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Jeremiah 48:29-30   “We have heard of Moab’s pride – how great is her arrogance! – of her insolence, her pride, her conceit and the haughtiness of her heart.  I know her insolence but it is futile,” declares the LORD,“ and her boasts accomplish nothing.”

We read this part of the LORD’s Judgement on the nation of Moab and we are reminded that man’s fundamental sin is pride.  In the Garden of Eden, when we had unmediated fellowship with our thrice-Holy God because he had made us in his own image and likeness, Satan tempted us to usurp God’s rightful authority over us and to put ourselves in his place as the ones to define what is ‘good’ and what is ‘evil’.

Only a moment’s thought leads us to the conclusion that this is the height of pride, when he is the Creator and we are his creatures, the work of his hands, but we arrogantly claim our independence from him and want to determine our own course and destiny in life.  It is sobering to reflect on the dominant influences in our own culture today, and assess them in the light of God’s declared judgement on Moab through the Prophet Jeremiah.

And the way God has called on us to influence our culture is to live in it as ‘salt’ and ‘light’: “You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”   (Matthew 5:13-16).

Let us, in being ‘salt’ and ‘light’, avoid coming under the same judgement as Moab (and our culture!) by heeding Isaiah’s warning: “For this is what the high and exalted One says  – he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite” (Isaiah 57:15).

“Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way; thou art the Potter, I am the clay.  Mould me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.  Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way; search me and try me, Master, today.  Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now, as in thy presence humbly I bow.  Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way; wounded and weary, help me I pray.  Power, all power, surely is thine, touch me and heal me, Saviour divine.  Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way; hold o’er my being absolute sway.  Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me” (A. A. Pollard).

– Bruce Christian