Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Moab is plundered"
Text: Jeremiah 48:15
THE PLUNDER OF MOAB
When war is waged in the ancient days, the main objective seemed to be plunder. Countries were looted and plundered by the conquerors. The defeated nation cannot lift up a finger to protect the citizens.
“‘How can you say, ‘We are mighty
And strong men for the war’?
Moab is plundered and gone up from her cities;
Her chosen young men have gone down to the slaughter,’ says the King,
Whose name is the LORD of hosts.”
Jeremiah 48:14-15
1. “How can you say, ‘We are mighty and strong men for the war’?”
a) There were diehards who believed that they cannot be defeated.
b) These could not bring themselves to accept defeat by the Babylonians.
c) There were people who still declared:
i) That they were mighty.
ii) That they were strong men for the war.
2. “‘Moab is plundered and gone up from her cities; her chosen young men
have gone down to the slaughter,’ says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts”
a) What was the reality?
i) Undeniable
ii) Stark and obvious
b) Moab was plundered.
i) The country has to be badly defeated before it can be plundered.
ii) If Moab was plundered then it was obvious that the nation had lost the war.
c) What about the citizens?
i) They had disappeared from the cities.
ii) Either they were killed.
iii) Or, they had fled for their lives!
d) What about the young men?
i) They believed that they were strong.
ii) They went into battle.
iii) They were slaughtered by their powerful enemies.
e) This was a solemn declaration from:
i) The King (Not the Moabite king).
ii) But the LORD of Hosts.
iii) This was His awesome and mighty name.