2:8,9
The previous places lay west of Judah, Moab and Ammon were east of Judah. Moab and Ammon were long ago ethnically linked to Israel, but were enemies and often threatened Israel. Hence the reference to them taunting “my people” and making threats against the land. So there is a penalty to pay for threatening God’s people. Note that Judah here is herself a people under judgement from God, yet to threaten Judah is still a sin with serious consequences. We do well when we consider the nation of Israel today. There is much wrong with Israel, but to be an enemy of Israel is a foolish position to take. Here, the people of Moab and Ammon will be plundered by Judah, or at least by the remnant. So judgement would happen to Judah, but a remnant would survive and be restored.
2:10,11
Note that pride and mocking the people of God go together. God’s people often deserve judgement, and they will indeed receive discipline from the Lord. But those who are not God’s people would be foolish to mock God’s people, whether it be Israel or the church. God will indeed deal with what needs dealing with in us, but the end result will be a faithful people. And not just a faithful people, but a victorious people. “Distant nations will bow down to Him”. There are two aspects to this. One is that all people will one day have to recognise the greatness of the Lord. The other is that people will come to know the Lord from all nations, and, of course, we see that this is indeed happening.
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