his heart.” The Lord grieved over them. “My heart sounds for Moab like pipes…” “The abundance that he has gotten has perished.” “Moab will be destroyed from being a people, because he has magnified himself against the Lord.” Moab’s pride preceded their downward plunge. [3]
The Lord forewarned them that their cities would be destroyed. Even so, they continued to trust in their works and treasures. The Lord predicted, “The destroyer will come on every city, and no city will escape; the valley also will perish, and the plain will be destroyed.” [4]
Casual living ruined Moab. “Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has settled on his lees, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither has he gone into captivity: Therefore, his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed.” [5]
The nature of God is to pour out Himself for others. God the Father poured out Himself for us by giving us His Son. The Son poured out Himself for us on the cross to give us eternal life. The Spirit poured out Himself into human flesh that we might have God’s abiding presence in us. If we want to remain fresh for God, we too must be poured out for God and others.
The Lord warned the Moabites that their judgment day was near. Their strong staff and beautiful rod would be broken! He named eleven of their cities that would be plundered. [6]
The Lord said, “Make him [Moab] drunken; for he magnified himself against the Lord. Moab will wallow in his vomit, and he also will be in derision. For was not Israel a derision to you? Was he found among thieves? For as often as you speak of him, you shake your head.” Moab would reap contempt because contempt was what he had sown against Israel and others. The Lord declared, “I know his wrath… that it is nothing; his boastings have done nothing.” [7]
God wept for the Moabites because their summer fruits were about to be pillaged. Their joy and gladness were about to cease. Their winepresses would be dry. They would have no grapes to celebrate with joyous shouts. [8]
The Lord was going to remove those who offered incense to false gods. Their abundance would perish. Every head would be bald. Every beard clipped. God was breaking Moab up like a potter breaks up a vessel in which no one delights. Moab’s strongholds would be seized. The hearts of her mighty men would become like the hearts of women experiencing birth pangs. They would be destroyed as a people. The Moabites erred when they magnified themselves against God. [9]
The Moabite who fled in fear would fall into a pit. He who escaped from the pit would be trapped in a snare. A fire was ready to consume them. They were destined for captivity. [10]
Despite Moab’s sin, the Lord ended His prophecy to them with a promise. “Yet I will reverse the captivity of Moab in the latter days.” [11] The Lord is gracious. Although the Moabites deserved ruin, He promised to them restoration.
[1] Jeremiah 48:29, 40
[2] Numbers 25:1-2; 1 Kings 11:1, 7
[3] Jeremiah 48:29, 36, 42; Proverbs 16:18
[4] Jeremiah 48:8
[5] Jeremiah 48:11
[6] Jeremiah 48:18-24
[7] Jeremiah 48:26-27, 30
[8] Jeremiah 48:31-33
[9] Jeremiah 48:35-42
[10] Jeremiah 48:43-44
[11] Jeremiah 48:47
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