Jeremiah 48:34-47--Judgment on Moab (Part 4)

Jeremiah 48:34-47
English Standard Version
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34 “From the outcry at Heshbon even to Elealeh, as far as Jahaz they utter their voice, from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah. For the waters of Nimrim also have become desolate. 35 And I will bring to an end in Moab, declares the LORD, him who offers sacrifice in the high place and makes offerings to his god. 36 Therefore my heart moans for Moab like a flute, and my heart moans like a flute for the men of Kir-hareseth. Therefore the riches they gained have perished.

37 “For every head is shaved and every beard cut off. On all the hands are gashes, and around the waist is sackcloth. 38 On all the housetops of Moab and in the squares there is nothing but lamentation, for I have broken Moab like a vessel for which no one cares, declares the LORD. 39 How it is broken! How they wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! So Moab has become a derision and a horror to all that are around him.”

40 For thus says the LORD:
“Behold, one shall fly swiftly like an eagle
    and spread his wings against Moab;
41 the cities shall be taken
    and the strongholds seized.
The heart of the warriors of Moab shall be in that day
    like the heart of a woman in her birth pains;
42 Moab shall be destroyed and be no longer a people,
    because he magnified himself against the LORD.
43 Terror, pit, and snare
    are before you, O inhabitant of Moab!
declares the LORD.
44 He who flees from the terror
    shall fall into the pit,
and he who climbs out of the pit
    shall be caught in the snare.
For I will bring these things upon Moab,
    the year of their punishment,
declares the LORD.

45 “In the shadow of Heshbon
    fugitives stop without strength,
for fire came out from Heshbon,
    flame from the house of Sihon;
it has destroyed the forehead of Moab,
    the crown of the sons of tumult.
46 Woe to you, O Moab!
    The people of Chemosh are undone,
for your sons have been taken captive,
    and your daughters into captivity.
47 Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab
    in the latter days, declares the LORD.”
Thus far is the judgment on Moab.

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There is no part of Moab that will not feel this judgment.  The big places and the small places alike will feel it.  The boundaries to the north, south, east, and west and everything in-between.  All the surrounding nations will fell the impact and will mourn in accordance with their pagan rituals.  However, even though people act as if they care about Moab's destruction, the LORD says He knows that no one really cares.  People's mourning for them will be like the mourning you have for breaking a piece of pottery that you didn't really like anyways.

The LORD promises that the people of Moab won't be completely destroyed and one day He would restore its people and its fortunes, but that would happen at the end of days.  Somehow, He will keep His promise to them as He knows the descendants of Moab even to this day, even though we have lost track of them long ago.

At this time, the LORD is going to make sure that no one escapes His multi-layered judgment on the people of Moab.  They will in terror from the swift, strong invading army and may will run from battle, but they will run into the pit that the LORD has dug for them.  Those who are strong enough to climb out of the pit He has made will be caught in the snare He has set for them.  No one will escape.  The king and the leaders will be destroyed.

Why would the LORD pour out His wrath on Moab like this?  They are proud and arrogant and they have trusted in their false god Chemosh to save them.  The LORD will show Moab and all the surrounding nations that these false gods can save no one.  The LORD still has a plan to bless Moab and have a remnant of believers from them that will be part of His family.  This remnant will turn away from Chemosh and all the other false gods and will worship the LORD--the Creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them and the Savior of His people.