Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"I will bring back the captives of Moab"
Text: Jeremiah 48:47
A GLIMMER OF HOPE
The nation of Moab would perish, but there was still hope for those who are repentant. This was like light at the end of a dark tunnel.
“Those who fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon
Because of exhaustion.
But a fire shall come out of Heshbon,
A flame from the midst of Sihon,
And shall devour the brow of Moab,
The crown of the head of the sons of tumult.
Woe to you, O Moab!
The people of Chemosh perish;
For your sons have been taken captive,
And your daughters captive.
‘Yet I will bring back the captives of Moab
In the latter days,’ says the LORD.
Thus far is the judgment of Moab.”
Jeremiah 48:45-47
1. “Those who fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of exhaustion”
a) Heshbon was the highest of the hills of Moab.
b) There were those who fled to this mountain for refuge in sheer exhaustion.
c) But would there actually be refuge in Heshbon?
d) Sadly, no!
2. “But a fire shall come out of Heshbon, a flame from the midst of Sihon,
and shall devour the brow of Moab, the crown of the head of the sons of tumult”
a) Sihon was the king of the Amorites in the days of Moses.
b) He had opposed the children of Israel when they came to Canaan.
c) The name “Sihon” was used here to describe how the Amorites would now attack Moab.
d) It did not feel it owed Moab anything and would attack the retreating nation!
e) “The brow of Moab” was used as a phrase to describe the nation.
f) “The crown of the head of the sons of tumult”
i) Moab and Ammon were brothers.
ii) They were described as “the sons of tumult” because they were tumultuous.
iii) Now, they were attacked by the Babylonians and the Amorites.
3. “Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh perish;
for your sons have been taken captive, and your daughters captive”
a) Moab was described as “the people of Chemosh”.
b) Chemosh was the name of the god the Moabites worshipped.
c) They would surely perish:
i) The sons were captives.
ii) The daughters were captives too.
d) This was a time of great woe to Moab indeed!
4. “‘Yet I will bring back the captives of Moab in the latter days,’ says the LORD.
Thus far is the judgment of Moab”
a) Jeremiah was given revelation up to this point.
b) Moab would be like Judah and go into captivity too.
c) But a glimmer of hope was held out to Moab.
i) There was hope “in the latter days”.
ii) Those who were captives will be brought back.