Jeremiah 49:1

 Jeremiah 49:1 says, Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?  The Ammonites were neighbors of the two tribes and half tribe on the other side of the Jordan and were bad neighbors as Matthew Henry states.  They were imposing on the land of Gad, and God asked if there were no Isa4ealites left to own the land.  Verse two adds, Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.  God said that His judgment was coming and that the Ammonites would be destroyed and Israel restored to rightful ownership.  When God's judgment one day comes, those who are followers of Christ will be restored to the rightful possession of a land that has been wrongfully taken from them by those who do not believe in God or who believe in false gods. Verse three states, Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together.  God said that the Ammonites would be filled with nothing but grief and despair over what was about to happen.  Verse four adds, Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me?  Matthew Henry says that the Ammonites were descendants of Lot, and even though they were never in a covenant relationship with God but they knew of God before they knew the idols they worshipped.  God makes Himself known to every person, and if they choose to ignore Him and worship idols the are guilty of backsliding, or turning away from God.  Verse five declares, Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth.  God said He would scatter the Ammonites and no one could gather them again.  God's judgment will never be defeated by any power ot people of the world.   Verse six adds, And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD.  God said that those Ammonites who remained would be brought into captivity under the Israelite.  God's people will always be victorious in the end as long as they continue to put their faith in Him.

Jeremiah 48:38

 Jeremiah 48:38 says, 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.  The destruction was to be throughout the land of Moab as well,  where they had rejoiced they would now mourn.  Verse thirty-nine says, They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.  God said that the people of other nations would laugh at the people of Moab, asking how they could have fallen so greatly.  We as followers of Christ should never laugh at the destruction of others, but when a nation or person who was once great falls, those who are not His followers often rejoice at their falling.  Verse forty states, For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.  God said the coming destruction would be as fast and powerful as an eagle.  Verse forty-one adds, Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men’s hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.  The Moabites had put their faith in false gods and delighted in standing against Egypt, but they were about to realize how wrong they were.  Their mighty men would be crying out like a woman in labor.  No matter how powerful a nation or a person may think they are today, when God's judgment comes, if they have not accepted salasvation through faith in Jesus Christ as individuals or lived by His guidance as a nation, they will suffer total defeat at His judgment.  Verse forty-two says, And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.  The reason for the destruction of Moab was stated very clearly.  It was because they magnified themselves against the LORD.  Many nations today stand in total opposition to God, and one day they will realize how wrong they were.  Verse forty-three adds, Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD.  God said that they would try to hide in the pit, but that they would not be successful.  There is nowhere that someone can escape from God's judgment.  Verse forty-four continues, He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.  God said that His coming judgment of Moab was certain, just as His coming judgment of all people is certain.   Verse forty-five concludes,  They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.  God said that they would flee to their fortified cities seeking security, but that it would not be found.  Verse forty-six declares, Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.  Verse forty-seven adds, Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.  God said that there was coming a day when the people of Moab,  like the people of Israel, would be restored.  Matthew Henry says this likely points to the way that Gentiles can find salvation through Christ just as the Jews can.  It is always about a relationship with God through Jesus Christ if we are to avoid everlasting punishment. 

Jeremiah 48:26

 Jeremiah 48:26 says, Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision.  God said that since the people of Moab had magnified themselves against Him that they would be made as drunken people.  The result of defyfing God will never be pretty when His judgment comes.  Verse twenty-seven asks, For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.  God asked if the people of Moab had not viewed Israel with derision.  The Moabites had danced in joy at the suffering of the people of Israel.  Some people today delight when Christians suffer, but they will one day realize how foolish they were.  Verse twenty-eight declares, O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole’s mouth.  The people of Moab were warned to leave their cities and to hide out in the rocks, or mountains. Verse twenty-nine adds, We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.  God said He was aware of the arrogance and pride of the Moabites in their attitude toward the people of Israel.  Saying "We have heard" does not mean more than one God but is an empirical We.  Verse thirty states, I know his wrath, saith the LORD; but it shall not be so; his lies shall nlot so effect it.  God said that He knew that the reason for the people of Moab laughing at the distress of the people of Israel really came from a hatred for them.  There are many people today who enjoy seeing Christians in distress, but whether they want to acknowledge it or not, God is watching.  Verse thirty-one adds, Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres. Verse thirty-two continues, O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.  God does not delight in the destruction of those who will not believe in Him, but He will not simply overlook sin.  Verse thirty-three says, And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.  God said the Moabites would no longer enjoy a plentiful harvest.  Though He may not always do so immediately, one day God will take away all the pleasure and security that people think they have found outside of faith in and obedience to God.  Verse thirty-four adds, From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate.  God said their suffering would be great, just as the suffering of those who do not believe in Jesus Christ will one day be great and everlasting.  Verse thirty-five states, Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.  God said that He was going to cause those who worshipped other gods to cease to exist.  Verse thirty-six adds, Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.  Verse thirty seven concludes, For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.  God said that all the people of Moab would be in mourning because they lost all of the things that they had put their faith in.

Jeremiah 48:10

 Jeremiah 48:10 says, Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.  God said that those who did the work of the LORD were cursed if they only claimed to do so.  Anyone claiming to do God's work when they really aren't needs to be aware that God will not allow this to go unnoticed.  Matthew Henry says that this also applied to people who were not willing to fight for God.  Verse eleven adds. Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.  God said that Moab had long lived in peace.  Even though they stood against the people of Israel,  they had been prosperous, just as many nations are today.  Verse twelve states, Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.  God said that His judgment was coming on Moab, and when it did, it would cause them to wonder at what He had done, and then would lead to their wandering.  Verse thirteen adds, And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence.  God said that the people of Moab would be as ashamed of Chemosh as the people of Israel  were of Bethel which they had put their confidence in at one time.  Verse fourteen asks, How say ye, We are mighty and strong men for the war?  God was asking them how they thought that their military power would bring them security when they stood against God.  No matter how long a country may be powerful, if they stand against God, one day His judgment is going to come.  Verse fifteen declares, Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.  God said that the coming destruction of Moab was a certainty, just as the destruction of all who oppose God is a certainty today, even if it doesn't come immediately.   Veree sixteen adds, The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hasteth fast.  God warned the people of Moab that their destruction was fast approaching.  Verse seventeen says,  All ye that are about him, bemoan him; and all ye that know his name, say, How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod!  God said that all those around Moab would bemoan them and ask how they could have fallen, since they had been so strong.  Verse eighteen states, Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds.  Verse nineteen adds, O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and espy; ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth, and say, What is done?  God said as the safe places of Moab fell and the people fled, those who saw them were to ask them what happened.   Verse twenty continues, Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled,  Moab was to be in confusion because it was broken down by its enemies.  Verse twenty-one declares, And judgment is come upon the plain country; upon Holon, and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath,  God said that His judgment had come on them.  When God's judgment ultimately comes, all that stand against Him will fall.  Verse twenty-two adds, And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Bethdiblathaim,  Verse twenty-three continues, And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Bethgamul, and upon Bethmeon,  Verse twenty-four continues Verse twenty-four concludes, And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.  God's judgment was  not going  to spare any part of Moab, and none who stand against Him today will be spared when His final judgment comes.  Verse twenty-five states, The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the LORD.  God said all the power of Moab would be gone.

Jeremiah 48:1

 Jeremiah 48:1 says, Against Moab thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: Misgab is confounded and dismayed.  God now had Jeremiah prophesy against Moab.  God will send His judgment against not some who defy Him, but against all who do.  Verse two adds, There shall be no more praise of Moab: in Heshbon they have devised evil against it; come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. Also thou shalt be cut down, O Madmen; the sword shall pursue thee.  People of the world may have praised Moab, but God said they no longer would.  There are countries today that the world may praise or fear, but if they stand against God, then their destruction will one day come.  God's rule and judgment is universal.  Verse three  states, A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction.  God said that cries of mourning would soon come from the cities of Moab.  Verse four adds, Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.  Moab was to be destroyed, and her young ones would cause their cry to be heard.   The people of Moab had worshipped false gods, and now even their children would cry out in despair.  We need to teach our children about God, and if we do not and they follow the false gods of the world, then one day they will cry out in despair when God's judgment comes, and it will certainly come.  Verse five continues, For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping shall go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.  God said that the weeping would be throughout the land because of the destruction in Moab.  Verse six declares, Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness.  The people of Moab were warned to flee, but there is no place that anyone can flee to escape God's coming judgment.  The only way to avoid everlasting punishment is to flee to Jesus Christ and not away from Him.  Verse seven adds, 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.  God said that they were going to be defeated because they put their faith in their works and wealth.  No matter how much money or power a person has in the world today, putting one's faith in it will never bring security outside the will of God.  Verse eight says, And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD hath spoken.  The destruction of Moab was to be a total destruction, just as all the works against God will one day be totally destroyed and those who put their faith in them will go away to everlasting destruction.   Verse nine adds, Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.  God said the people of Moab would have to fly away in order to avoid the coming destruction.

Jeremiah 47:1

 Jeremiah 47:1 says, The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.  Jeremiah now heard God's word against the Philistines.  The Philistines had always been enemies of the people of Judah, and the Pharaoh of Egypt would evidently defeat them.  Verse two adds, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.  Still, Matthew Henry says this word from God came while the Philistines were still at full strength and probably before Jerusalem fell.  The Philistines were told that there was a great power to the north, the Chaldeans, who were coming to destroy them.   Sometimes God's enemies destroy themselves even today.   Verse three continues, At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;  God warned them that fathers would abandon their children out of fear.  Matthew Henry says this means that the men would cry like children, but also that they would abandon their children without even looking back at them.  Some people today put self preservation above everything and everyone, even family.  Verse four declares, Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.  Jeremiah was to tell the Philistines that their coming defeat was a judgment of God.  Just because God punishes and destroys one of His enemies doesn't mean that others are safe.  Even if God works through some of His enemies to punish and destroy others, that does not mean that they will escape His judgment forever.  Verse  five adds, Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?  God said the great cities of the Philistines would be laid bare.  God asked how long would they cut themselves, which showed great sorrow.  No matter how much sorrow we may have nor how extreme our way of showing it may be, if we have not put our faith in Jesus Christ it will be of no use.  Verse six  asks,  O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.  Jeremiah asks how long God is going to send His sword against people.  Jeremiah still has compassion for them, and even as God punishes His enemies today, we as followers of Christ should still have compassion on them.  We should want them to come to salvation and not want their everlasting punishment.   Verse seven concludes, How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.  Jeremiah still recognized the certainty of God's punishment of the Philistines, just as we must acknowledge the certainty of His punishment of those who do not put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. 

Jeremiah 46:13

 Jeremiah 46:13 says, The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.  God revealed to Jeremiah that Nebuchadrezzar was going to defeat Egypt.  Verse fourteen adds, Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.  Egypt had quit going into other countries to be make war according to Matthew Henry,  but war was coming to them, and the cities named were those where the people of Judah had fled.  Verse fifteen asks, Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.  The people might ask why the valiant men of Egypt were being driven away, and Jeremiah was to tell them that it was because God was behind their defeat.  People may be valiant in defiance of God, but they will never be victorious when His judgment comes.   Verse sixteen adds, He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.  Matthew Henry says these were the mercenary soldiers who were hired by Egypt now saying that it was time to go back to their own country.  Verse  seventeen states, They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.  These troops said that the Pharaoh was full of talk, but he couldn't back up that talk.  People today may be full of talk against God and declare Him to be powerless,  but one day they will realize that it was all empty words.  Verse eighteen declares,  As I live, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.  God said that He gave His word that Nebuchadrezzar was to come and defeat Egypt.  We have God's word today that one day Christ is going to return and defeat all the enemies of God.  Verse nineteen adds, O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.  The women who had been living in luxury were warned to prepare for life in captivity.  Verse  twenty says, Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.  Egypt was compared to a fair heifer, but God said that destruction was coming to Egypt from the north.  They may have felt safe and content, just as many people who deny God are today, but they were not going to remain that way, and neither will those who reject God today.  Verse twenty-one continues, Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their visitation.  God once again said those hired by Egypt to help protect them were going to flee.  No one can save anyone else who refuses to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and anyone or anything that they put their faith in will fail them.  Verse twenty-two states, The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood.  Verse twenty-three adds, They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.  God said the coming force would be powerful and unstoppable, just as God's judgment will be one day.  Verse twenty-four says, The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.  The women would not be spared.  Verse twenty-five declares, The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:  Jeremiah was to tell them that God was punishing them for their idolatry.  Those who serve false gods will ultimately face the one true God.  Verse twenty-six adds, And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD.  God said that He was giving over the land of Egypt to Nebuchadrezzar.   We may not always understand how God works, but we can be certain that He will always fulfill His promises.  Verse twenty-seven continues, But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.  God also promised to save the people of Israel who were living in Egypt.  I believe that these were the ones who still put their faith in God.  Verse twenty-eight concludes, Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished. God told the people of Israel to not be afraid.  He said that He would not make and end to them, even though He had punished them for their disobedience.  As followers of Christ, we have assurance of everlasting salvation, but that does not mean that we can sin without being held accountable.