Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS | More
Text: Jeremiah 49:1-6
The Ammonites were people descended from Lot’s incestuous relationship with his daughter. That relationship produced a son named Ammon, who then had his own children. His tribe grew to be very wealthy. They lived on the east side of the Jordan River, what is today called Jordan. These people were generally hostile to the Israelites and didn’t believe Israel had any rights to the land. The Ammonites as a people existed from around 1500 B.C. to 600 A.D. when they exited history. So today you don’t know any Ammonites because they don’t exist anymore as a people group.
The Lord’s problem with the nation was two-fold.
They trespassed their boundaries (vss 1-2)
- Israel was told not to mess with the Ammonites on the other side of Jordan because God had given them that land. However, that didn’t stop the Ammonites from attacking Israel.
- They also aided other attackers and attempted to steal from the nation of Israel.
They trusted in their treasures (vs 4)
- This becomes the theme among nations that they love money.
- But money is not eternal. What happens when your trust is stolen or corrupted?
- This is why Jesus warns against this so much. Then Paul picks up on it as well.
- Matthew 6:19-21. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.
- Treasure is anything valuable to you. But the truth is that treasure is not worthy of your trust.
- Matthew 19:16-22 possessions actually do come between the Lord and sinners.
- Luke 12:13-34 – Parable of a wealthy man. Died very successfully—nothing committed to the Lord.
- Revelation 3:14-21 again the reminder of what is actually valuable versus what a congregation perceives as valuable.
- Instruction is to lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Turning their captivity
- Before the nation disappeared from the face of the earth, there were Ammonites that were justified by faith.
- There is a repeated mention of what’s coming in the new testament, the new covenant where the meek inherit the earth and what was lost in sin is restored to the faithful.
