- Moab has been at ease from his youth and has settled on his dregs; he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, nor has he gone into exile; so his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed. Jeremiah 48:11 – In making wine at this time in history they would place the wine in vessels and allow it to sit for a time. This would allow the dregs, any impurities (think like coffee grounds in your coffee cup), to settle in the bottom of the vessel. Then they’d pour the wine out of the first vessel into a new vessel, but carefully as to not disturb the dregs that had settled in the bottom. The picture we are getting of Moab is that it had been sitting for a long time with its impurities. Instead of being poured out like it should have, now the impurities had begun to change its taste and scent into something sour. This nation, due to its remaining in its sin, had been utterly spoiled, and God is telling them that their vessels are going to now be poured out and broken. As with the wine makers in Jeremiah’s day, so does God have methods of removing the impurities from our life. Jesus of course is the one who forgives our sin, but He also has given us means of keeping sin from tainting our life. Things like church community, daily time in scripture, and other spiritual disciplines. As we take part in such things it has the same effect of the gentle pouring of the wine into a new vessel. Slowly the sin that loves to settle in our life becomes less a part of our life till it no longer is active in our story anymore. Yet when we refuse God’s means of “removing the dregs” then the dregs remain ruining our life. Lean into the means God has given to remove the pathways to sin in our life. Sin no longer has to change you for the worst anymore. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3278
- Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed. Jeremiah 48:10 – Understand the context first. This was the command of God to the Babylonian army to carry out God’s judgment on Moab’s sinfulness, not just a command for all to take as he will. The point though is something we need to hear. God gave a command and woe to the one who doesn’t see it through. What command then have we not started yet or only done halfway? Our commands now is to love God and love people. Don’t be hesitant to start on them and don’t only do them halfheartedly. Give them your all and start on them now. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 967
- Moab shall be destroyed and be no longer a people, because he magnified himself against the Lord. Jeremiah 48:42 – This chapter goes into great detail of the future destruction of Moab and what we get in our verse today is the reason why such destruction is coming to Moab. It’s because the nation “magnified himself against the Lord.” After some studying I discovered that this is speaking of how Moab mocked the nation of Israel when judgement came upon them. Moab, still sitting well with provision and safety, rather than assisting there neighboring nation, they stood, laughed, and flaunted their blessings in Israel’s face. How is this then magnifying himself against the Lord? As the pulpit commentary put it, offenses against Israel are offenses against Israel’s God. Be wise with how you speak of those who are God’s. If a primary reason Moab was tasting such destruction was because of how they treated God’s people, then we should be aware of how we are treating God’s people today too. Are we speaking poorly of our brothers and sisters? Is gossip happening within our churches? Is our speech leaning more on the tearing down side than building up? Remember how we speak of our brothers and sisters in Christ is how we are speaking of Christ. If we trash them we trash Him. You can’t expect the Father to not feel anything when His children are being put down. Use your words wisely and speak well of your brother and sister in Christ. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2180
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