Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Moab has been at ease from his youth"
Text: Jeremiah 48:11
MOAB COMPARED TO BAD WINE
We have a little glimpse of wine-making in the ancient days. Wine was a common drink that went with virtually all meals.
“Moab has been at ease from his youth;
He has settled on his dregs,
And has not been emptied from vessel to vessel,
Nor has he gone into captivity.
Therefore his taste remained in him,
And his scent has not changed.”
Jeremiah 48:11
1. “Moab has been at ease from his youth;
he has settled on his dregs, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel”
a) From a young nation, Moab had been at ease.
i) Not being in the main thoroughfare, Moab was not involved in many wars.
ii) Israel, in comparison, suffered much
because it was preyed upon by stronger nations.
b) The wine-making process:
i) Grapes were harvested and then fermented.
ii) The wine is poured from one bottle (literally, wine skins) to another.
iii) The dregs were to be taken out.
iv) The dregs have a very bitter taste and they also affect the scent of the wine.
v) The quality of the wine improves as it is transferred from one bottle to another.
vi) The scent of the wine can also become more fragrant.
2. “Nor has he gone into captivity.
Therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent has not changed”
a) Moab had never experienced captivity.
i) If they had endured this suffering, they might have changed for the better.
ii) They might have been less arrogant.
iii) They might have learned a bit of humility.
b) Moab was like the original fermented wine with all the dregs unremoved.
i) Thus, the original taste remained.
ii) The original scent has not changed since the dregs were still there.
iii) There will always be a bitterness in the wine.
c) Moab was always bitter towards Israel.
i) This was expressed in hostile acts against Israel.
ii) Moab was a thorn in the flesh for Israel.