Jeremiah 48:28 Study Bible: You inhabitants of Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock; and be like the dove that makes her nest over the mouth of the abyss.

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◄ Jeremiah 48:28 ►

Abandon the towns and settle among the rocks, O dwellers of Moab! Be like a dove that nests at the mouth of a cave.

Abandon the towns and settle among the rocks
This phrase is a call for the Moabites to leave their cities and seek refuge in the natural fortifications of the rocky terrain. Historically, Moab was a region east of the Dead Sea, known for its rugged landscape. The call to abandon towns suggests impending destruction or invasion, likely by the Babylonians, as Jeremiah prophesied. This reflects a common biblical theme where people are urged to flee to the mountains for safety (e.g., Matthew 24:16). The imagery of rocks symbolizes strength and refuge, yet also isolation and desolation, indicating the severity of the judgment.

O dwellers of Moab!
The Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, and had a complex relationship with Israel, often characterized by conflict and enmity. Moab's history includes periods of subjugation and rebellion against Israel (2 Kings 3). The address to the "dwellers of Moab" highlights the directness of the prophecy and the personal nature of the warning. It underscores the accountability of the Moabites for their actions and the inevitability of divine judgment due to their idolatry and pride (Isaiah 16:6).

Be like a dove that nests at the mouth of a cave
The dove is a symbol of peace and innocence, yet here it conveys vulnerability and the need for protection. Doves nesting at the mouth of a cave evoke an image of seeking shelter in a precarious place, suggesting that the Moabites will find only temporary refuge. This imagery is reminiscent of David hiding in the caves from Saul (1 Samuel 24:1-3), illustrating a desperate search for safety. The cave mouth represents a threshold between safety and exposure, emphasizing the precariousness of Moab's situation. The use of animal imagery is common in prophetic literature, often to convey deeper spiritual truths or moral lessons.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Moab
An ancient kingdom located east of the Dead Sea, often in conflict with Israel. The Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew.

2. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his prophecies concerning the judgment and restoration of Israel and surrounding nations, including Moab.

3. Dove
A symbol often used in the Bible to represent peace, innocence, and vulnerability. Here, it signifies the Moabites' need to seek refuge.

4. Rocks and Caves
Natural fortifications and places of refuge. In the context of this verse, they symbolize safety and protection amidst impending judgment.

5. Judgment of Moab
The broader context of Jeremiah 48 is a prophecy of judgment against Moab for their pride and idolatry.

Teaching Points

Seek Refuge in God
Just as the Moabites were urged to find safety among the rocks, believers are called to seek refuge in God during times of trouble.

Humility Before God
Moab's judgment was due to pride. We must remain humble and recognize our dependence on God.

Symbolism of the Dove
Embrace the qualities of peace and innocence in our walk with Christ, even when facing adversity.

God's Sovereignty in Judgment
Understand that God's judgments are just and serve a purpose in His divine plan.

Repentance and Restoration
Like Moab, we are given opportunities to repent and find restoration through God's mercy.

Bible Study Questions

1. What does the imagery of the dove and the rocks teach us about finding refuge in God during difficult times?

2. How can we apply the lesson of humility from Moab's judgment to our own lives today?

3. In what ways does the call to "abandon your towns" challenge us to leave behind worldly securities and trust in God's provision?

4. How does the theme of judgment and mercy in Jeremiah 48 relate to the broader account of redemption in the Bible?

5. Reflect on a time when you sought refuge in God. How did that experience strengthen your faith and reliance on Him?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Isaiah 16:1-4
This passage also addresses Moab, urging them to seek refuge and offering a glimpse of hope amidst judgment.

Psalm 55:6-8
The psalmist expresses a desire to escape trouble and find refuge, similar to the imagery of the dove in Jeremiah 48:28.

Matthew 10:16
Jesus instructs His disciples to be "as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves," highlighting the need for wisdom and innocence in times of trial.

Sermons

Dove and Rock

Homiletic Magazine

Jeremiah 48:28

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

Abyss, Arabah, Beyond, Cave, Cave's, Chasm, Cities, Cover, Crags, Dove, Dwell, Forsake, Gorge, Holes, Hole's, Inhabitants, Leave, Living-place, Makes, Maketh, Making, Moab, Mouth, Nest, Nests, O, Passages, Pit's, Rock, Rocks, Sides, Towns

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Jeremiah 48:28

     4218   cave
     4354   rock
     4636   dove
     4675   nest
     5167   mouth

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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