Chapter 757 of 1163

JEREMIAH 49

The Ammonites and Moabites were descended from Lot (Gen. 19:30–38) and were enemies of the Jews. Milcom (Molech) was the god of the Ammonites, worshiped in terrible orgies that involved the sacrificing of children. His name means “the reigning one,” but he would reign no more. He would go into captivity and not be able to rescue himself, which is what happens to all false gods.

The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, brother of Jacob (Gen. 36), and they, too, hated the Jews. They were recognized for their great wisdom (Obad. 8), but they would not be wise enough to stop the Babylonian invasion.

Their judgment would be like the stripping of a vineyard (v. 9), getting drunk (v. 12), the destroying of Sodom and Gomorrah (v. 18), the attacking of a lion from the Jordan thicket (v. 19), and the sudden swooping down of an eagle (v. 22). There was no escape!

Damascus would be feeble and fearful, like a woman in labor (v. 24); and Kedar, Hazor, and Elam would be scattered to the wind like chaff (vv. 32, 36). All these proud kingdoms felt secure in resisting the Lord, and He bore with them in His long-suffering. But their day of opportunity ran out, and all God could do was judge them.

Our Merciful God

In His wrath, God remembers mercy (Hab. 3:2). He gave promises to the Jews (46:27–28), the Moabites (48:47), the Ammonites (49:6), and the people of Elam (49:39). These nations did not reappear on the scene when the Jews went back to their land, but they will be included when the Lord restores His people at the return of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom.

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