As noted in the last entry, complacency is a common topic of discussion in Scripture. We will touch lightly on it, to introduce us to the discussion of Moab. The prophets hammer the topic home with Israel, but the topic begins in the Torah.
Deuteronomy 31:20-22 ((Referring to the Song of Moses in Dt32))
20 “For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant. 21 And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give.” 22 So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the people of Israel.
Deuteronomy 32:9-22
9 But the LORD’S portion is his people,
Jacob his allotted heritage.
10 “He found him in a desert land,
and in the howling waste of the wilderness;
he encircled him, he cared for him,
he kept him as the apple of his eye.
11 Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,
that flutters over its young,
spreading out its wings, catching them,
bearing them on its pinions,
12 the LORD alone guided him,
no foreign god was with him.
13 He made him ride on the high places of the land,
and he ate the produce of the field,
and he suckled him with honey out of the rock,
and oil out of the flinty rock.
14 Curds from the herd, and milk from the flock,
with fat of lambs,
rams of Bashan and goats,
with the very finest of the wheat—
and you drank foaming wine made from the blood of the grape.
15 “But Jeshurun (h3484. יְשֻׁרוּן yešurûn) grew fat, and kicked;
you grew fat, stout, and sleek;
then he forsook God who made him
and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation.
16 They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods;
with abominations they provoked him to anger.
17 They sacrificed to demons that were no gods,
to gods they had never known,
to new gods that had come recently,
whom your fathers had never dreaded.
18 You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you,
and you forgot the God who gave you birth.
19 “The LORD saw it and spurned them,
because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters.
20 And he said, ‘I will hide my face from them;
I will see what their end will be,
for they are a perverse generation,
children in whom is no faithfulness.
21 They have made me jealous with what is no god;
they have provoked me to anger with their idols.
So I will make them jealous with those who are no people;
I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
22 For a fire is kindled by my anger,
and it burns to the depths of Sheol,
devours the earth and its increase,
and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.
Jeshurun/Yeshurun is another name for the nation Israel. Strong’s says, “a symbolic name for Israel describing her ideal character.” The word appears four times, here, Dt33:5, 33:26; Is44:2. The usage appears to fit well as the nation which יהוה‘straightened/strengthened.’ But here they are grown complacent.
h3484. יְשֻׁרוּן yešurûn; from h3474. יָשַׁר yâšar
GV p.271 שרר concentrate [strength]; p.271 שרה loosen; p.258 שור see [view]; p.261 שיר sing [out; express thoughts in poetic form]; p.112 ישר strengthen [straighten]; p.164 נשר protect by distancing
((By the way, does “protect by distancing” sound familiar?))
CM שרר שׂרר apply/withhold pressure; שרה שׂרה project outward; שור שׂורunify/separate; שאר שׂאר complete/limit; שיר block/express movement; ישרexpand/limit; נשר נשׂר preserve/separate; אשר limit and hold together
One more passage, and then we will move toward Moab.
Isaiah 32:9-13 – Consequences of Complacency NKJV
9 Rise up, you women who are at ease,
Hear my voice;
You complacent (h0982. בָּטַח ḇâṭaḥ) daughters,
Give ear to my speech.
10 In a year and (some) days
You will be troubled, you complacent (h0982. בָּטַח ḇâṭaḥ) women;
For the vintage will fail,
The gathering will not come.
11 Tremble, you (women) who are at ease;
Be troubled, you complacent (h0982. בָּטַח ḇâṭaḥ) ones;
Strip yourselves, make yourselves bare,
And gird (sackcloth on) your waists.
12 People shall mourn upon their breasts
For the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.
13 On the land of my people will come up thorns and briers,
Yes, on all the happy homes (in) the joyous city;
h0982. בָּטַח ḇâṭaḥ
p.25 בטח trust CM react to externals
As in most things, it is a matter not only of degree, but of where that trust is placed. Our trust must be in יהוה. When we trust too much in our own capabilities, as at the Tower of Babel (Gn11), we are weakened by dispersion as a result.
I do highly recommend that you read the entirety of Psalm 73•••
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Some readers were fellow students at Yeshiva with me in the Fall of 2016, when my presentation included this discussion about complacency.
It will lead us to Moab. We spoke first about how the LORD’s response to Solomon’s prayer for wisdom/discernment to guide the nation of Israel, there was a challenge, or “the testing of life,” that came with that gift:
1 Kings 3:9-14
9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
10 The speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14 So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
There were strict guidelines for kings, set out earlier in Scripture:
Solomon is shown specifically in 1 Kings not to have followed those guidelines for horses, wives, and excessive silver and gold. With his gift came the challenge of complacency. Success is the greatest challenge to our faith in the LORD.
The Results of the failure of this test was that the Kingdom was divided and still has not come together again.
This is Jerusalem in their complacency •••
The ESV has two referenced parallel verses – Amos 6:1 & Jer. 48:11 – notice they speak of Jerusalem/Zion, and Samaria and of Moab, respectively.
Amos 6:1-8 – Warnings to Zion and Samaria
1 Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria,
Notable persons in the chief nation,
To whom the house of Israel comes!
2 Go over to Calneh and see;
And from there go to Hamath the great;
Then go down to Gath of the Philistines.
Are you better than these kingdoms?
Or is their territory greater than your territory?
3 Woe to you who put far off the day of doom,
Who cause the seat of violence to come near;
4 Who lie on beds of ivory,
Stretch out on your couches,
Eat lambs from the flock
And calves from the midst of the stall;
5 Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments,
And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David;
6 Who drink wine from bowls,
And anoint yourselves with the best ointments,
But are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
7 Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives,
And those who recline at banquets shall be removed.
8 The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself,
The LORD God of hosts says:
“I abhor the pride of Jacob,
And hate his palaces;
Therefore I will deliver up the city
And all that is in it.”
And more detail on Moab:
Jeremiah 48:14-47
14 “How can you say, ‘We are mighty
And strong men for the war’?
15 Moab is plundered and gone up from her cities;
Her chosen young men have gone down to the slaughter,” says the King,
Whose name is the LORD of hosts.
16 “The calamity of Moab is near at hand,
And his affliction comes quickly.
17 Bemoan him, all you who are around him;
And all you who know his name,
Say, ‘How the strong staff is broken,
The beautiful rod!’
18 “O daughter inhabiting Dibon,
Come down from your glory,
And sit in thirst;
For the plunderer of Moab has come against you,
He has destroyed your strongholds.
19 O inhabitant of Aroer (h6177. עֲרוֹעֵר ‘ărô‘êr), ((seen above))
Stand by the way and watch;
Ask him who flees
And her who escapes;
Say, ‘What has happened?’
20 Moab is shamed, for he is broken down.
Wail and cry!
Tell it in Arnon (h0769. אַרְנוֹן ’arnôn), that Moab is plundered.
21 “And judgment has come on the plain country:
On Holon and Jahzah and Mephaath,
22 On Dibon and Nebo and Beth Diblathaim,
23 On Kirjathaim and Beth Gamul and Beth Meon,
24 On Kerioth and Bozrah,
On all the cities of the land of Moab,
Far or near.
25 The horn of Moab is cut off,
And his arm is broken,” says the LORD.
26 “Make him drunk,
Because he exalted himself against the LORD.
Moab shall wallow in his vomit,
And he shall also be in derision.
27 For was not Israel a derision to you?
Was he found among thieves?
For whenever you speak of him,
You shake your head in scorn.
28 You who dwell in Moab,
Leave the cities and dwell in the rock,
And be like the dove which makes her nest
In the sides of the cave’s mouth.
29 “We have heard the pride of Moab
(He is exceedingly proud),
Of his loftiness and arrogance and pride,
And of the haughtiness of his heart.”
30 “I know his wrath,” says the LORD,
“But it is not right;
His lies have made nothing right.
31 Therefore I will wail for Moab,
And I will cry out for all Moab;
I will mourn for the men of Kir Heres.
32 O vine of Sibmah! I will weep for you with the weeping of Jazer.
Your plants have gone over the sea,
They reach to the sea of Jazer.
The plunderer has fallen on your summer fruit and your vintage.
33 Joy and gladness are taken
From the plentiful field
And from the land of Moab;
I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses;
No one will tread with joyous shouting—
Not joyous shouting!
34 “From the cry of Heshbon to Elealeh and to Jahaz
They have uttered their voice,
From Zoar to Horonaim,
Like a three-year-old heifer;
For the waters of Nimrim also shall be desolate.
35 “Moreover,” says the LORD,
“I will cause to cease in Moab
The one who offers sacrifices in the high places
And burns incense to his gods.
36 Therefore My heart shall wail like flutes for Moab,
And like flutes My heart shall wail
For the men of Kir Heres.
Therefore the riches they have acquired have perished.
37 “For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped;
On all the hands shall be cuts, and on the loins sackcloth—
38 A general lamentation
On all the housetops of Moab,
And in its streets;
For I have broken Moab like a vessel in which is no pleasure,” says the LORD.
39 “They shall wail:
‘How she is broken down!
How Moab has turned her back with shame!’
So Moab shall be a derision
And a dismay to all those about her.”
40 For thus says the LORD:
“Behold, one shall fly like an eagle,
And spread his wings over Moab.
41 Kerioth is taken,
And the strongholds are surprised;
The mighty men’s hearts in Moab on that day shall be
Like the heart of a woman in birth pangs.
42 And Moab shall be destroyed as a people,
Because he exalted himself against the LORD.
43 Fear and the pit and the snare shall be upon you,
O inhabitant of Moab,” says the LORD.
44 “He who flees from the fear shall fall into the pit,
And he who gets out of the pit shall be caught in the snare.
For upon Moab, upon it I will bring
The year of their punishment,” says the LORD.
45 “Those who fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon
Because of exhaustion.
But a fire shall come out of Heshbon,
A flame from the midst of Sihon,
And shall devour the brow of Moab,
The crown of the head of the sons of tumult.
46 Woe to you, O Moab!
The people of Chemosh perish;
For your sons have been taken captive,
And your daughters captive.
47 “Yet I will bring back the captives of Moab
In the latter days,” says the LORD.
Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
Arnon (h0769. אַרְנוֹן ’arnôn) likely a compound of אר, which we have been studying, and p.156 נין perpetuate through progeny; reproduce CM preserve
So, let’s take a little time to unravel the message.
- Genesis 11, descendants of Shem (one of Noah’s sons, the father of the “Semitic people”) in the genealogy include Abram (later name changed to Abraham) and his brother Haran (h2039. הָרָן hârân), who fathered Lot.
- Haran (h2039. הָרָן hârân) died, and Abram took over caring for Lot.
- Lot left Charan/Haran (h2771. חָרָן ḥârân) with Abram to travel to Canaan. (Notice the הר and חר words, which we have been investigating.
- Abram and Lot both prospered, but there was contention between them, and Abram gave Lot his choice of where to go, in splitting up the land. Lot chose the lush Jordan Valley, near Sodom, and was lured by Sodom. (Gn13) Abram was blessed by God for his approach to the situation.
- Lot’s story is extensive and we’ll not go into it all, but in trying to protect some travelers in Sodom, he offers his two daughters to appease the crowds. (In Post #28, Log and Speck revisited, there is more detail)
- Because of God’s allegiance to Abraham, Lot and his daughters are spared in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gn19)
- Lot’s daughters lie with Lot and produce two sons, Ammon (father of the Ammonites) and Moab (tribe named Moab h4124. מוֹאָב mô’âḇ – “from the father”)
- Because of God’s allegiance, once again, to Abraham, Moab was given protection: Deuteronomy 2:9 Then the LORD said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar (ער) to the descendants of Lot as a possession.’ ”
- This is what led to the statements above in Jeremiah 48. Because Moab was not challenged and had protection, they grew complacent.
The point of all of this is that, though at the end of Jr48, things are restored with Moab, God does turn his back on them, withholding his protection, in order for them to learn the necessary lessons that some challenges will teach. This is tough love. The further point is that he is willing to withhold his protection from any nation who has too much pride and arrogance that they forget that all things come from the LORD. Complacency•••
Recall, in Burning and in Dimming, he loves us.
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Addendum 07192020:
Just discovered a key verse that reflects on what came to pass with Moab:
Deuteronomy 23:3-6
3 “No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the LORD forever, 4 because they did not meet you with bread and with water on the way, when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. 5 But the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam; instead the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loved you. 6 You shall not seek their peace or their prosperity all your days forever.
How does this speak to America?
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