◄ Jeremiah 48:30 ►
I know his insolence," declares the LORD, "but it is futile. His boasting is as empty as his deeds.
Study Bible
“I know his fury,”
The phrase "I know his fury" indicates God's intimate awareness of Moab's pride and arrogance. The Hebrew word for "fury" here is "עֶבְרָה" (evrah), which can also mean wrath or rage. This suggests a deep-seated anger that is not hidden from God. In the context of the ancient Near East, Moab was known for its pride and hostility towards Israel. God's knowledge of Moab's fury underscores His omniscience and the fact that no human emotion or intention is concealed from Him. This serves as a reminder that God is fully aware of the inner workings of every nation and individual.

“declares the LORD,”
The phrase "declares the LORD" is a prophetic formula that emphasizes the authority and certainty of the message. The Hebrew word for "declares" is "נְאֻם" (ne'um), often used in prophetic literature to introduce a divine pronouncement. This assures the reader that the message is not Jeremiah's own but is directly from God. It highlights the seriousness and inevitability of the prophecy, reinforcing the idea that God's words are trustworthy and will come to pass.

“but it is futile;”
The word "futile" translates from the Hebrew "שָׁוְא" (shav), meaning vanity or emptiness. This suggests that Moab's fury and pride are ultimately worthless and will not achieve their intended purpose. In the biblical context, human pride and efforts apart from God are often depicted as futile. This serves as a warning against self-reliance and arrogance, reminding believers that true strength and success come from God alone.

“his boasting is as empty as his deeds.”
The phrase "his boasting is as empty as his deeds" further elaborates on the futility of Moab's pride. The Hebrew word for "boasting" is "תַּהֲלֻּלָה" (tahalulah), which can also mean praise or glory. This indicates that Moab's self-glorification is without substance. The comparison to "empty deeds" underscores the ineffectiveness of actions that are not aligned with God's will. Historically, Moab's reliance on its own strength and gods led to its downfall, illustrating the biblical principle that pride precedes destruction. This serves as a powerful reminder to believers to seek humility and align their actions with God's purposes.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his prophecies concerning the judgment of Judah and surrounding nations, including Moab.

2. Moab
An ancient nation located east of the Dead Sea, often in conflict with Israel. Moab is the subject of God's judgment in this chapter.

3. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, declaring His knowledge of Moab's pride and the futility of their actions.

4. Moab's Insolence
Refers to the pride and arrogance of the Moabites, which God acknowledges and condemns.

5. Boasting and Deeds
The empty pride and actions of Moab, which are ultimately futile and ineffective against God's judgment.
Teaching Points
God's Omniscience
God is fully aware of the thoughts and attitudes of nations and individuals. His knowledge of Moab's pride serves as a reminder that nothing is hidden from Him.

The Futility of Pride
Human pride and boasting are ultimately empty and lead to downfall. This serves as a warning against self-reliance and arrogance.

Divine Judgment
God's judgment is just and inevitable for those who persist in pride and rebellion. It calls for humility and repentance.

The Call to Humility
Believers are encouraged to examine their own hearts for pride and to seek humility before God, recognizing their dependence on Him.

The Reliability of God's Word
The fulfillment of prophecies, such as those against Moab, demonstrates the reliability and authority of God's Word.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the pride of Moab in Jeremiah 48:30 serve as a warning for us today in our personal lives and communities?

2. In what ways can we identify and address areas of pride in our own hearts, in light of God's opposition to the proud as seen in James 4:6?

3. How does the theme of divine judgment in Jeremiah 48:30 connect with the broader biblical account of God's justice and mercy?

4. What practical steps can we take to cultivate humility and reliance on God, avoiding the pitfalls of self-reliance and arrogance?

5. How does understanding God's omniscience, as demonstrated in His knowledge of Moab's insolence, impact our trust in His plans and purposes for our lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 16
This chapter also addresses Moab, highlighting their pride and the coming judgment, similar to Jeremiah's prophecy.

Proverbs 16:18
This verse speaks about pride leading to destruction, which aligns with the fate of Moab due to their insolence.

James 4:6
This New Testament verse emphasizes God's opposition to the proud, reinforcing the theme of divine judgment against arrogance.
Sermons
Concerning PrideS. Conway
People
Chemosh, Gamul, Jeremiah, Sihon, Zoar
Places
Arnon, Aroer, Beth-diblathaim, Bethel, Beth-gamul, Beth-meon, Bozrah, Dibon, Elealeh, Heshbon, Holon, Horonaim, Jahaz, Jahzah, Jazer, Kerioth, Kir-hareseth, Kiriathaim, Luhith, Madmen, Mephaath, Moab, Nebo, Nimrim, Sea of Jazer, Sibmah, Zoar
Topics
Accomplish, Accomplished, Affirmation, Arrogancy, Boastings, Boasts, Declares, Deeds, Devices, Effect, Fury, Futile, High-sounding, Idle, Ill-founded, Insolence, Lies, Nothing, Nought, Pratings, Says, Vain, Well-founded, Worked, Wrath, Wrought
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 48:29-30

     5793   arrogance
     5857   fame

Library
August 8. "Be Like the Dove" (Jer. Xlviii. 28).
"Be like the dove" (Jer. xlviii. 28). Harmless as a dove, is Christ's interpretation of the beautiful emblem. And so the Spirit of God is purity itself. He cannot dwell in an unclean heart. He cannot abide in the natural mind. It was said of the anointing of old, "On man's flesh it shall not be poured." The purity which the Holy Spirit brings is like the white and spotless little plant which grows up out of the heap of manure, or the black soil, without one grain of impurity adhering to its crystalline …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

How those are to be Admonished who Decline the Office of Preaching Out of Too Great Humility, and those who Seize on it with Precipitate Haste.
(Admonition 26.) Differently to be admonished are those who, though able to preach worthily, are afraid by reason of excessive humility, and those whom imperfection or age forbids to preach, and yet precipitancy impells. For those who, though able to preach with profit, still shrink back through excessive humility are to be admonished to gather from consideration of a lesser matter how faulty they are in a greater one. For, if they were to hide from their indigent neighbours money which they possessed …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Balaam's Prophecy. (Numb. xxiv. 17-19. )
Carried by the Spirit into the far distant future, Balaam sees here how a star goeth out of Jacob and a sceptre riseth out of Israel, and how this sceptre smiteth Moab, by whose enmity the Seer had been brought from a distant region for the destruction of Israel. And not Moab only shall be smitten, but its southern neighbour, Edom, too shall be subdued, whose hatred against Israel had already been prefigured in its ancestor, and had now begun to display Itself; and In general, all the enemies of …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Meditations for the Sick.
Whilst thy sickness remains, use often, for thy comfort, these few meditations, taken from the ends wherefore God sendeth afflictions to his children. Those are ten. 1. That by afflictions God may not only correct our sins past, but also work in us a deeper loathing of our natural corruptions, and so prevent us from falling into many other sins, which otherwise we would commit; like a good father, who suffers his tender babe to scorch his finger in a candle, that he may the rather learn to beware …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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