Moab's Judgment - Jeremiah 48

Jeremiah 48:38 "There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the LORD."

Moab is made up of the descendants of Lot and his eldest daughter. It is divided into three parts: The Land of Moab, The field of Moab and The Plains of Moab.

Verse 7 gives some insight into the reason for the judgment.

v7 "For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together."

Chemosh: the national idol of Moabites. See Numbers 21:20

Numbers 21:29 "Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites."

In II Kings 23:13 Chemosh is called "...the abomination of the Moabites..."

Isaiah chapter 13 also describes the Moabites and their judgment.

Amos 2:1 "...because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime;"

So we an see from these scriptures that the land of Moab was a rich country but they worshipped idols and disregarded the commands of the Lord. They also did things that were directly against the Lord. They also had a heritage which regarded the Lord once, they were the descendants of Lot who walked beside Abraham.

They are given the distinction they have chosen, that being their idol worship of Chemosh.

v46 "Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives."

These are not the most cheerful reading for me. The Lord created the earth and the heavens to do with as he pleases. He is truly an awesome God. He does not divide the earth up and say this is mine and that is theirs. It all belongs to Him and we would all do well to know that.