How should Jeremiah 48:31 influence our attitude towards those who oppose God? Setting the scene - Jeremiah 48 is God’s oracle against Moab, a nation hostile to Israel and to the LORD. - Judgment is certain, yet verse 31 records Jeremiah’s emotional response: “Therefore I wail for Moab; I cry out for all Moab; I moan for the men of Kir-heres.” - The prophet does not delight in Moab’s downfall; he laments it. This verse becomes a window into how God’s people are to feel toward those who resist Him today. What we observe in Jeremiah 48:31 • Deep grief, not gloating • Personal, heartfelt lament (“I wail… I cry out… I moan”) • Sorrow directed at the very people who reject God Key attitudes shaped by this verse 1. Compassion over contempt - Psalm 119:136: “My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed.” - Luke 19:41-42: Jesus wept over Jerusalem, foreseeing judgment yet yearning for repentance. - We echo Jeremiah’s tears when we see rebellion against God, refusing the temptation to mock or dismiss. 2. Desire for repentance, not revenge - Ezekiel 33:11: God takes “no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” - 2 Peter 3:9: He is “patient… not wanting anyone to perish.” - Our grief should move us to intercede, share the gospel, and long for reconciliation. 3. Humility, aware of our own rescue - Titus 3:3-5 reminds us that we too were once foolish and disobedient until God showed mercy. - Grieving for opponents keeps us from spiritual pride and cultivates gratitude for grace. 4. Prayerful intercession - 1 Timothy 2:1-4 urges prayers “for all people… that they may be saved.” - Jeremiah’s lament models earnest pleading before God for those under judgment. Practical ways to live this out • Ask God to soften your heart whenever you encounter hostility to the gospel. • Replace sarcastic comments or social-media ridicule with private, earnest prayer. • Speak truth boldly, yet with Christ-like gentleness (2 Timothy 2:24-25). • Let visible sorrow for sin’s consequences authenticate your witness. • Support missions and evangelistic efforts aimed at hard-to-reach groups, proving that your lament leads to loving action. Takeaway Jeremiah 48:31 calls us to mourn, not mock; to plead, not pounce. When we see opposition to God, our first impulse should be broken-hearted compassion that propels us to intercede and to share His saving truth. |
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