November 29th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Pride Comes Before A Fall

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Opening Prayer

I will sing Your praises, O Lord. I will sing his praises forever. You alone are worthy of all praise.

Read Jeremiah 48:26-47

[26] “Make her drunk, for she has defied the LORD. Let Moab wallow in her vomit; let her be an object of ridicule. [27] Was not Israel the object of your ridicule? Was she caught among thieves, that you shake your head in scorn whenever you speak of her? [28] Abandon your towns and dwell among the rocks, you who live in Moab. Be like a dove that makes its nest at the mouth of a cave. [29] “We have heard of Moab’s pride- how great is her arrogance!- of her insolence, her pride, her conceit and the haughtiness of her heart. [30] I know her insolence but it is futile,” declares the LORD, “and her boasts accomplish nothing. [31] Therefore I wail over Moab, for all Moab I cry out, I moan for the people of Kir Hareseth. [32] I weep for you, as Jazer weeps, you vines of Sibmah. Your branches spread as far as the sea; they reached as far as Jazer. The destroyer has fallen on your ripened fruit and grapes. [33] Joy and gladness are gone from the orchards and fields of Moab. I have stopped the flow of wine from the presses; no one treads them with shouts of joy. Although there are shouts, they are not shouts of joy. [34] “The sound of their cry rises from Heshbon to Elealeh and Jahaz, from Zoar as far as Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah, for even the waters of Nimrim are dried up. [35] In Moab I will put an end to those who make offerings on the high places and burn incense to their gods,” declares the LORD. [36] “So my heart laments for Moab like the music of a pipe; it laments like a pipe for the people of Kir Hareseth. The wealth they acquired is gone. [37] Every head is shaved and every beard cut off; every hand is slashed and every waist is covered with sackcloth. [38] On all the roofs in Moab and in the public squares there is nothing but mourning, for I have broken Moab like a jar that no one wants,” declares the LORD. [39] “How shattered she is! How they wail! How Moab turns her back in shame! Moab has become an object of ridicule, an object of horror to all those around her.” [40] This is what the LORD says: “Look! An eagle is swooping down, spreading its wings over Moab. [41] Kerioth will be captured and the strongholds taken. In that day the hearts of Moab’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor. [42] Moab will be destroyed as a nation because she defied the LORD. [43] Terror and pit and snare await you, you people of Moab,” declares the LORD. [44] “Whoever flees from the terror will fall into a pit, whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a snare; for I will bring on Moab the year of her punishment,” declares the LORD. [45] “In the shadow of Heshbon the fugitives stand helpless, for a fire has gone out from Heshbon, a blaze from the midst of Sihon; it burns the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of the noisy boasters. [46] Woe to you, Moab! The people of Chemosh are destroyed; your sons are taken into exile and your daughters into captivity. [47] “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in days to come,” declares the LORD. Here ends the judgment on Moab.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Collective pride is probably the worst form of sin, since in this case, whole peoples succumb to idolatrous pretension” (Reinhold Niebuhr, 1892-1971).

Think Further

The dangers of pride are mentioned throughout the Bible. Today’s passage mentions national pride (29). Moabites proudly gloated over the downfall of Judah, oblivious to the fact that one day they would suffer the same fate (27). Their pride deceived them and lured them into a false sense of security, so that they failed to recognize their need of the Lord who controlled events.

Moab’s pride was a personal affront to God, and the nation is described as having “defied the Lord” (26). The Hebrew term translated “defied” means to make great or to magnify. Instead of magnifying the Lord, they magnified and exalted themselves. This arrogance would bring terrible judgment on them.  Their plight would be greatly exacerbated by the attitude of others who would ridicule them in their time of distress (39). The Moabites, however, are reminded about how they had cruelly ridiculed others who faced catastrophe (27). They would reap what they had so thoughtlessly sown.

One of the remarkable features of this passage is the emphasis on how deeply the necessity of judgment brings pain to the heart of God. Several vivid and evocative verbs are employed to describe God’s revulsion at the judgment Moab will receive. God “wails,” “cries out” and “mourns” (31); he “weeps” (32) and his “heart laments” for Moab (36). Even in the midst of judgment, God’s heart is moved with compassion. Moreover, after the message of judgment on Moab, the passage concludes with a gracious promise of restoration (47). The compassion of God stands at the center of Christian theology and reminds us that the One we worship is concerned about us and cares deeply when we suffer.

Apply

“How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” (Luke 13:34b). Thank God for his unfailing love.

Closing prayer

Merciful Father, I know that any correction I receive from You is given within the embrace of Your love.

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