Judgment of the nations: Ammon and Moab
Amos 1:13-15, 2:1-3; 11/6/2022; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
Originally I will preach two sermons, but today I will preach Ammon and Moab together in one sermon. Most of us probably know who Moab and Ammon were, the children of Lot and his two daughters incest. God allows these two nations to be next to the elect, becoming a negative teaching material for the children of God throughout the ages. Let’s look at the first point:
Judgment of the cruelty of the heart
Man looks at the outside, God looks at our heart. Because the results of a person’s life come from the heart. First, the ancestors are subject to lust. If it is said that the ancestors of lust are Adam and Eve. Next is Cain, if something doesn’t suit him, he will fight! Just like today’s dictators, he can’t be criticized with anything. If you say more, the police will come to your door, which is also a big fight! Either Red Guards or White Guards, the essence is the same! Lot’s two daughters, with their self-righteous wishes, when they lost their mother, just went into the sex relation by themselves and passed on their father’s lineage! Lot said that he was drunk, however, he would not be confused again and again. Incest is the brutality of uncontrollable lust, reckless abandonment. Moab, who was born to Lot and his eldest daughter, means that he came from his father, and he is already shameless! Ammon, who was born to Lot and his second daughter, means “inborn”, and has gone far beyond shameless.
Second, the inner uneasy reaction. Moab and the Ammonites knew their origins, Moses said: “No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation. (Deuteronomy 23:3)” They were so different from the descendants of Abraham that they knew they were unworthy and could not enter the orthodox bloodline. What can they do? Of course it is with me and without you! When the Israelites left Egypt and returned to Canaan, not only did they block them in every possible way, but the king of Moab specially invited Balaam to curse them. Not only that, but also used the beauty and idols of Moab to tempt God’s chosen people (Numbers 25:1-5). The same is true of Putin, always thinking of his own comparison with Peter the Great and Queen Catherine, and expressing his pride by invading Ukraine. Now that the outcome of defeat is a foregone conclusion, and it is difficult to get off, the theory of the threat of nuclear war is released.
Finally, the greedy nature. Maybe we are not too keen on this, and think who in the world is not greedy? A little bit of greed is understandable, right? However, the Bible says: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10)” Amon and Moab were the sons of incest, and when they met God’s holiness, they were “not allowed to enter the assembly of the Lord.” However, God still placed them east of the elect to watch God’s work. Isn’t this the grace of God? You have sinned, and the church disciplines you, suspends your communion, temporarily suspends your service, and also suspends your membership. Isn’t it also the grace of God? Can’t you just accept it quietly and embrace it? What God wants is an attitude, don’t you still understand? The Russian-Ukrainian war has dragged on for so long, and Putin still hasn’t realized it. This is the attitude that God is still waiting for him to change the most. Let’s look at the second point:
Destroy the dependence on the world
What are the characteristics of a sinner? It is nothing more than relying on the world more than God, right? First, the indomitable nature. If Lot had just relied on God from the beginning and continued to follow Abraham on the path of faith, the outcome would have been completely different. If Lot and his wife were of one mind, his wife would not turn back into a pillar of salt. If the Lot family had a family altar, and they prayed often, asked God’s will, and established God’s core values, the two daughters would not have had an incestuous relationship with their father to have children. Even so, if the descendants of Lot could have a sense of shame, repentance, and fix their eyes on God, they would not have sinned repeatedly. The Israelites came to the land of Canaan, and they entangled with the Moabites and Ammonites for hundreds of years, without rest. They feel they have more resources and connections than the Israelites, and are more qualified to compete with God’s chosen people in Canaan! King Sihon of the Amorites was killed, and the Moab and Ammonites could not wake up. They still went to Balaam to curse the Israelites for returning to Canaan. The judges Efluene, King Solomon, and King David have all defeated the Moabites and Ammonites many times. Of course, the Moabites and the Ammonites were never convinced, they rebelled many times, and they never learned the lesson!
Second, burn down the palace of incest. In fact, it is not difficult for us to imagine how God felt when He faced Moab and Ammon. The filth of incest made people feel ashamed, and so did God. However, God still gave them the opportunity to repent for many years. Until their sins and wicked deeds are full, God will call upon you enemies even more formidable than you. In 733 B.C., the Assyrian king Tigla. Pileser III launched the second westward expedition and conquered Ammon, fulfilling the prophecy of Amos. Rabbah, the capital of Ammon, Calvary, capital of Moab, were all destroyed. In fact, this is an opportunity for repentance given by God. When the palace is destroyed and the dependence on the world is gone, it is possible to turn around and turn to God! Isn’t this also a reflection of our faith today? Churches are destroyed, crosses are torn down, pastors are arrested, leaders are scattered, should we continue our faith?
Finally, this is the signal for judgment. After Noah’s flood, God gave a rainbow and promised not to use the flood to destroy mankind again. However, at the end of the day, God will send down fire. In the battles of Ammon and Moab, God will cry out, blow a whirlwind, set fire to the city of Rabbah, and burn down the palace of Calvary. Putin’s nuclear threat has made Europe and the United States begin to prepare, and civilians are also trained to escape nuclear disaster. If the nuclear battle between the three major powers of the United States, Russia and China is detonated, who will be spared? Behind the war is the signal of God’s judgment. If the war is terrible, it is better to say that the judgment after the war is even more terrible! Everyone must face the judgment of God, and the judgment must begin in the house of God. Excuse me, are you ready for it? Let’s look at the third point:
Capture and kill all kings and officials
The book of Amos is full of warnings, judgments, and end-time prophecies that we may not fully understand. First, the captivity of kings and officials. Decades after Amos said this, the world has changed dramatically. But the whole world is in a state of captivity. The kings of the past dynasties seemed to have infinite beauty, but at times they were bound and plundered by sin. God made the Israelites go through two captivity, showing the world the mystery of life. Since ancient times, all kings, especially dictators, have had unimaginable consequences and poor lonely situations. Why? Because both the king and the leaders were in captivity, and behind the majesty was bondage. In order to maintain their position, prevent assassination, and win the power struggle, all those in power live like frightened birds, panicking all day long!
Second, the king and the officials were killed. If the captivity of the king is a process, then the high probability of being killed is the end. The killing of Ammon and the kings of Moab was inevitable, and it is not surprising that King Manasseh of Judah was sentenced to be sawed. Because the Ammonites cut open the pregnant women of Gilead, and the Moabites burned the bones of the king of Edom to ashes. Expand their boundaries. In order to expand Russia’s insatiable territorial ambitions, what will be the outcome of Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine ? The President of Turkey bluntly said: This is a war that must be lost! Let’s stop the war and talk! This should be regarded as the heartfelt words of friends, but will Putin listen? He also said that to start a nuclear war, his ending should have been set!
Finally, the vigilance of kings and officials. Sometimes we pay more attention to kings and leaders and ignore the people, the so-called spectator. In fact, what kind of people will have what kind of leaders. After the Cultural Revolution, everyone targeted the Gang of Four and Mao Zedong. It seems that the 700 million people at that time are no longer responsible, all of them are victims, and it seems that no victimizer can be found. The same is true today. It seems that except for a few people such as Peng Zaizhou, most of them are Dabai (the person wearing protective clothing), or Dabai’s supporters. In the future, perhaps no one will admit that he used to be the the person wearing protective clothing who smashed the door, arrested people, and beat people. No one sees the real face in the mask anyway, right? But, with God, who can escape His judgment?
Conclusion
Well, thank the Lord! Today’s sermon “judgment against Ammon and Moab” is finished. The cruelty of the heart will be judged by God! The idol in the heart, the Lord will surely remove! Those kings who persecute God’s children will be captured and killed by God! This is what the Lord said.
Let us pray……
Amos 1:13-15, 2:1-3
13 This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not relent. Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders,
14 I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah that will consume her fortresses amid war cries on the day of battle, amid violent winds on a stormy day.
15 Her king[a] will go into exile, he and his officials together,” says the Lord.
1 This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Moab, even for four, I will not relent. Because he burned to ashes the bones of Edom’s king,
2 I will send fire on Moab that will consume the fortresses of Kerioth.[a]Moab will go down in great tumult amid war cries and the blast of the trumpet.
3 I will destroy her ruler and kill all her officials with him,” says the Lord.