Jeremiah 48 “The Pride of Moab”

Jeremiah 48 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:      

• HUMBLE KING – Vineyard Worship feat. Brenton Brown
• Refiner (Ft. Chandler Moore & Steffany Gretzinger) – Maverick City / TRIBL Music
• Come Thou Fount (Above All Else) – Shane & Shane

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• Jesus Teaches About Humility | Stories of the Bible – Lesson for Kids
• Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee | Christmas Jams | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• He Is the Light | Cave Quest VBS Music Video | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Thankful | Yee-Haw VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

Moab was a nation located east of the Jordan River and, according to Scripture, descended from the children that Abraham’s nephew Lot had through his daughters after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:30–38). Israel and Moab, separated by the Jordan River, often experienced conflict, though at times they also enjoyed peace. Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David, was a Moabite woman, and the fact that her story is included in Scripture reveals the mixture of affection and tension between the two nations.

The Lord shows Jeremiah the future in which Moab will be conquered by Babylon (vv. 1–6). Concerning the reason for their judgment, the Lord points out, “Because you have trusted in the works of your hands and in your many treasures” (v. 7). Babylon will become the instrument of the Lord’s judgment, crushing Moab without mercy, and Moab’s cities will become desolate places where no one can live (vv. 8–10).

Historically, Moab had rarely been drawn into the conflicts of neighboring empires. This was partly because of its geographical position and partly due to its skillful diplomatic balancing (v. 11). As a result, Moab prospered in a way that stirred the envy of surrounding nations. The Moabites believed that all their success came from the favor of their god Chemosh. But their glory would turn to ashes through Babylon’s invasion, and the surrounding peoples would be astonished at their destruction (vv. 12–25).

The Lord identifies the reasons for Moab’s judgment as “arrogance” (v. 26) and “pride and insolence” (v. 29). The Lord exposes their pride as nothing more than empty boasting (v. 30). As the Lord judges Moab, He weeps bitterly. The Moabites weep as they suffer judgment, and God also weeps as He watches their downfall (vv. 31–39). Moab would be destroyed so thoroughly that recovery would be impossible (vv. 40–46).

Just as this prophecy declared, Moab was destroyed in 582 BC by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. At the end of the prophecy, the Lord gives a promise that He will one day restore the Moabite people (v. 47).

Meditation:

Moab was destroyed because, settled in peace and prosperity, they fell into arrogance and pride. The Lord compares them to “wine that has settled on its dregs” (v. 11). When unfiltered wine is poured into a cup and left to sit, the dregs sink to the bottom, and the wine appears clear. It looks as if it is pure, well-strained wine, but in reality, the sediment is simply hidden beneath the surface.

Moab boasted and prided themselves as if they were that clear wine. Because of their pride, they could not see the dregs of sin that had settled in their own hearts. The Lord declares that He will shake the wine and pour it out, because only then can the sediment at the bottom be exposed and removed.

We often desire our lives to remain peaceful like Moab’s. But continuous peace and prosperity are not always good for us. They can lead us to become self-satisfied and eventually make us think our success is the result of our own ability. During such peaceful seasons, we become unaware of how weak we truly are in the face of sin.

This is why the storms we face in life can become blessings. Just as shaking a cup reveals the sediment at the bottom, life’s storms show us the hidden evil within us that we have forgotten. In those moments, we repent and awaken. We become humble and lowly. This is why Solomon wrote, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us peace. Do not let this peace become a cause for pride. Lord, thank You for giving us the blessing of prosperity. Do not let this blessing become a cause for arrogance. Let our joy and thanksgiving flow from You alone. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God sometimes allows challenges in our lives to shake us—not to harm us, but to help us see our hidden pride and bring us closer to Him. True strength comes from staying humble and trusting God, not from our own success.

• For Preschool-Elementary:
  • What happens when you shake a bottle of juice with stuff at the bottom? What does that teach us about what God might show us in our hearts?
  • Have you ever thought you were “good enough” and didn’t need help—but later realized you did? How did you feel?
  • Why is it important to say “thank you” to God even when life is going well?
    
• Youth:
  • Moab trusted in their success and comfort. What is something you tend to rely on more than God—your abilities, grades, talents, or reputation?
  • When life “shakes” us, it often reveals hidden motivations, fears, or sins. What are some healthy ways God might use challenges to shape your character?
  • How can we practice humility in our community, where achievement and success are emphasized so much?