PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Jeremiah 47-48
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Therefore I wail over Moab, for all Moab I cry out.” (Jeremiah 48:31)
There is a lot of emotion ascribed to God by Jeremiah.
God is very angry, yet very sad, for what is about to happen.
What would make God so angry… what would make God so sad?
The ancient gods were know to be very volatile and moody.
Yet Israel’s God was said to be just and merciful, patient and loving.
In these prophecies we see that God does not delight in executing justice.
God is not having a bad day, with Philistia and Moab paying for it.
Jeremiah is giving expression to the justice and mercy of God.
The crimes being punished are not trivial, the abuses of power are serious.
I find it helpful to feel God’s sorrow running through these chapters.
I also cling to the hope that God will restore Moab one day in the future (48:47).
In God’s sorrow I sense the sorrow of Jesus, and the desire to bless not curse.
In Jesus we see a God of justice and mercy, not a volatile or moody God.
We see a God that weeps with those who weep, and hurts with those who hurt.
PRAYER
Lord, I can only imagine what it would take to make God so angry and so sad. In your tears I sense God’s deep love and desire for justice and mercy!
Even though Jeremiah warns of Moab’s punishment by God in many passages and word pictures – and Moab’s doom is sure – yet God does not punish without feeling: “So my heart laments for Moab..” God cares for all people – I am sure He had hoped that all would be saved – that all would come to their senses and come to Him – to see the futility of their worship of created things instead of the creator! Lord you are compassionate and caring – even in the face of punishment you weep for those who are being punished. Help me Lord to have the same attitude – that I do may not judge or victimize or malign people! There is always hope with my Heavenly Father!
Once again the people did what right in their own eyes, their own selfish pleasures, walking in their own lights. God tells them to walk in His Light and so He disciples the people as a father disciples his own children. The Father’s love is shown that He never leaves His children and He remembers His promises. How rich is the love of God.
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory.