In this chapter, God announces judgements on Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia. These neighboring nations of Israel have enmity towards Judah and their city, Jerusalem. Now they are overjoyed because Judah fell. However, their ends are coming soon.

For this is what the Lord God says: “Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, and have rejoiced with all the malice in your soul against the land of Israel, therefore, behold, I have reached out with My hand against you and I will give you as plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and eliminate you from the lands. I will exterminate you. So you will know that I am the Lord.” (v.6-7)

Remember, LORD, against the sons of Edom The day of Jerusalem, Those who said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare To its foundation!” (Psalm 137:7)

These nations enticed the Israelites with their idols and were glad when the Israelites were punished by God. All nations that follow idols and all other religions will also perish just as written in the prophetic books in OT. Amos 1 and 2 tells us that no nation will escape God’s judgements.

The words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders from Tekoa, which he saw in visions concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. And he said,
“The Lord roars from Zion,
And from Jerusalem He utters His voice;
And the shepherds’ pasture grounds mourn,
And the summit of Carmel dries up.” (Amos 1:1-2)

Other nations did not receive God’s words like Israel did. However, they are punished by the eternal law of God, love. All people regardless of their backgrounds are to know and love God and their neighbors. The Israelites were to show the glory of God and teach others about Him and love the strangers. But they actively rebelled against God. So did and do Christians in the world. Instead of teaching strangers about God and His mercy, they became strangers to God, serving idols and denying their Master.

The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:34)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible mankind, of birds, four-footed animals, and crawling creatures. (Roman 1:18-22)

The false church, Babylon, will be destroyed by other nations. But they will also be destroyed as we read Revelation 17-19.

And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.” (Revelation 19:17-18)

Prophets keep proclaiming God’s words until the coming of Christ. Those without the Holy Spirit will have no excuse. No one escapes God’s judgements.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” And He said, “Go, and tell this people:

‘Keep on listening, but do not understand;
And keep on looking, but do not gain knowledge.’
Make the hearts of this people insensitive,
Their ears dull,
And their eyes blind,
So that they will not see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their hearts,
And return and be healed.”

Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered,

“Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant,
Houses are without people
And the land is utterly desolate,
The Lord has completely removed people,
And there are many forsaken places in the midst of the land.
Yet there will still be a tenth portion in it,
And it will again be subject to burning,
Like a terebinth or an oak
Whose stump remains when it is cut down.
The holy seed is its stump.” (Isaiah 6:8-13)

There is no hope for the visible church unless she acknowledges the good news brought by Christ. She must proclaim Sola Gratia.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’” (Matthew 23:37-39)