Moab and Ammon Zephaniah 2:8

Zephaniah prophesied not only concerning the country of Judah and the people of Jerusalem, but also about the cities and “sea coast” which surrounded them. He declared “the remnant of the house of Judah” would “feed” upon the sea coast “in the houses of Ashkelon” where he said they “shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.” In chapter two and verse eight of his prophesy, Zephaniah continued to expand the punished area as he included the countries of “Moab” and “Ammon” in his foretelling where we read:

I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.

The verse begins, “I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon,...” Zephaniah began with, “I have heard” which means “listened to, given heed to and understood” “the reproach” or “scorn and taunt” “of Moab” whose name means “of his father” and was “a son of Lot by his eldest daughter” “and the revilings” which means “insults or reproachful words” “of the children” or “sons, grandsons or youth” “of Ammon” whose name means “tribal” and was “a people dwelling in Transjordan descended from Lot through Ben-ammi”. The LORD was listening as the people of Moab and Ammon scornfully taunted and reproachfully came against Judah.

The verse continues, “...whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.” Zephaniah went on to say, “whereby they have reproached” which means “taunted, blasphemed, defied, jeopardized, railed upon, insulted and upbraided” “my people” which refers to “nation, country and people” “and magnified” or “grown, made more important, promoted, praised and made more powerful” “ themselves against their boarder” which refers to “their territory, boundary and region”. In other words, Moab and Ammon not only taunted, insulted and blasphemed the people of God, they thought themselves better than, greater than and more praiseworthy than the people of Judah who were being judged.

As we think through these words of Zephaniah, we see how the LORD is aware those who “scorn and taunt” His people. Though people speak reproachfully and magnify themselves to be better than the people of God, the LORD is aware of their vile revelings. No one escapes the all seeing and all knowing LORD Jesus, and though persecution and ill-treatment may continue for a while, the LORD will attend to His own. We too may suffer “taunting, insults and scorn” as we share the gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ, and like unto “Moab” and “Ammon”, the LORD will deal with them. Our mission is to share the gospel with others, and should we go through trial and persecution for doing so, Jesus is keeping an account of all that is done in His name.

Next time Zephaniah shares how “Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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