Tag Archive | Moab

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 247

Sep4

Day 247 – Reading – EZEKIEL 25 – 27

Read the Scriptures.  Meditate on what the prophets were saying.

EZEKIEL 25.

With the total judgment and destruction of Jerusalem, Ezekiel now proclaims judgment on seven other nations in the following eight chapters (like Jeremiah 46-51).  Chapter 25 covers four of them, known for their jealousy and vindictive hate of Israel.  

Ammonites.  (Distantly related to Israel [along with Moab] through Abraham’s nephew Lot.)  They are judged especially because of their glee at the destruction of God’s temple and the exile of God’s people to Babylon.   The LORD  tells them through this prophecy that they will be conquered and assimilated into “the people of the East” (the Arabian people). 

“Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel … therefore, I have stretched out My hand against you, and will hand you over to the nations.  THEN YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.”

Moabites. (Descended from Lot.) They are also judged for saying Judah was not chosen by God, but a people like all peoples. They are also to be absorbed into the Arabian tribes.

Edomites. (Descendants of Israel’s brother Esau.) Edom was south of Ammon, Moab, and the Dead Sea. David had almost annihilated them. Their revenge was hostility to Israel… constantly. They cheered the Babylonians when Israel was defeated and exiled.  Much later, the Jewish forces under Judas Maccabeus fully conquered Edom.  They also were absorbed into the Arab peoples.

Philistines.  Because the Philistines acted revengefully “with malice of soul” to destroy Israel in never-ending enmity, God was going to destroy them (as well as the Cretons who joined them on the coast) via the Babylonians.

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Ezekiel 26.

The prophet again announces the day Jerusalem was captured. On the eleventh year, first day (of Jehoiachin’s captivity) (and Ezekiel’s).

Tyre. It was situated north of Israel on a well-fortified island. Known for fishing, it became a “world power” in shipping and trading throughout the Mediterranean.  It was King Hiram who helped David and Solomon with Cedar wood and supplies for building the Temple and the King’s Palace.  Later, they were guilty of selling Jews into slavery. 

God would use several nations (in waves) to destroy this power: the Babylonians, Alexander the Great, and finally, the Greeks in a devastating attack.   It takes three chapters for Ezekiel to write out the judgment on them.  

When Jerusalem was conquered, Tyre said, “Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to ME. I shall be replenished now that she is laid waste.”

And so God said, “I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as a sea brings up its waves.  They will destroy the WALLS of Tyre and break down her TOWERS, and I will SCRAPE HER SOIL and make her a BARE ROCK, and she will never be rebuilt.  And her daughters on the mainland shall be killed by the sword. 

Then they will KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.”

“(First) I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon… and he will kill with the sword.” 

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Ezekiel 27.

This whole chapter is a lamentation for Tyre, as a great ship destroyed on the high seas.   

Verses 3-9 describe the building of that ship. 

Verses 10-25 describe the merchants who did business with Tyre.

Verses 26-27 describe the shipwreck.

Verses 28-35 describes the merchants bemoaning the loss of her commerce.

“The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.”

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(Although God judges [disciplines] Judah and Jerusalem, His heart is still wholly on them.  And when surrounding nations jump and clap with glee, and plan how they will ransack her for their own benefit, God turns his wrathful judgment on THEM.

This reminds me of a protecting shepherd, who runs with vengeance upon any animal that taunts or attacks his sheep.  Thank you for caring for me so much, even when I foolishly wander off.  Thank you for “walking with me through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.”  Thank You for the promise of eternity with YOU!)

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 234

Aug22

Day 234 – Reading – Jeremiah 46 – 48

Read today’s Scriptures … ANYWHERE you find yourself this summer. Stay in the WORD!

Jeremiah 46.

(In chapters 46 – 51, Jeremiah speaks of the judgment of God that is coming to the nations mentioned in Jeremiah 25:15-26.  (Judah has already been covered.) (Here’s the list again of the nations surrounding His beloved Israel. )

  1. Jerusalem/Judah
  2. Egypt
  3. Uz
  4. Philistines
  5. Edom
  6. Moab
  7. Ammon
  8. Tyre
  9. Sidon
  10. the Coastlands (Dedan, Tema, Bus)
  11. Arabia
  12. the Mixed Tribes in the desert
  13. Zimri
  14. Elam
  15. Media
  16. the North, far and near
  17. Babylon
  18. Damascus
  19. Kedar and Hazor

After Jerusalem in Judah, the judgment goes to Egypt.

The section begins with Pharaoh Neco, who came through Judah when Josiah was king, heading north to join Nebuchadnezzar and attack Assyria at Carchemish. 

Then the focus is back in Egypt near the Nile River, with proud claims by Egypt. “Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge?  Egypt rises like the Nile. He said, ‘I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants! Advance, O horses, and rage, O chariots!”

The LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt. Declare in Egypt, “Stand ready and be prepared, for the sword shall devour around you. Prepare yourselves baggage for exile, O inhabitants of Egypt!  A beautiful heifer is Egypt, but a biting fly from the north has come upon her.  The day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their punishment.”

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Jeremiah 47.

Next are the Philistine cities.

“Behold, the waters are rising out of the north, and shall become an overflowing torrent; they shall overflow the land and all in it.  At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels … because of the day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines.

The LORD is destroying the Philistines … Gaza. Ashkelon … ah, sword of the LORD!

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Jeremiah 48.

And now Moab.

“Woe to Nebo, for it is laid waste! The fortress is put to shame and broken down; the renown of Moab is no bore.  In Heshbon they planned disaster against her (Israel); ‘Come let us cut her off from being a nation!’  YOU, also, O Madmen, shall be brought to silence; the sword shall pursue YOU. 

“Flee! Save yourselves! The destroyer shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape; the valley shall perish, the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD has spoke.  Moab is put to shame, for it is broken; wail and cry! Tell it beside the Arnon (river), that Moab is laid waste.

Judgment has come upon the table land, and all the cities of the land of Moab, for and near. The horn (strength) of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken,’ declares the LORD. ‘Moab shall be destroyed and be NO LONGER A PEOPLE, because he magnified himself against the LORD.  Woe to you, O Moab.”

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(Tomorrow:  Ammon, Edom. Syria, and …. Babylon, part 1.)

 

(Oh, LORD, thank You for these fulfillments of your promises. At last, Israel’s enemies will stand before you in judgment.  It’s been so long, but you are a God of mercy and patience. You give chances beyond our belief for people(s) to repent and turn to You.  There is forgiveness with You!  But, the Day of Judgment will surely come.  O Father, help me to have that compassion on unbelievers an persecutors; help me to share Your love and Your Son, Jesus… before it is too late!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 234

Aug21

    Day 234—We are in the eighth month of Bible reading: Israel’s history and Jeremiah’s prophecy.

    Day 234 – Jeremiah 46 – 48 (non-chronological judgments on Egypt, Philistia, and Moab)

Jeremiah 46. God tells about Egypt‘s overthrow by Babylon. Here is a decisive call to get ready for defeat.  “That day is the day of the LORD GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour, and be sated and drink its fill of their blood.” (referring to Egyptian defeat)

God tells of punishment but later relief.  “Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and his officers.  Afterward, Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old.”

But the Jews who fled to Egypt and then went to Babylon were to “Fear not.” “I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you, I will not make a full end.”

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Jeremiah 47. God tells of judgment on the Philistines by the Babylonians at the same time as they conquered Judah.  Later, it seems that Pharoah struck down Gaza before the Egyptians themselves were defeated by Babylon. 

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Jeremiah 48.  The Lord (through Jeremiah) calls down WOE on Moab (east across the Dead Sea from Israel). God’s judgment on Moab was intense. “The destroyer shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape; the valley shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD has spoken.”   All the cities of Moab are to be destroyed “because he magnified himself against the LORD.“

Judgment and hope, even to Moab.  “Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh are undone, for your sons have been taken captive and your daughters into captivity.  Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days, declares the LORD.”