Judgment on Edom

Jeremiah 49:7-22 

7 Against Edom.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:

"Is wisdom no more in Teman?
Has counsel perished from the prudent?
Has their wisdom vanished?

8 Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths, O inhabitants of Dedan!
For I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him,
The time that I will punish him.
9 If grape-gatherers came to you,
Would they not leave some gleaning grapes?
If thieves by night,
Would they not destroy until they have enough?

10 But I have made Esau bare;
I have uncovered his secret places,
And he shall not be able to hide himself.
His descendants are plundered,
His brethren and his neighbors,
And he is no more.

11 Leave your fatherless children,
I will preserve them alive;
And let your widows trust in Me."

12 For thus says the LORD: "Behold, those whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunk. And are you the one who will altogether go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you shall surely drink of it. 13 For I have sworn by Myself," says the LORD, "that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse. And all its cities shall be perpetual wastes."

14 I have heard a message from the LORD,
And an ambassador has been sent to the nations:
"Gather together, come against her,
And rise up to battle!

15 "For indeed, I will make you small among nations,
Despised among men.
16 Your fierceness has deceived you,
The pride of your heart,
O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock,
Who hold the height of the hill!
Though you make your nest as high as the eagle,
I will bring you down from there," says the LORD.

17 "Edom also shall be an astonishment;
Everyone who goes by it will be astonished
And will hiss at all its plagues.
18 As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah
And their neighbors," says the LORD,
"No one shall remain there,
Nor shall a son of man dwell in it.

19 "Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the floodplain of the Jordan
Against the dwelling place of the strong;
But I will suddenly make him run away from her.
And who is a chosen man that I may appoint over her?

For who is like Me?
Who will arraign Me?
And who is that shepherd
Who will withstand Me?"

20 Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD that He has taken against Edom,
And His purposes that He has proposed against the inhabitants of Teman:

Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out;
Surely He shall make their dwelling places desolate with them.
21 The earth shakes at the noise of their fall;
At the cry its noise is heard at the Red Sea.

22 Behold, He shall come up and fly like the eagle,
And spread His wings over Bozrah;
The heart of the mighty men of Edom in that day shall be
Like the heart of a woman in birth pangs.

The word of the LORD’s judgment on Edom, the nation set against God’s people from Jacob onwards whose name evokes the selling of God’s birthright for a bowl of stew to satisfy desire instead of holding the things of the LORD God dearest.  This nation was doomed for the reasons God brings up here.  Though some of them were renowned for their great wisdom, the message now asked what happened to their understanding and wise counsel.  Destruction of accountability was fast app and they could run but not hide from God in their secret places (Jeremiah 23:24) to escape judgment.  Only the fatherless children and widows left behind could find their safety in trusting the LORD for deliverance to be preserved from the consequences of their nation’s sins.  God is always merciful to such who are helpless and shows them common grace at the least.  The nation under Edom therefore was to face the punishment of being a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse.  Nothing of value or substance would be left, only the memories to serve as a warning of the wages of sin against God and His people.  God called the surrounding nations together against Edom as the instruments of His vengeance, for the pride of Edom’s heart was their downfall.  They would no longer be able to hide in their mountain caves (Obadiah 1:3-4 ) as in the final judgment (Revelation 6:15) when many attempt the same futile action.  God would and will bring such down from lofty pride to sober accountability.  It is far better to reconcile with God through repentance to faith and deliverance than continue to rebel against Him.  The consequences are eternal.  Edom was told they would have the reputation of Sodom and Gomorrah for their continuing sin against Him after being held accountable, judged, and sentenced.  All their resistance was futile for the King of kings and Shepherd of God’s people would certainly prevail against them (Job 41:10, Isaiah 46:9-10).  Their fall would be heard near and far as judgment came from above as on wings of a mighty bird (Jeremiah 48:40-41) instead of on wings of deliverance and success (Isaiah 40:31).  They would be in fear and pain as a woman giving birth, but without the joy of new life at the end.  Such is the end of all born in sin who have not entered into God’s grace in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is a warning to us all to give God the honor and glory and turn from sin to Him.   May this judgment on Edom be a reminder and impetus for repentance to all who read and hear the word of the LORD.