How to respond to a hurting Enemy

Read Ezekiel 25.

Having delivered the prophecy concerning Jerusalem, God next turned His messages to the neighboring nations.  For nearly a thousand years, the four mentioned in this chapter had been enemies of Israel.  Every leader of Israel since the Exodus dealt with them militarily.  When Israel was strong, these four fell under its rule.  When Israel was weak, these same four rebelled and often sided with Israel's enemies.

The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem, including the Temple.  God addressed each of these four neighbors according to their individual response to Jerusalem's demise.  But these were more than neighboring people groups.  Three had a family relationship with Israel.  Ammon and Moab were the sons of Lot, Abraham's nephew (Genesis 19).  The Edomites were descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother (Genesis 25).  They fell into two categories.

1. Those who rejoiced while others wept. (vv.1-11)
The LORD executed judgment against Ammon and Moab because  they celebrated when they heard of the Temple's destruction.  "You have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul."  But Israel was God's people and the Temple was God's sanctuary.  Therefore, their celebration proved to be against God Himself.  He promise to have them overrun by an enemy and lose their national identities.

2. Those who took revenge while others suffered. (vv.12-17)
The Edomites lived to the south and east of Israel.  The Philistines occupied much of the west.  Instead of coming to the aid of Israel, or rejoicing over Israel's downfall, these two took an active role in helping the enemy.  They saw Israel's weakness as an opportunity for their own revenge.  For this God promised His own vengeance against them.

We must be careful how we respond those who are suffering, especially an enemy.  God has a word for believers concerning this very thing.  In the same chapter that urges us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep,"  the Apostle Paul wrote: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'  To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:19-21)