Chapter 25
MSB outline says 25 starts the second major section of four in this book. Chapters 25-32 comprise prophecies of retribution to the nations. This is another section - as also found in Isaiah and Jeremiah - pronouncing judgement on Israel's neighbors. It is not that God judged His people only. They did not bring upon themselves differential chastisement because they had entered into a covenant with God. What they got for their covenant was His constant warnings to them through the prophets, through the word, through nature as the land became less fertile, and through increasing incursions from their neighbors. Their peace went away, the protection of God went away, and they were informed of what exactly was going on and why every step of the way. The surrounding nations did not receive these benefits. This care and preservation from God. The fact that they ignored His attempts to bring them back into right relationship with Him is thus made all the sadder.
Don't we do this? We see "Moab" getting a promotion at work and think God is being unfair to us? After all, we go to church don't we? Yet, if we are honest, we know that God is dealing with us, trying to urge us to holiness, to think as He thinks, to obey Him in putting away things that we like but that do not honor Him. We have sin, and should thank God for His intervention to steer us back onto the narrow way, but instead, we hang on, we rebel, and we make our situation progressively worse.
2024 - These two rather long verses:
6 For thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel, 7 therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand against you, and will hand you over as plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and will make you perish out of the countries; I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the LORD. [Eze 25:6-7 ESV]. As Jerusalem is under siege from Babylon, Ezekiel begins to prophesy about the surrounding nations. Two things: First, look at what God says he will do? "I will destroy you". Then look at why God is doing it...because they were happy about Israel's judgment. We know that Israel's fate here is on her own head. She's earned this siege and all the starvation, death, and horror with which it is coming. But these verses leave no doubt that applauding the victory of Israel's enemy, supporting her enemies, cheering them on, will turn out poorly for you. Second, consider the differences in the way God has warned Israel and the way he now warns Ammon. It is not that God judges only His people, his chosen nation, and everyone else can do as they please. Israel had a covenant with God and because of that they received His constant warnings to them through the prophets, through the word, through nature as the land became less fertile, and through increasing incursions from their neighbors. For Israel, it was not that one day God just said ok, that's it, I'm sending Babylon to end you. First, their peace went away, the protection of God went away, and they were informed of what exactly was going on and why every step of the way - SO THEY COULD SHAPE UP! But the surrounding nations did not receive these benefits because they had no covenant and so no care and preservation from God. For Ammon, it all came crashing down seemingly overnight and without warning. We are Ammon, Moab, Edom and so on. The US has no direct covenant with God, but as long as we follow his commands and support his people, we are free to go about our business. But if we despise God, his ways, and his people, we ought to expect a sudden downfall. We have no "get out of jail free card" any more than Ammon did.
FB - Two posts here. First, and Second. They must go together to make sense. These seem pretty compelling to me.
First prophecy concerns the Ammonites. Ezekiel was to address them directly, not just tell the exiles what was going to happen to the Ammonites. Ammon was to be conquered and "in dwelt" by the people of the East. Likely Babylon. And the reason is here:
6 For thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel, [Eze 25:6 ESV]
It is unwise to be happy when God's people are disciplined. To gloat about it. Especially if your own yard is pretty trashed up. vs 7 ends with the words "I will destroy you" from God Himself. Yet I believe an earlier prophecy says that in the latter days, they will be restored.
Next prophecy is about Moab. Much the same fate as Ammon, Moab to be given to the people of the east. Ammon will be remembered no more. It is because Moab said that Israel was just like any other nation. They did not recognize the Holy One of Israel. Therefore, they will be conquered.
Edom is third on the list. Their discipline is because they acted vengefully against Judah. Quite a few details here. Edom is to be cut off from man and beast. I believe Edom is now called the Negev - a barely inhabited desert in southern Israel. It also says that it will be Israel that God uses to execute this judgement on them. So it must have been at some future time, after the return from exile. 2020-Not the Negev, technically, but south of it. South of the desolation that is the Negev. Charlie showed us a pic he took in the Negev. It is worse than four corners.
Philistia is fourth. The reason for their discipline is in this verse, and very specific:
15 "Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines acted revengefully and took vengeance with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity, [Eze 25:15 ESV]