Ezekiel 25:3,8,12,15

Ezekiel 25 is a chapter that is quite typical of many prophetic chapters, that is, it cycles through about 4 nations and why they are bound for judgment (other than Israel). This chapter struck me as to the reason why these nations were bound for judgment though. Let me list a few of the verses:

‘…because you [the Ammonites] said, ‘Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned…and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity…’ (Ezekiel 25:3)

‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because Moab and Seir say, ‘Look! The house of Judah is like all the nations’…”’ (Ezekiel 25:8)

‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because of what Edom did against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended by avenging itself on them”’ (Ezekiel 25:12)

‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because the Philistines dealt vengefully and took vengeance with a spiteful heart, to destroy because of the old hatred”’ (Ezekiel 25:15)

All but the Philistine’s reason involves hatred or despising of Judah explicitly (and the Philistine’s reason involves it implicitly). Why is it that God needs to judge this antipathy? How many more people hate others and go (relatively) unjudged? Why is it that specifically the hatred of Judah must be punished on so large a scale?

I believe it is because God set Judah up as the bearers and heralders of His glory, and His glorious purpose. They were His own chosen people, chosen not because of anything they had done (Romans 9) but because He was pleased that it should be so. They were chosen to be the people who held His perfect law, who entered His holy temple, and most importantly, formed the line that brought the ‘radiance of God’s glory’ into the Earth. These people were the embodiment of God’s glorious plan on earth, and for nations surrounding to scoff at this was more than simple hatred of a nation, it was mocking of God and His plan.

What can we learn from this? Firstly, not to despise Israel. The most despised nation in the world at almost any point in history, we must not fall into despising them (for whatever reason), because God makes it clear that His purpose for them has not ended quite yet.

Secondly, to gain an appreciation for the awesome and most holy God, who forms plans and purposes that span millennia, never changing His mind or altering His course. And that plan involves you, for He knew you before He even started making the world! To be a part of that glorious plan which we can’t even comprehend the intricacies of, even the smallest part, is surely the most important thing we can partake of in our lives, by orders of magnitude! So don’t let it go.