Jeremiah 48

“The one who does the Lord’s business deceitfully is cursed, and the one who withholds his sword from bloodshed is cursed. Moab has been left quiet since his youth, settled like wine on its dregs. He hasn’t been poured from one container to another or gone into exile. So his taste has remained the same, and his aroma hasn’t changed. Therefore look, the days are coming— this is the Lord’s declaration when I will send those to him, who will pour him out. They will empty his containers and smash his jars. Moab will be put to shame because of Chemosh, just as the house of Israel was put to shame because of Bethel that they trusted in.” Jeremiah 48:10-13 (HCSB)

There is always a war going on somewhere. Even if you are not a member of the armed forces, you have to recognize at least you are a citizen of a country that is pretty much always at war with someone all of the time. I’m not a professional “warrior,” but I know that soldiers amid battle do not take their jobs lightly. And those who do have a higher probability of becoming casualties. No, warfare demands the blood of the enemy before they spill yours.

Today’s passage begins with a reminder that we are in the midst of spiritual warfare. That is, we must realize that Satan is our mortal enemy, and sin is his weapon. He will never cease his efforts to kill us. So, why do we keep trying to negotiate peace with our sins, searching for a compromise that will allow us to retain “pet” sins, taking the Lord’s business carelessly?  

You see, the Lord, alone, is holy. His “business” is making His holiness known, and He will not stand for anyone (or anything) to steal the worship that is rightfully His. By tempting us to sin, Satan seeks to steal worship from God, separating us from the Lord. If we are truly to be about the Lord’s business, then our business should be comprised of 1) directing worship towards Him, and 2) doing away with sin in our lives.  

The sin that Moab, Israel, and the nations were judged for was idolatry. Moab had abundant money, power, and resources, and they attributed their success to their “non-god” Chemosh. Each nation had their “homegrown” gods, and Israel worshiped pagan gods (both foreign and of their own design) at Bethel.

God’s indictment was that they had all taken His business carelessly and withheld His Word (the sword) from its rightful task, which is intended to drive sin out of our lives...killing it, as it were.

So, how seriously are you taking the Lord’s business in your life? Are you seeking His Word daily? Do you allow it to embolden you to trust God and put away your idols, those things you ascribe power and worship to, instead of God?