CHAPTER 25

1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them; 3 And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity; 4 Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.

The Ammonites were descendents of Lot (Genesis 19:38). Israel had been commanded not to have conflict with the Ammonites because they were "near kin" (Deuteronomy 2:19). But the Ammonites oppressed Israel in the beginning stages of the nation (Judges 11:1-28). These people had forced conflict with Saul (1Samuel 11) and with David (2Samuel 10). And they were hostile toward Israel and Judah several times (2Chronicles 20, 2Chronicles 27).

Having been dispossessed of their land, and virtually ruled by the nation of Israel, these people cried with glee when Israel and Judah were overrun by the Assyrians and Babylonians (verse 2). Therefore, God gave a "word" to Ezekiel that this people would be destroyed (verse 3).

4 Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk. 5 And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 6 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel; 7 Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

They would also be overrun by the Babylonians, and their cities would be taken as possessions. They would "not be remembered any more" as a nation (verse 10). God wanted it made clear that it was because of their rude treatment of Judah (verse 6).

Considering the fact that these people worshipped other gods, God also wanted it clear to them that HE is the only LIVING GOD (verse 7).

8 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen; 9 Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim, 10 Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations. 11 And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

The Moabites were also descendents of Lot, and had oppressed Israel as a nation several times (See concerning Balak, Numbers 22 - 25, and Judges 3:13-14).

God wanted a "word" about them (verse 10) that showed they would also be taken in possession just as the Ammonites. And, because they also worshipped idols, God wanted it clear that HE is the only LIVING GOD (verse 11).

12 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them; 13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword. 14 And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.

The Edomites were even closer relatives because they were descendents of Essau, Jacob's brother (see Genesis 25:25 and Genesis 36:8).

This nation refused passage to Israel (Numbers 20:14-21). Ultimately, one king of Edom acknowledged Judah as his ruler (2Kings 3:9), but later the people revolted (2Kings 8:20).

Again, God wanted it clear that it was HE Who executed revenge upon the nation of Edom (verse 13).

15 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred; 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast. 17 And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.

In Genesis 10:14 and 1Chronicles 1:12, the Philistines are acknowledged as descendents of Ham. Judges 3:3-4 tells us that this people were strongly established and that God left them in the "promised land" to "prove Israel prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses."

It was this nation that killed Saul, Israel's first king and fought often with David.

God wanted a "word" sent to them establishing the fact that HE was the One bringing their demise, and that HE is the ONLY LIVING GOD.

God is the avenger of all evil done toward His people (1Thessalonians 4:6). Though God's people are tested and tried in the face of difficulty, ultimately God will PROVE that "the just shall live by His faith" (Habakkuk 2:4) and all others shall be prosecuted for NONfaith.

God IS the ONLY LIVING GOD!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.