Judgment on Moab and Judah

In Charles Swindoll’s book, The Quest for Character (Multnomah), he refers to “sociologist and historian Carl Zimmerman, in his 1947 book Family and Civilization. He records keen observations as he compared the disintegration of various cultures with the paralle … More

Dishonor

In today’s passage, the Lord passes judgement upon Moab (vv. 1-3) and Judah (vv. 4-5). Moab was situated east of the Dead Sea between Ammon and Edom (vv. 1-3). They had descended from an incestuous relationship between Lot and his oldest daughter. Balak, king of Moab tried to hire the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites so they could be defeated. Instead, Balaam spoke the Lord’s word of blessing, but some of the Moabites succeeded in getting Israel to worship Baal (Num. 22-25).

Moab’s great sin was the dishonor they showed to the body of the king of Edom. They burned the king’s body until there was nothing left (v. 1). This was their way of saying, “We hope his soul knows no peace for all eternity.” The Philistines treated King Saul’s body with similar dishonor (1 Sam. 31:10). Moab’s crime would be met with a fitting punishment. The Lord would send a devouring fire upon Kerioth, a major Moabite city and stronghold (v. 2), and Moab and its rulers would die in battle (v. 3). Nebuchadnezzar conquered Moab in 598 B.C. opening the way for Arab tribes to settle in their land (Jer. 48).  

Sadly, Judah is listed among Israel’s enemies. God’s people had willingly rejected God’s Law, the Torah (v. 4a). The current generation had gone astray, following the same lies their ancestors had followed: listening to false prophets and worshiping false gods (v. 4b). Fire from the Lord would be the punishment (v. 5), the same punishment as her sinful neighbors. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B.C. (2 Kings 25:1-12). 

Application

How am I guilty of dishonor towards my fellow man? How have I failed to honor God? What can I do today to show honor towards those I meet and towards the God who created us?

Amos 2:1-5 (English Standard Version)


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