Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Against the Ammonites"
Text: Jeremiah 49:1
THE AMMONITES
It is natural to expect that the LORD would deal with the Ammonites next. Moab was the firstborn and Ammon was the younger brother (Genesis 19:30-38). Moab was the more prominent of the two brothers, thus many more things were uttered against it. Nevertheless, Ammon was also deserving of chastisement.
“Against the Ammonites.
Thus says the LORD:
‘Has Israel no sons?
Has he no heir?
Why then does Milcom inherit Gad,
And his people dwell in its cities?'”
Jeremiah 49:1
1. “Against the Ammonites. Thus says the LORD”
a) This word came from the LORD too.
b) Jeremiah was to prophesy against the nation of Ammon.
2. “Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir?”
a) Israel had 12 sons.
b) The children of Israel were supposed to be faithful in worship to the LORD.
c) If the children of Israel would be faithful:
i) They would never lack children.
ii) Their descendants would be as the sand on the seashore.
iii) Or as the stars in the sky (Genesis 22:17).
d) This word was in part a rebuke to Israel.
But why was this word spoken about Israel, when Ammon was to be the main focus?
3. “Why then does Milcom inherit Gad, and his people dwell in its cities”
a) Milcom was the chief god of the Ammonites.
b) He is sometimes depicted as a bull.
c) Milcom had infiltrated Israel as the god “El”.
d) This word was sometimes used to describe the LORD God of Israel.
i) Milcom has become a patron god of Gad, a tribe of Israel.
ii) This idol was worshipped as a father.
e) The Ammonites had dwelt freely in Israel.
i) It had slowly but subtly influenced Israel to worship Milcom
instead of the LORD.
ii) The worship of Milcom had become deeply entrenched.
f) This rebuke from the LORD was two-fold!
i) It was a rebuke to Israel for its unfaithfulness.
ii) It was a rebuke to Ammon for leading Israel astray to worship Milcom.