Jeremiah 49:23

 Jeremiah 49:23 says, Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.  This is the judgment that God spoke against Syria, another long time enemy of Israel.   They did not believe in God but worshipped false gods instead.  No matter how long it takes,  God's judgment will one day come to all people, if not in this life then in the one to come.  Verse twenty-four adds, Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.  God said that the people of Damascus would be left in fear and anguish.  Verse twenty-five asks  How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!  God said that the people would ask how Damascus, which had been a city of joy, which I believe would have been based on material things, could have fallen so badly.  If our joy is based on material things, then one day it will pass away.  Verse twenty-five continues, Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.  Verse twenty-six concludes, And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.  God said that the youhg and the powerful men of  Damascus would be cut off and the walls of Damascus and the palaces of Benhadad would be burned down.  Their army nor their government could save them.  If we put our faith in the military or even in the government today and they are not following God's will, then we like all of thse who stand against God will fall.  Verse twenty-eight states, Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east.  Matthew Henry says these were nomadic people who had no army and that they didn't trade with other nations.  Just because people isolate themselves from the rest of the world, if they do not follow God, they too will one day fall.  Veree twenty-nine adds, Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side.   Nebuchadnezzar was going to take their possessions as well.  They may not have been a military threat, but they did have a lot of material wealth.  Like military might, our material wealth can never save us from the judgment of God.   Veree thirty declares, Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you.  God warned them of the coming destruction, just as He warns people today.  Verse thirty-one adds, Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone.  God said that they had no defenses and the fact that they lived alone would not save them.  We have no defense if we do not put our faith in God today.   Verse thirty-two continues, And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the LORD.  God said that He was behind their coming defeat.   Verse thirty-three concludes, And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide therea nor any son of man dwell in it.  Though the people of Hazor might not be killed, they were going to lose all their possessions and their city.   Verse thirty-four declares, The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,   Verse thirty-five adds, Thus. saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. This was God's judgment against Elam, as proclaimed by Jeremiah.   Verse thirty-six says, And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.  God said that He was going to scatter them to the four winds, or into all nations.  Verse thirty-seven adds, For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:   God said that He was behind their defeat.  God will ultimately judge all nations and all the people of every nation,  and if the people have not accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, then they too will find everlasting destruction.  Verse thirty-eight declares,  And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD.  God said that He would set His throne in Edom and all who stood against Him would be destroyed.   One day,  God is going to set His throne of judgment over every person who has ever or will ever live.  Verse thirty-nine concludes, But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.  God said that one day He would restore the people of Edom.  If we put our faith in Jesus Christ, no matter what happens to us in this world, God will one day gather us again into His kingdom. 

Jeremiah 49:7

 Jeremiah 49:7 says, Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?   The next country that God spoke about was Edom.  God asked if any wisdom was left jn Teman.  When people do not acknowledge God, there can be no wisdom.  Verse eight adds, Flee, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him.  God said that they would be punished as Esau had.  Esau was punished because of his failure to truly fo)low God with all his heart and for allowing things of the world that brought him momentary satisfaction to become most important to him.  The Edomites, Esau's descendants were going to at last be judged,, because they were same way as Esau had been.  Verse nine asks, If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.  God asked if did not those who gathered grapes leave a gleaning and if did not even thieves leave something behind.  Verse ten states, But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.  God then said because of their sins that nothing was going to be left of the people of Edom.  There will be nothing left of those who do not accept salvation through faith in Christ in God's kingdom.   Verse eleven declares, Leave thy fatherless children, I will  preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.  God said that He would protect the fatherless children and the widows.   God will likewise take care of those we leave behind after we die if we and they put our faith 8n Him.  Verse twelve declares, For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.  God said that the people of Edom would bear the responsibility for their sins.  Veree thirteen adds, For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.  God said that He had sworn by His own nature that this punishment was coming.  Verse fourteen states, I have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.  Verse fifteen adds, For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, and despised among men.  God said that He would make the people of Edom small among the heathen and despised by men.  The Edomites, the descendants of Esau, should have been following God, but they weren't.  Many people today who should find it easy to acknowledge God because of their families simply refuse to do so, and one day God's judgment will fall on them.  Verse sixteen says, Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.  God said that they might feel safe in their hiding places, but there was no safe place for them.  Verse seventeen adds, Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.  God said that everyone would marvel at the destruction of Edom.  Verse eighteen continues, As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.  God said the destruction of Edom would be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.   Verse nineteen states, Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?  God asked who could stand before Him in battle,  and the answer is no one.  Verse twenty adds, Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.  Verse twenty-one continues, The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea.  God said that everyone would hear of the fall of Edom.  Verse twenty-two concludes, Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.  God said that when this invading army came that the men of Edom who thought they were great would have the heart of a woman in her pangs.  So will everyone who has stood against God lose all their strength when God's judgment comes.

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.