Jeremiah 48; Jeremiah 49; Hebrews 7

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Jeremiah 48

1 Here is what the LORD says about Moab. The LORD who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, "How terrible it will be for Nebo! It will be destroyed. Kiriathaim will be captured. It will be put to shame. Its fort will be broken down. It will be put to shame.

2 Moab will not be praised anymore. In Heshbon people will plan its fall from power. They will say, 'Come. Let's put an end to that nation.' City of Madmen, you too will be silent because you are sad. My sword will hunt you down.

3 Listen to the cries from Horonaim. The town is being completely destroyed.

4 Moab will be broken. Her little ones will cry out.

5 The people go up the road to Luhith. They are sobbing bitterly as they go. Loud cries are heard on the road down to Horonaim. People cry out because the town is being destroyed.

6 People of Moab run away! Run for your lives! Become like a lonely bush in the desert.

7 You trust in the things you can do. You trust in your riches. So you too will be taken away as prisoners. Your god Chemosh will be carried away. So will its priests and officials.

8 The one who is going to destroy you will come against every town. Not even one of them will escape. The valley and the high flatlands will be destroyed. I, the Lord, have spoken.

9 Sprinkle salt all over Moab. It will be completely destroyed. Its towns will be a dry and empty desert. No one will live in them.

10 "May a person who is lazy when he does my work be under my curse! May anyone who keeps his sword from killing be under my curse!

11 "Moab has been at peace and rest from its earliest days. It is like wine that has not been shaken up. It has not been poured from one jar to another. Moab's people have not been taken away from their land. They are like wine that tastes as it always did. Its smell has not changed at all.

12 But other days are coming," announces the Lord. "At that time I will send people who pour wine from jars. They will pour Moab out like wine. They will empty its jars. They will smash its jugs.

13 Then Moab's people will be ashamed of their god Chemosh. They will be ashamed just as the people of Israel were when they trusted in their god at Bethel.

14 "How can you say, 'We are soldiers. We are men who are brave in battle'?

15 Moab will be destroyed. Its enemies will march into its towns. Her finest young men will die in battle," announces the King. His name is The LORD Who Rules Over All.

16 "The fall of Moab is near. Its time of trouble will come quickly.

17 All you who live around it, sob over its people. Be sad, you who know how famous Moab is. Say, 'Its powerful ruler's rod is broken! His glorious staff is smashed.'

18 "Come down from your glorious city, you who live in Dibon. Come and sit on the thirsty ground. The one who destroys your country will come up and attack you. Your enemies will destroy your cities that have high walls around them.

19 Stand by the road and watch, you who live in Aroer. Ask the men who are running away. Ask the women who are escaping. Ask them, 'What has happened?'

20 Moab has been put to shame. It has been destroyed. Sob and cry out! Tell everyone Moab has been destroyed. Announce it by the Arnon River.

21 The high flatlands have been judged. So have Holon, Jahzah and Mephaath.

22 Dibon, Nebo and Beth Diblathaim have been judged.

23 So have Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul and Beth Meon.

24 Kerioth and Bozrah have also been judged. And so have all of the towns of Moab, far and near alike.

25 Moab's power is gone. Its strength is broken," announces the Lord.

26 "Moab's people think they are better than I am. So let their enemies make them drunk. Let the people get sick and throw up. Let them roll around in the mess they have made. Let people laugh at them.

27 Moab, you laughed at Israel, didn't you? Were Israel's people caught among robbers? Is that why you shake your head at them? Is that why you make fun of them every time you talk about them?

28 Leave your towns, you who live in Moab. Go and live among the rocks. Be like a dove that makes its nest at the mouth of a cave.

29 "We have heard all about Moab's pride. We have heard how very proud they are. They think they are so much better than others. Their pride reaches deep down inside their hearts.

30 I know how rude they are. But it will not get them anywhere," announces the Lord. "Their bragging does not accomplish anything.

31 So I cry out over Moab. I cry for all of Moab's people. I groan for the men of Kir Hareseth.

32 I sob over you as Jazer sobs, you vines of Sibmah. Your branches used to spread out. They went all the way down to the Dead Sea. They reached as far as the sea of Jazer. The one who destroys your country has taken away your grapes and ripe fruit.

33 Joy has left your orchards. Gladness is gone from your fields. I have stopped the flow of juice from your winepresses. No one stomps on your grapes with shouts of joy. There are shouts. But they are not shouts of joy.

34 "The sound of their cry rises from Heshbon. It rises as far as Elealeh and Jahaz. It rises from Zoar. It goes all the way to Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah. Even the waters at Nimrim are dried up.

35 In Moab people sacrifice offerings on the high places. They burn incense to their gods. But I will put an end to those people," announces the Lord.

36 "Like a flute my heart sings a song of sadness for Moab. It sings like a flute for the men of Kir Hareseth. The wealth they had gotten is gone.

37 Every head is shaved. Every beard is cut off. Every hand is cut. And every waist is covered with black cloth.

38 Sobbing is the only sound in Moab. It is heard on all of its roofs. It is heard in the market places. I have broken Moab like a jar that no one wants," announces the Lord.

39 "How broken Moab is! How the people sob! They turn away from others because they are so ashamed. All those who are around them laugh at them. They are shocked at them."

40 The LORD says, "Look! Nebuchadnezzar is like an eagle diving down. He is spreading his wings over Moab.

41 Kerioth will be captured. Its forts will be taken. At that time the hearts of Moab's soldiers will tremble in fear. They will be like the heart of a woman having a baby.

42 Moab will be destroyed as a nation. That is because its people thought they were better than I am.

43 You people of Moab," announces the Lord, "terror, a pit and a trap are waiting for you.

44 Anyone who runs away from the terror will fall into the pit. Anyone who climbs out of the pit will be caught in the trap. The time is coming when I will punish Moab," announces the Lord.

45 "In the shadow of Heshbon those who are trying to escape stand helpless. A fire has blazed out from Heshbon. Flames have come out from Sihon's city. It burns the foreheads of Moab's people. It burns the skulls of those who brag loudly.

46 How terrible it will be for you, Moab! Those who worship Chemosh are destroyed. Your sons are being taken to another country. Your daughters are taken away as prisoners.

47 "But in days to come I will bless Moab with great success again," announces the Lord. That's the report about how the LORD said he would judge Moab.

Jeremiah 49

1 Here is what the LORD says about the people of Ammon. He says, "Doesn't Israel have any sons? Doesn't Israel have anyone to take over the family property? Then why has the god Molech taken over Gad? Why do those who worship him live in its towns?

2 But a new day is coming," announces the Lord. "At that time I will sound the battle cry. I will sound it against Rabbah in the land of Ammon. It will become a pile of broken-down buildings. The villages that are around it will be set on fire. Then Israel will drive out those who drove her out," says the Lord.

3 "Heshbon, sob over Ai! It is destroyed! Cry out, you who live in Rabbah! Put on black clothes and sob. Run here and there inside the walls. Your god Molech will be carried away. So will its priests and officials.

4 Why do you brag about your valleys? You brag that they produce so many crops. You are an unfaithful country. You trust in your riches. You say, 'Who will attack me?'

5 I will bring terror on you. It will come from all those who are around you," announces the Lord. He is the LORD who rules over all. "Every one of you will be driven away. No one will bring back those who escape.

6 "But after that, I will bless the people of Ammon with great success again," announces the Lord.

7 Here is what the LORD says about Edom. The LORD who rules over all says, "Isn't there wisdom in the town of Teman anymore? Can't those who are wise give advice? Has their wisdom disappeared completely?

8 Turn around and run away, you who live in Dedan. Hide in deep caves. I will bring trouble on Esau's family line. I will do it at the time I punish them.

9 Edom, suppose grape pickers came to harvest your vines. They would still leave a few grapes. Suppose robbers came at night. They would steal only as much as they wanted.

10 But I will strip everything away from Esau's people. I will uncover their hiding places. They will not be able to hide anywhere. Their children, relatives and neighbors will die. Then Esau's people will be gone.

11 Leave your children whose fathers have died. I will watch over them. Your widows can also trust in me."

12 The LORD says, "What if those who do not have to drink the cup must drink it anyway? Then shouldn't you be punished? You will certainly be punished. You must drink the cup.

13 I make a promise with an oath in my own name. Bozrah will be destroyed," announces the Lord. "People will be shocked at it. They will bring shame on it. They will call down curses on it. And all of its towns will be destroyed forever."

14 I've heard a message from the Lord. A messenger was sent to the nations. The LORD told him to say, "Gather yourselves together to attack Edom! Prepare for battle!"

15 The LORD says to Edom, "I will make you weak among the nations. They will look down on you.

16 You live in the safety of the rocks. You live on top of the hills. But the terror you stir up has now turned against you. Your proud heart has tricked you. You build your nest as high as an eagle does. But I will bring you down from there," announces the Lord.

17 "People of Edom, all those who pass by you will be shocked. They will make fun of you because of all of your wounds.

18 Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. So were the towns that were near them," says the Lord. "You will be just like them. No one will live in your land. No one will stay there even for a short time.

19 "I will be like a lion coming up from the bushes by the Jordan River. I will hunt in rich grasslands. I will chase you from your land in an instant. What nation will I choose to do it? Which one will I appoint? Is anyone like me? Who would dare to argue with me? What leader can stand against me?"

20 So listen to what the LORD has planned against the people of Edom. Hear what he has planned against those who live in Teman. Edom's young people will be dragged away. The LORD will completely destroy their grasslands because of them.

21 When the earth hears Edom fall, it will shake. The people's cries will be heard all the way to the Red Sea.

22 Look! An enemy is coming. It's like an eagle diving down. It will spread its wings over Bozrah. At that time the hearts of Edom's soldiers will tremble in fear. They'll be like the heart of a woman having a baby.

23 Here is what the LORD says about Damascus. He says, "The people of Hamath and Arpad are terrified. They have heard bad news. They have lost all hope. They are troubled like the rolling sea.

24 The people of Damascus have become weak. They have turned to run away. Panic has taken hold of them. Suffering and pain have taken hold of them. Their pain is like the pain of a woman having a baby.

25 Why hasn't the famous city been deserted? It is the town I take delight in.

26 You can be sure its young men will fall dead in the streets. All of its soldiers will be put to death at that time," announces the LORD who rules over all.

27 "I will set the walls of Damascus on fire. It will burn up the strong towers of King Ben-Hadad."

28 Here is what the LORD says about the land of Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylonia, was planning to attack them. The LORD says to the armies of Babylonia, "Prepare for battle. Attack Kedar. Destroy the people of the east.

29 Their tents and flocks will be taken away from them. Their tents will be carried off. All of their goods and camels will be stolen. People will shout to them, 'There is terror on every side!'

30 "Run away quickly! You who live in Hazor, stay in deep caves," announces the Lord. "Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylonia, has made plans against you. He has decided to attack you.

31 "Armies of Babylonia, prepare for battle. Attack a nation that feels secure. Its people do not have any worries," announces the Lord. "That nation does not have gates or heavy metal bars. Its people live all alone.

32 Their camels will be stolen. Their large herds will be taken away. I will scatter to the winds those who are in places far away. I will bring trouble on them from every side," announces the Lord.

33 "Hazor will become a home for wild dogs. It will be a dry and empty desert forever. No one will live in that land. No one will stay there even for a short time."

34 A message came to me from the Lord. It was about Elam. It came shortly after Zedekiah became king of Judah.

35 The LORD who rules over all said, "Elam's bow is the secret of its strength. But I will break it.

36 I will bring the four winds against Elam. I will bring them from all four directions. I will scatter Elam's people to the four winds. They will be taken away to every nation on earth.

37 I will use Elam's enemies to smash them. Those who are trying to take their lives will kill them. I will bring trouble on Elam's people. My anger will burn against them," announces the Lord. "I will chase them with swords. I will hunt them down until I have destroyed them.

38 I will set up my throne in Elam. I will destroy its king and officials," announces the Lord.

39 "But in days to come I will bless Elam with great success again," announces the Lord.

Hebrews 7

1 Melchizedek was the king of Salem. He was the priest of God Most High. He met Abraham, who was returning from winning a battle over some kings. Melchizedek blessed him.

2 Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means "king of what is right." Also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace."

3 Melchizedek has no father or mother. He has no family line. His days have no beginning. His life has no end. He remains a priest forever, just like the Son of God.

4 Think how great Melchizedek was. Even our father Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had captured.

5 Now the law lays down a rule for the sons of Levi who become priests. They must collect a tenth from the people. They must collect it even from those who belong to the family line of Abraham.

6 Melchizedek did not trace his family line from Levi. But he collected a tenth from Abraham. Melchizedek blessed the one who had received the promises.

7 Without a doubt, the more important person blesses the less important one.

8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die. But in the other case, it is collected by the one who is said to be living.

9 Levi collects the tenth. But we might say that Levi paid the tenth through Abraham.

10 That's because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in Abraham's body.

11 Suppose the Levites who were priests could have made people perfect. The law was given to the people so they could become perfect through the priests. Then why was there still a need for another priest to come? And why did he need to be like Melchizedek? Why wasn't he from Aaron's family line?

12 A change of priests requires a change of law.

13 Those things are said about one who is from a different tribe. No one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.

14 It is clear that our Lord came from the family line of Judah. Moses said nothing about priests who were from that tribe.

15 But suppose another priest like Melchizedek appears. Then what we have said is even more clear.

16 He has not become a priest because of a rule about his family line. He has become a priest because of his powerful life. His life can never be destroyed.

17 Scripture says, "You are a priest forever, just like Melchizedek." (Psalm 110:4)

18 The old rule is done away with. It was weak and useless.

19 The law didn't make anything perfect. Now a better hope has been given to us. That hope brings us near to God.

20 The change of priests was made with an oath. Others became priests without any oath.

21 But Jesus became a priest with an oath. God said to him, "The Lord has taken an oath and made a promise. He will not change his mind. He has said, 'You are a priest forever.' " (Psalm 110:4)

22 Because of that oath, Jesus makes the promise of a better covenant certain.

23 There were many priests in Levi's family line. Death kept them from continuing in office.

24 But Jesus lives forever. So he always holds the office of priest.

25 People now come to God through him. And he is able to save them completely and for all time. Jesus lives forever. He prays for them.

26 A high priest like that meets our need. He is holy, pure and without blame. He isn't like other people. He does not sin. He is lifted high above the heavens.

27 He isn't like the other high priests. They need to offer sacrifices day after day. First they bring offerings for their own sins. Then they do it for the sins of the people. But Jesus gave one sacrifice for the sins of the people. He gave it once and for all time. He did it by offering himself.

28 The law appoints men who are weak to be high priests. But God's oath came after the law. The oath appointed the Son. He has been made perfect forever.

Jeremiah 48; Jeremiah 49; Hebrews 7

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Jeremiah 48

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Hebrews 7