Jer 48:17 | KingComments | STEP | Israel has always been engaged in struggle, except for a small time under the reign of Solomon. Moab never knew anything about worry or struggle ( ). A person who has grown up carefree and in prosperity, like a spoiled child, is not used to adversity. Such a person is ungenerous if he is not at his beck and call. Moab is like wine that has not been poured over from one vessel to another. By pouring over, the wine becomes purer and purer, because after pouring over, the sunken lees remains in the old vessel. The more often this process is repeated, the purer the wine becomes. This did not happen with Moab. It has retained its corrupted taste and its smell is as of old. There is nothing fresh about it. This is the characteristic of people who have everything their heart desires and have known no sorrows. The Christian who has no trials or struggles will not live a dedicated life, but will be concerned only with his pleasant life on earth and live for it. Those who come to faith in the Lord Jesus must “through many tribulations … enter the kingdom of God” ( ). He must also come to know himself in the struggle described in Romans 7. This will bring to a life of full surrender to the Lord Jesus. The LORD says to Moab that it will soon be over with his life of ease ( ). There will be those who tip vessels who will take away all his prosperity and all his comforts. They will be emptied. Then they themselves will be shattered like jars in which the wine was. They have attributed their prosperity to their god Chemosh and will find that it only results in shame. Let them look to Israel who also trusted in the idol, the golden calf at Bethel ( ; cf. ). Israel was carried away into the scattering. When they see that, how dare they be so overconfident as to say that they are mighty warriors, men valiant for battle ( )? The answer is direct and unmistakable ( ). Nothing comes of all their bravado. It is told to them that Moab has been destroyed. It sounds ironic that ‘the valiant men’ have gone up to his cities, but that ‘his choicest young men’ are taken away to be slaughtered. There is no mention of any battle. The course of the battle is not determined by grandiloquent snoopers boasting of their strength, but by “the King” Whose Name is LORD of hosts. When He speaks, what then does puny man have to say? What He says happens, and that alone. Therefore, the downfall of Moab is near; it is soon coming ( ). The enemies are the tribes from the east ( ). The disaster that comes upon Moab will cause the surrounding peoples, all who have admired it, to raise a mourning ( ). His power and glory are broken. Bruised, he lies prostrate. The broken symbol of government and authority shows that their power and national glory are over. Dibon and Aroer also belonged to the tribe of Reuben ( ) and were taken by Moab. Dibon is a prosperous city, but the enemy is coming, the destroyer of Moab ( ). He will force “the daughter dwelling in Dibon” to descend from that glory. She will be so humbled that she will lack even water. The fortress, the strength where she thought herself safe, will be destroyed. Aroer is called upon to stand by the road and look out for the refugees from Dibon ( ). When “the inhabitant of Aroer” then sees the long procession of refugees, the retreat and humiliation of Dibon, it will raise questions. She will ask “him … and her”, men and women who have fled, what happened anyway. If she is wise, she will be alerted by what she is told and flee as well. The disasters that befall others are a call from God for those who see it to turn to Him.

‏ Jeremiah 48:17

The Proud Contentment of Moab

Israel has always been engaged in struggle, except for a small time under the reign of Solomon. Moab never knew anything about worry or struggle (Jer 48:11). A person who has grown up carefree and in prosperity, like a spoiled child, is not used to adversity. Such a person is ungenerous if he is not at his beck and call.

Moab is like wine that has not been poured over from one vessel to another. By pouring over, the wine becomes purer and purer, because after pouring over, the sunken lees remains in the old vessel. The more often this process is repeated, the purer the wine becomes. This did not happen with Moab. It has retained its corrupted taste and its smell is as of old. There is nothing fresh about it.

This is the characteristic of people who have everything their heart desires and have known no sorrows. The Christian who has no trials or struggles will not live a dedicated life, but will be concerned only with his pleasant life on earth and live for it. Those who come to faith in the Lord Jesus must “through many tribulations … enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). He must also come to know himself in the struggle described in Romans 7. This will bring to a life of full surrender to the Lord Jesus.

The LORD says to Moab that it will soon be over with his life of ease (Jer 48:12). There will be those who tip vessels who will take away all his prosperity and all his comforts. They will be emptied. Then they themselves will be shattered like jars in which the wine was. They have attributed their prosperity to their god Chemosh and will find that it only results in shame. Let them look to Israel who also trusted in the idol, the golden calf at Bethel (Jer 48:13; cf. Amos 3:14a). Israel was carried away into the scattering.

When they see that, how dare they be so overconfident as to say that they are mighty warriors, men valiant for battle (Jer 48:14)? The answer is direct and unmistakable (Jer 48:15). Nothing comes of all their bravado. It is told to them that Moab has been destroyed. It sounds ironic that ‘the valiant men’ have gone up to his cities, but that ‘his choicest young men’ are taken away to be slaughtered. There is no mention of any battle. The course of the battle is not determined by grandiloquent snoopers boasting of their strength, but by “the King” Whose Name is LORD of hosts. When He speaks, what then does puny man have to say? What He says happens, and that alone.

Therefore, the downfall of Moab is near; it is soon coming (Jer 48:16). The enemies are the tribes from the east (Eze 25:9-10). The disaster that comes upon Moab will cause the surrounding peoples, all who have admired it, to raise a mourning (Jer 48:17). His power and glory are broken. Bruised, he lies prostrate. The broken symbol of government and authority shows that their power and national glory are over.

Dibon and Aroer also belonged to the tribe of Reuben (Jos 13:15-17) and were taken by Moab. Dibon is a prosperous city, but the enemy is coming, the destroyer of Moab (Jer 48:18). He will force “the daughter dwelling in Dibon” to descend from that glory. She will be so humbled that she will lack even water. The fortress, the strength where she thought herself safe, will be destroyed.

Aroer is called upon to stand by the road and look out for the refugees from Dibon (Jer 48:19). When “the inhabitant of Aroer” then sees the long procession of refugees, the retreat and humiliation of Dibon, it will raise questions. She will ask “him … and her”, men and women who have fled, what happened anyway. If she is wise, she will be alerted by what she is told and flee as well. The disasters that befall others are a call from God for those who see it to turn to Him.