Eze.25:1-17, When the neighbors suffer(God's judgment on the four neig…

Eze.25:1-17, When the neighbors suffer(God's judgment on the four neighboring kingdoms of Judah)
 Eze.1-24 speaks of judgment and restoration for the sinful nation of Judah(Israel). Chs.25-32 prophesy judgment on the seven neighboring kingdoms of Judah. ​​*See the picture of the seven neighboring kingdoms of Judah. ​​Ch.25 is words of judgment on Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia. What did the neighboring kingdoms do when Judah was destroyed? God tells us how we should respond when our neighbors suffer.
1. Ammon rejoiced and mocked when Judah was destroyed. Ammon is eventually judged(1-7).
Vs.2-3,6, “2.Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them. 3.Then say to the Ammonites, ‘Hear the word of the Lord God: Thus says the Lord God: When my sanctuary was profaned, you said of it, when the land of Israel was desolated, when the house of Judah was taken captive, ‘Aha!’ 6.Thus says the Lord God: When you clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced in contempt with all your heart over the land of Israel, you rejoiced over it.”
 The nation of Ammon is said to be in distress when God’s people, Judah, are in distress(3), that is, 1) when the sanctuary is profaned, 2) when the land of Israel is desolated, and when the house of Judah is taken captive. The neighboring kingdoms are killed, destroyed, and taken captive. They are suffering great tribulation. But they said, “Aha, good.” It means, “Oh, good. The earth is good!” Furthermore, “They clapped their hands and stamped their feet and rejoiced with all their heart in contempt.”(6) Who is Ammon? Ammon is the descendants of Abraham’s nephew Lot and his younger daughter. They are relatives of Judah. ​​However, Ammon has always been an enemy of Israel. The sin of Ammon was that they did not feel sorry when they saw their brother nation and the people of God being destroyed, but rather rejoiced. They rejoiced when they saw the temple of God being defiled. They rejoiced when they saw the people being taken captive. The destruction of the temple, Judah, and the people mean the destruction of the three elements that form the center of the identity of the kingdom of God: the relationship between Jehovah, the territory, and the people. A nation that rejoices over the tragedy of its brother nation will be judged by the Creator. Vs.4-5,7, “4. Therefore I will give you as a possession to the people of the east; they will encamp in your midst and make their homes in your midst; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk. 5.I will make Rabbah a pen for camels, and the land of the Ammonites a resting place for flocks. Then you will know that I am the Lord God. 7.Therefore I will stretch out my hand against you and give you as a prey to the peoples. I will cut you off from the peoples and destroy you among the countries. Then you will know that I am the Lord God.” The land of Ammon will be taken over by the people of the east(Babylon) and become a desolation. It will be cut off from the peoples, destroyed, and destroyed. Those who rejoice in the suffering of others will suffer the same.  *Application: Do we not laugh at the failures or difficulties of others? Rather, do we live with a heart that suffers together and helps each other? If there is someone around us who is suffering, let’s think about how we can help them.

2. Moab(8-11) : The Moabites were also sibling kingdoms, descendants of Abraham's nephew Lot and his first daughter. Moab was always hostile to Israel. Moab also rejoiced at the destruction of Judah. ​​V 8, "Thus says the Lord God: Moab and Seir say, 'The house of Judah is no different from all the other kingdoms.'" They knew that Judah was the chosen people of Jehovah, but when it was destroyed, they sneered, "Judah, who serves Jehovah, is no different. They are just like us." This is contempt for God's people and contempt for God. Therefore, God judges Moab and takes away their glory(9-11). “9. Therefore, I will open the territory of Moab, the beautiful cities on the border of the country, Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon and Kiriathaim. 10.I will give them as a possession to the children of the east, along with the children of Ammon. The children of Ammon will no longer be remembered among the kingdoms. 11.But I will execute judgments on Moab, and you will know that I am the Lord GOD.” *Application : We must not take God’s Word and His work lightly. Let’s examine our lives to see if there are any areas where we have neglected God’s Word or lost trust in God.

3. Edom(12-14) : Edom is a sibling nation, descended from Esau, the eldest of Isaac's twin sons. However, the nation of Edom(Esau) also harbored a grudge against Judah, cursed it, and attacked it continuously(see Oba.14, Ps.137:7). V12, "Thus says the Lord God: Edom has taken revenge on the house of Judah, and has sinned greatly in vengeance." God declares that Edom will be struck down and devastated, and all its people and beasts will be killed by the sword. Verse 13, "Therefore thus says the Lord God: I will stretch out my hand on Edom, and cut off man and beast from it; I will make it a desolation from Teman to Dedan." Here, from Teman to Dedan, it refers to the destruction of the entire land of Edom from north to south. Eventually, Edom was destroyed by the Nabateans in the 5th century, and rose again, but was completely destroyed and disappeared from the face of the earth around 120 BC. The important thing here is the issue of revenge. God says that He will personally take revenge on Judah(14). “I will take revenge on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and Edom will know that I have taken revenge, when they have acted against Edom in my anger and in my wrath,” declares the Lord God. God tells us not to take revenge ourselves. Revenge is God’s business. God repays everything fairly. Rom.12:19-21, “19. Beloved, do not take revenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says the Lord. 20. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for in doing so you will heap burning coals on his head. 21. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Let us live like this with the heart of Jesus. *Application : When we are hurt by someone, we want to take revenge. However, we must trust in God’s way and leave the work of revenge to God. If there is someone who still has hatred in your heart, let’s practice Jesus’ forgiveness.

4. Philistines(15-17) : The Philistines were people from the island of Crete. They were also enemies of Israel. They hated Judah and wanted to take revenge and destroy them. V.15, “Thus says the Lord God: The Philistines have hated them from their old days and have despised them, and have taken revenge and destroyed them.” So God himself judges them. Vs.16-17, “16.Therefore thus says the Lord God: I will stretch out my hand against the Philistines and cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant of the coast. 17.I will greatly repay them with wrathful punishments, and they will know that I am the Lord, when I have taken vengeance on them.”  *Application: If you have old wounds and hatred, you must let them go. Hatred eventually eats away at you. Let us pray to God to entrust our wounds to Him and try to be reconciled like Jesus.
 Why does God tell us about this judgment of foreign kingdoms today? It is to let us know that God is God through this history. Why are there judgments and tribulations in the world? He emphasizes it five times in verses 5, 7, 11, 14, &17. “5... You will know that I am the Lord God... 7... You will know that I am the Lord God.” 11... You will know that I am the Lord God. 14... Edom will know that I am vengeance, says the Lord God. 17... They will know that I am the Lord, when I have avenged them.” How blessed are we if we all know God not through punishment, but when we receive gifts and blessings, and live in gratitude for God? The Gentile kingdoms come to know God not when times are good, but after they are judged. Ultimately, through all these judgments, He emphasizes that humans must believe in God the Creator as God and live. He says that we must believe and live that God rules and provides for all things in the world. Amen.
Dear saints, God never overlooks evil, and He judges all kingdoms justly. Jesus tells us to love our enemies and bless those who persecute us, and not to be angry with others or curse them as “fools and idiots.” We must abandon contempt, ridicule, and revenge before God/Jesus, and live with humility, forgiveness, and love. Do you practice love and forgiveness instead of repaying evil with evil? Do you live believing that God’s justice will surely be fulfilled? Let’s make a decision. 1) If there are people around us who are having a hard time, I will comfort and help them. 2) I will not take God’s words and work lightly, but I will obey them. 3) I will abandon hatred and practice forgiveness. Jesus will help you.
*Prayer: “God, I look back &repent to see if there is a heart that mocks others’ suffering & misfortune, if I have neglected the work of God, and if I have hated and taken revenge on those who have made us suffer. Please help me, Holy Spirit, to put this down and live a life trusting in God’s justice. Jesus, who shed His blood and died on the cross to forgive our sins, said on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Please help me live with the heart of Jesus, with love and forgiveness instead of hatred, with respect instead of contempt, and with prayer instead of criticism. Let us all live as citizens of heaven, as children of God. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.”