The Prophet Jeremiah, whom the Lord when giving him his commission, had set over the nations and over the kingdoms, (see Jeremiah 1:10) is here arraigning, trying, and condemning Moab; and an awful condemnation it is. But what I particularly beg to notice in this account is, the cause assigned in this last verse. Moab hath been at ease from his youth. Reader! mark, I beseech you, what the Lord saith. And this is the one fatal cause, both of the destruction of kingdoms and individuals, an unawakened, unregenerated state. Sinners continue sinners. They are at ease in Zion. They have no changes, saith the Psalmist, therefore they fear not God. Psalms 55:19. As they were born so they continue. Thus they live, and thus they die. Hence the old scent of the old nature remains! An awful state, and according to our Lord's account, impossible ever to enter the kingdom of heaven, John 3:5.
Jeremiah 48:1-11
1 Against Moab thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: Misgaba is confounded and dismayed.
2 There shall be no more praise of Moab: in Heshbon they have devised evil against it; come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. Also thou shalt be cut down, O Madmen; the sword shall pursue thee.
3 A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction.
4 Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.
5 For in the going up of Luhith continualb weeping shall go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.
6 Flee, save your lives, and be like the heathc in the wilderness.
7 For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.
8 And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD hath spoken.
9 Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.
10 Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully,d and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.
11 Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remainede in him, and his scent is not changed.