How does Ezekiel 25:5 demonstrate God's judgment on Ammon's pride and idolatry? Setting the Scene • The Ammonites mocked Israel when the temple fell (Ezekiel 25:3) and trusted their idol Milcom (also called Molech; 1 Kings 11:5, 33). • Pride and idolatry went hand in hand: exalting self and false gods while despising the LORD (Jeremiah 49:1–4; Zephaniah 2:8–10). • God’s response is personal—He will act, not merely allow circumstances to unfold (Ezekiel 25:4). Rabbah Turned into a Camel Pasture • “I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels” (Ezekiel 25:5). – Rabbah was Ammon’s walled capital, famed for wealth and defense (Deuteronomy 3:11; 2 Samuel 12:26). – Camels roam wide, barren tracts; turning a fortified city into open grazing land pictures utter desolation. – Literal fulfillment came when desert nomads and later Nabataean traders occupied the ruin. • The downfall answers Ammon’s pride (Proverbs 16:18): the higher the self-exaltation, the more dramatic the collapse. Ammon a Resting Place for Sheep • “and Ammon a resting place for sheep” (Ezekiel 25:5). – Sheep lie down where there is no threat; the once-hostile Ammonites become so powerless that flocks graze undisturbed. – Idolatrous high places are silenced; what was sacred to Milcom becomes common ground for animals (Isaiah 27:9). So They Will Know the LORD • Purpose clause: “Then you will know that I am the LORD.” – Judgment is revelatory; God exposes false gods and asserts His exclusivity (Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 42:8). – Every nation must reckon with the covenant God of Israel (Psalm 46:10). Take-Home Truths • God defends His holiness; mockery of His people is mockery of Him (Zechariah 2:8). • No fortress, economy, or idol can shield a nation from divine justice (Psalm 20:7). • Pride invites downfall; humility and allegiance to the one true God bring security (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:6). |
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