Ezekiel chapter 25

vs 9

Exposing the flank is not good, I think, regardless of whether it is talking anatomically or militarily.

vs 10

Poor Ammonites. Of course, we remember them because they are in the Bible, but apart from that, no doubt we know very little of them, and certainly there probably aren't many people who say, "Hey, I'm an Ammonite."

vs 11

God's punishment, though great, is still a method of revealing himself to people. It is part of how we know God as God, showing his power and justice.

vs 12

Very guilty is not a good place to be when God is talking doom. I don't know exactly what they did in their revenge, but apparently they shouldn't have done it.

vs 13

This obviously doesn't bode well for Edom. No doubt they probably became victims of the same empire that took over Jerusalem. After all, if you're already in the neighbourhood taking over little nation states...

vs 14

But no! God actually promises that it will be God's people Israel who get to mete out the punishment. So this is perhaps some time in the future, after the exile, because they're not really in a position to do too much smiting at the moment.

vs 15

Pretty ancient hostility, as in for the last thousand years or so. The Philistines are the classic bad guys of Israel's early history (besides Egypt of course, but we get to them in a few chapters).

vs 16

So when God decides to crack open his judging sword, he doesn't just use it once. Nation after nation are falling now, and God is claiming their scalps for his just judgment.

vs 17

Ahhh, the verse made famous by Jules Winfield, our man from Inglewood. Of course, this one carries real power and fear - let us all hope that we are not only able to recognise God and his power through his vengance.