Monday, February 10 – Jeremiah 48, 49
Study Questions:
1. How does the Lord feel about the destruction of Moab? (Jeremiah 48:31, 32)
2. When will the Lord bring back the captives of Moab? (Jeremiah 48:47)
3. What will happen in the latter days to the captives of Elam? (Jeremiah 49:39)
Commentary and Reflection:
We are reading the section of Jeremiah that contains the Lord’s judgments on nations and tribes. Chapters 48 and 49 offer lessons through the judgments and prophecies against Moab (chapter 48) and several other nations, including Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and Elam (chapter 49). These chapters reveal God’s sovereignty, justice, mercy, and the consequences of pride and disobedience.
The Moabites, relatives of Israel as descendants of Lot and neighbors to Judah, faced judgment for their pride, idolatry, and self-reliance. According to the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary: “Chapter 48 lists Moabite cities that would suffer Babylonian attacks… Jeremiah particularly describes God’s judgment on Moabites living in territories that had once belonged to the tribe of Reuben.” SDABC, Jeremiah 48:1
Moab trusted in its wealth, fortifications, and the false god Chemosh, becoming adversaries of God’s people. However, the prophecy ends with a promise of hope, as the Lord assures Moab’s future restoration to demonstrate His mercy and desire to redeem them.
The Ammonites, also descendants of Lot, were judged for their greed, idolatry, and hostility toward Israel. They seized land that belonged to Israel and trusted in their wealth and fortified cities instead of God. Yet, God showed mercy in judgment, promising to restore the Ammonites as part of His redemptive plan.
The Lord judged Edom for their pride, betrayal, and hostility toward Israel. Edom trusted in their wisdom and fortifications instead of recognizing God’s sovereignty (Jeremiah 49:7-22).
Damascus, an important city in the ancient Near East, had long opposed Israel and Judah, often allying with their enemies.
Kedar: “This people descended from Ishmael (Gen. 25:13) and, like the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites mentioned in Jeremiah 48 and 49, were relatives of Israel.” (SDA Bible Commentary, Jeremiah 49:28)
Hazor: “This likely refers to Arabs living in villages, unlike their nomadic neighbors represented by the name Kedar.” (SDA Bible Commentary, Jeremiah 49:28)
Elam, descendants of Elam, son of Shem and grandson of Noah, were distant relatives of the Israelites. By Jeremiah’s time, they lived in a region now part of modern-day Iran (SDA Bible Commentary, Jeremiah 49:34).
The prophet announces God’s judgments on these nations, which were idolatrous, pagan, and enemies of God and His people. Their immoral and degrading worship practices often included human sacrifices, contributing to widespread wickedness in the world. They persecuted and harassed God’s people.
In the messages to these nations, the prophet conveys the Lord’s sorrow for their suffering:
“Therefore I will wail for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; I will mourn for the men of Kir Heres.” (Jeremiah 48:31, NKJV)
The Lord is not the cause of evil. The hardships that befall nations are the inevitable consequences of sin and rebellion. Even when deserved, nations’ suffering grieves God’s heart.
The concluding message for many of these nations is one of hope: “But afterward I will bring back the captives of the people of Ammon,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 49:6)
This promise is repeated for God’s people and extended to other nations, showing that the Lord loves all people as He loves His own. His children move his heart, and He longs for the day He will gather them all together. Jesus made atonement for the sins of the world, and the gospel is for “whoever believes,” from all nations.
Jesus said: “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 8:11, NKJV)
Let us give thanks to God for His compassion and mercy. By His grace and providence, we will be part of the great multitude from all nations, sitting with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob on that day.
May God abundantly bless you and your loved ones today.
Pastor Abel Paulin