Ezekiel 25

The Lord told Ezekiel to prophesy against the nations of Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia.

To Ammon: because Ammon "rejoiced in heart" over the profaning of God's sanctuary, the desolation of the land of Israel, and did not help the house of Israel when they were taken into captivity, God delivered them as a possession to the "men of the East (Babylon)." God cut them off, caused them to perish, and destroyed them so that they would know that He is the Lord.

To Moab: for "gloating" over Israel's fall and proclaiming Israel had no special privilege with God, He cleared the territory and gave it as a possession to the men of the East, with the Ammonites. God executed judgments upon Moab that they would know that He is the Lord.

To Edom: because Edom took vengeance upon Judah, God cut off man and beast and made it desolate. God declared that Israel would do in Edom according to [His] anger and fury, that Edom may know [His] vengeance. Years later (164 B.C. and 126 B.C.), it was Jewish forces that subjugated Edom in battle. 

To Philistia: because the Philistines "took vengeance with a spiteful heart (due to old hatred)," God destroyed the remnant and "execute[d] great vengeance on them," that they shall know that He is the Lord. 

COMMENTARY

All of these nations have disappeared, and prophecies about them have been fulfilled.

Up to this point in Ezekiel, there was a group of Israel remaining in Jerusalem, and they had been holding out hope, thanks to the false prophets, that God would not destroy the city. They were in for a rude awakening.

But now Ezekiel is writing about the surrounding nations, and this is a message for us today, too. 

First, remember there are two prophets: Ezekiel, who is stationed in Babylon with the captives, and also Jeremiah, who was left behind with the group in Jerusalem. Jeremiah was the weeping prophet, and he suffered from a broken heart. He was a lot like our Savior who would arrive on earth approximately 500 years from that point. He, too, would weep over Jerusalem because He knew that destruction (judgment) would come again because God's people rejected the living and true God (again!).

It is true that God is merciful and kind, and not willing that any should perish, that He died on the cross for us. But then we read Ezekiel 25, and we see God's wrath and judgment. This second prophet, Ezekiel, is stoic. His wife, whom he loved, died, and he did not mourn. Ezekiel is like the other side of God, who is holy and righteous. God will judge. And if you reject His salvation, He must judge, just as He did the surrounding enemies of Israel.

Two of the nations, Ammon and Moab, were products of incestuous relationships between Lot and his two daughters. Ammon was the younger daughter, and Moab was the older daughter. Ammon was destroyed for supporting the enemy of Israel, and yet, that same enemy then turned on Ammon. Moab was destroyed for being glad over Israel's fall. 

Edom's mistreatment of Israel provoked God's judgment. And the Philistine's jealousness against Israel  elicited God's judgment upon them as well.

In all four prophecies, which have been fulfilled, nations were destroyed because of their hatred of Israel and its people. If God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, enemies of Israel today can expect the same judgment from God.