©Michael Player
Chapter 2:8-11 (ESV) - “I have heard the taunts of Moab
and the revilings of the Ammonites,
how they have taunted my people
and made boasts against their territory.
Therefore, as I live,” declares the LORD of hosts,
the God of Israel,
“Moab shall become like Sodom,
and the Ammonites like Gomorrah,
a land possessed by nettles and salt pits,
and a waste forever.
The remnant of my people shall plunder them,
and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.”
This shall be their lot in return for their pride,
because they taunted and boasted
against the people of the LORD of hosts.
The LORD will be awesome against them;
for he will famish all the gods of the earth,
and to him shall bow down,
each in its place,
all the lands of the nations.
Question to consider: What happened that has caused the enemies of the LORD to bow their knee to Him?
In yesterday’s study, we went through the judgments of the nations to the West of Israel which would receive the judgment of the LORD. Today we look at Moab and Ammon to the East. Moab (the father of the Moabites) and Ben-ammi (the father of the Ammonites) were the sons born to Lot after his daughters got him drunk and got pregnant by him. These nations were idolatrous and enemies of Israel, and the LORD pronounced judgments on them that would be akin to Sodom and Gomorrah which were the nations which were judged at the time of Lot and the very reason for the existence of Moab and Ben-ammi.
Because of their actions against Israel, the remnant who came out of exile would plunder them. Declaring this to be their “lot” could have been a glib reference to their ancient father, but we should also consider the fact that Peter referred to Lot as “righteous Lot” in his second epistle (2 Peter 2:6). Despite the foolishness of Lot after the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the idolatry that sprung from his line, he ultimately had faith in the God of Abraham and was distressed by the sensuality of the people which brought about that judgment.
I believe that the true famishing of the gods of the nations would occur when the Gospel went out to every tribe and nation. Those who bowed down to the gods of Moab and the Ammonites instead bowed to the LORD when they heard the good news of the righteousness that comes by faith. We tend to think of the enemies of God being judged and conquered by the sword, but Christ has called us to beat our swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. Our desire should be to plant gospel seeds and reap a harvest of righteousness from the enemies of God. Like God, we should desire that none should perish and be judged but accept the mercy of Christ and inherit eternal life.
Dear heavenly Father, help us to be Your heralds to a world in opposition to You. Thank You for showing mercy to us when we were still Your enemies. May Christ be forever glorified. Amen.