Read Jeremiah 49
A Message About Ammon
49 Concerning the Ammonites:
This is what the Lord says:
“Has Israel no sons?
Has Israel no heir?
Why then has Molek taken possession of Gad?
Why do his people live in its towns?
2 But the days are coming,”
declares the Lord,
“when I will sound the battle cry
against Rabbah of the Ammonites;
it will become a mound of ruins,
and its surrounding villages will be set on fire.
Then Israel will drive out
those who drove her out,”
says the Lord.
3 “Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is destroyed!
Cry out, you inhabitants of Rabbah!
Put on sackcloth and mourn;
rush here and there inside the walls,
for Molek will go into exile,
together with his priests and officials.
4 Why do you boast of your valleys,
boast of your valleys so fruitful?
Unfaithful Daughter Ammon,
you trust in your riches and say,
‘Who will attack me?’
5 I will bring terror on you
from all those around you,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
“Every one of you will be driven away,
and no one will gather the fugitives.
6 “Yet afterward, I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites,”
declares the Lord.
A Message About Edom
7 Concerning Edom:
This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“Is there no longer wisdom in Teman?
Has counsel perished from the prudent?
Has their wisdom decayed?
8 Turn and flee, hide in deep caves,
you who live in Dedan,
for I will bring disaster on Esau
at the time when I punish him.
9 If grape pickers came to you,
would they not leave a few grapes?
If thieves came during the night,
would they not steal only as much as they wanted?
10 But I will strip Esau bare;
I will uncover his hiding places,
so that he cannot conceal himself.
His armed men are destroyed,
also his allies and neighbors,
so there is no one to say,
11 ‘Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive.
Your widows too can depend on me.’”
12 This is what the Lord says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cupmust drink it, why should you go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, but must drink it. 13 I swear by myself,” declares the Lord, “that Bozrah will become a ruin and a curse, an object of horror and reproach; and all its towns will be in ruins forever.”
14 I have heard a message from the Lord;
an envoy was sent to the nations to say,
“Assemble yourselves to attack it!
Rise up for battle!”
15 “Now I will make you small among the nations,
despised by mankind.
16 The terror you inspire
and the pride of your heart have deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rocks,
who occupy the heights of the hill.
Though you build your nest as high as the eagle’s,
from there I will bring you down,”
declares the Lord.
17 “Edom will become an object of horror;
all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff
because of all its wounds.
18 As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown,
along with their neighboring towns,”
says the Lord,
“so no one will live there;
no people will dwell in it.
19 “Like a lion coming up from Jordan’s thickets
to a rich pastureland,
I will chase Edom from its land in an instant.
Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?
Who is like me and who can challenge me?
And what shepherd can stand against me?”
20 Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Edom,
what he has purposed against those who live in Teman:
The young of the flock will be dragged away;
their pasture will be appalled at their fate.
21 At the sound of their fall the earth will tremble;
their cry will resound to the Red Sea.
22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down,
spreading its wings over Bozrah.
In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors
will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
A Message About Damascus
23 Concerning Damascus:
“Hamath and Arpad are dismayed,
for they have heard bad news.
They are disheartened,
troubled like the restless sea.
24 Damascus has become feeble,
she has turned to flee
and panic has gripped her;
anguish and pain have seized her,
pain like that of a woman in labor.
25 Why has the city of renown not been abandoned,
the town in which I delight?
26 Surely, her young men will fall in the streets;
all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,”
declares the Lord Almighty.
27 “I will set fire to the walls of Damascus;
it will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.”
A Message About Kedar and Hazor
28 Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon attacked:
This is what the Lord says:
“Arise, and attack Kedar
and destroy the people of the East.
29 Their tents and their flocks will be taken;
their shelters will be carried off
with all their goods and camels.
People will shout to them,
‘Terror on every side!’
30 “Flee quickly away!
Stay in deep caves, you who live in Hazor,”
declares the Lord.
“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has plotted against you;
he has devised a plan against you.
31 “Arise and attack a nation at ease,
which lives in confidence,”
declares the Lord,
“a nation that has neither gates nor bars;
its people live far from danger.
32 Their camels will become plunder,
and their large herds will be spoils of war.
I will scatter to the winds those who are in distant places
and will bring disaster on them from every side,”
declares the Lord.
33 “Hazor will become a haunt of jackals,
a desolate place forever.
No one will live there;
no people will dwell in it.”
A Message About Elam
34 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah:
35 This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“See, I will break the bow of Elam,
the mainstay of their might.
36 I will bring against Elam the four winds
from the four quarters of heaven;
I will scatter them to the four winds,
and there will not be a nation
where Elam’s exiles do not go.
37 I will shatter Elam before their foes,
before those who want to kill them;
I will bring disaster on them,
even my fierce anger,”
declares the Lord.
“I will pursue them with the sword
until I have made an end of them.
38 I will set my throne in Elam
and destroy her king and officials,”
declares the Lord.
39 “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam
in days to come,”
declares the Lord.
Go Deeper
As we near the end of Jeremiah, in this chapter we read of several of Jeremiah’s oracles and prophecies that he spoke over certain nations regarding the judgment by God that was headed their way. Jeremiah addresses (in order) the Ammonites, the Edomites, those living in Damascus, two tribes that had previously been attacked by King Nebuchadnezzar, and Elam. While each of these judgments might seem random or disconnected, there was a purpose behind each of them.
For example, the Ammonites’ sin was their desire for self sufficiency. They wanted to operate separate from God, as if they needed nothing to do with Him. The Ammonites took pride in their natural resources, so they thought of themselves as invincible. Instead, they would be attacked and brought low. The Edomites’, however, had a different sin struggle. These descendents of Esau could trace their dislike of Israel all the way back to the sibling rivalry between Jacob and Esau.Charles Feinberg, a twentieth century scholar, said their “cardinal sin was its pride manifested in its unrelenting and violent hatred of Israel and its rejoicing in her misfortune.” Damascus, like the others, had cursed Israel and now God was cursing them, just as he had promised.
Reading this passage, you can see the different ways different sins lead entire groups of people to death. As we read this today, we can try and personalize this text and see which group of people we most identify with. Are we prideful? Do we seek security in our money or earthly wisdom? Do we think we’re able to outrun God and his judgment? Each one of us will see safety or security in someone other than God. Let this passage serve as a reminder to love and pursue God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Questions
- What stuck out to you on your first read through this chapter? Why?
- Did you learn anything new about any of the nations/tribes described in this chapter?
- If you were to personalize this chapter and identify how you’re prone to sin like the Ammonites, Edomites, etc., which one would you choose and why?
A Quote
“Wealth did not save the Ammonites. They were not able to buy their way out of judgment. Wisdom did not save the Edomites, nor did their military might. Fame did not save the Arameans because God is no respecter of persons. Independence did not save the Bedouin; God found them in the wilderness and destroyed them just the same. Weapons did not save the Elamites.”–Philip Ryken
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5 thoughts on “Jeremiah 49”
Over the last few chapters as we’ve read of God’s judgement on the nations surrounding Israel, there seems to be a common character flaw in each of them, the sin of pride. Jeremiah declares of the Edomites in V16, “The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you.” Pride is a slippery slope that usurps God’s sovereign authority replacing it with our own faulty, self-gratification. We must constantly battle pride and daily surrender it to Christ or it will lead to our demise. Pride is sneaky and subtle and easily rationalized; instead let’s confess and repent of our prideful ways as “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
Such a powerful reminder! Amen 🙏🏼
Different time. Different people. Different sins. Same result.
Lord, keep me from these pernicious sins that afflicted these past generations and are just as present today.
Dont get complacent or bored with the same messages of Jeremiah. This will cause you to lose heart over God’s message. Isa 37:16 O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, you are God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. We are all…all held accountable for the sins we have committed as individuals and as a nation God is judge over all. Repentance, turn away from the “little”sins we commit daily and be like Jesus. Abide with God daily in quiet time, in reading His Word, in talking to Him, listening to Him, and then be His hands and feet to show/share Him with others.
God thank You for opening my eyes of understanding to those “little” sins. Thank You for me abiding with You. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. God You are so so good to me. I am so thankful for the nudges You give when people make me anger, anxious or distracted. Thank You for helping me to turn my thoughts about all situations back to You. Thank You for when I do not quite accomplish the turning back, You still guide me to You through Your Holy Spirit. God it sounds contrite but thank You for helping turn You into a habit. I praise You, worship, adore, bow down, come before, love with all my “worldy” ability, give You glory , honor and thanksgiving for this day, these minutes, of all my words and actions in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!
There is nothing greater than our God, nothing else will satisfy or take His place. I pray that may we never forget where all of our blessings coming from. We serve a good God, everything is from Him and everything is for Him.