THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Jeremiah: Prophet Of Judgment Followed By Blessing

Part LXXXIV: God's Judgment On Edom For Sins Against Its Brother Judah

(Jeremiah 49:7-22; Obadiah 10-14)

I. Introduction

A. Christ taught that the righteousness of the entire Mosaic Law was fulfilled in two practices -- loving God with one's entire being and loving one's neighbor as himself, Matthew 22:34-40.

B. Thus, sins of hatred against one's brother is especially opposed by God, what the nation of Edom committed against its "brother" nation, its relative nation of Judah.

C. Jeremiah 49:7-22 addresses God's judgment of Edom's sin, and Obadiah 10-14 clarifies that sin as acts of hatred against its brother, Judah. We study these passages for our insight and edification (as follows):

II. God's Judgment On Edom For Sins Against Its Brother Judah, Jeremiah 49:7-22; Obadiah 10-14.

A. Jeremiah 49:7-22 presents God's intense prophecy of destruction against the nation of Edom (as follows):

1. The Lord predicted that Edom, known at the time throughout the region for its many wise men, would end up having all of its wise men vanish in destruction, Jeremiah 49:7.

2. God warned the Dedanites from the Arabian peninsula southeast of Edom who were living in Edom to turn and flee from the disaster He was about to bring on Edom, Jer. 49:8; Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 1197.

3. Though grape gatherers and thieves usually left something behind in their efforts, Edom would be completely destroyed, with only its orphans and widows being spared by the Lord, Jer. 49:9-11; Ibid.

4. The Lord reasoned that if those nations unrelated to Judah who boasted of her fall had to drink of the cup of God's wrath in judgment, certainly Edom who was related to Judah was deserving of partaking of the full brunt of God's wrath in judgment, Jeremiah 49:12; Ibid., p. 1197-1198.

5. God would thus make the city of Bozrah in northern Edom a ruin and an object of horror, a taunt, a waste and a curse, with all of her outlying villages becoming perpetual wastes, Jeremiah 49:13; Ibid., p. 1198.

6. The Lord is figuratively pictured by Jeremiah as sending an envoy to His "allies" among the Gentile nations, asking them to assemble for an attack on Edom so that Edom would become small among the nations and despised opposite her great arrogance, Jeremiah 49:14-16; Ibid. Indeed, Edom would become a desolation like Sodom and Gomorrah so that no one might dwell there anymore, Jeremiah 49:17-18.

7. Like a fierce, attacking lion coming against a flock of helpless sheep, the Lord would be unstoppably destructive so that no shepherd in Edom could protect her people from Him, Jeremiah 49:19-20.

8. The sound of the fall of Edom would make the earth figuratively tremble, the cry of Edom being heard as far off as the Red Sea to Edom's southwest (Jer. 49:21). God, like an eagle, would swoop down in judgment over Bozrah, and the hearts of the warriors upon which Edom depended for protection would be as fearful as the heart of a woman in labor, unable to stop God's destruction, Jeremiah 49:22; Ibid.

B. The reason for such great judgment on Edom was her sins of hatred against her brother Judah, Obadiah 10-14:

1. The prophet Obadiah also pronounced judgment upon Edom, and he provided the reasons for this judgment in Obadiah verses 10-14; Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Jeremiah 49:12.

2. Those reasons were sins of hatred committed against Judah, Ibid., Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 1457:

a. The Edomites had committed sins of violence against their brother Judah, Obadiah 10. Specifically, the Edomites had stood aloof, indifferent when foreigners attacked and slew and captured Judah's people opposite what relatives are to do in such calamities, and they had even gloated over Judah's misfortune, rejoiced over her destruction and boasted in her trouble opposite how relatives are to act, Obadiah 11-12.

b. The Edomites had even committed acts of atrocity against their relative of Judah, entering Jerusalem's gates, looking down in arrogance against God's people in their calamity, looting their wealth and handing over survivors of Judah to their Gentile attackers, Obadiah 13-14.

c. These events possibly occurred when the Philistines and Arabians attacked Jerusalem in the days of Judah's king Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat (2 Kings 8:20-22; 2 Chronicles 21:16-17), Ibid., p. 1457.

Lesson: For sins against relative Judah, sins of violence in standing aloof, gloating, rejoicing and boasting when foreigners attacked Judah, and committing acts of atrocity in entering Jerusalem to look down in pride at Judah's calamities, to loot and hand over her people to their attackers, Edom would be severely judged by the Lord.

Application: May we treat our relatives, especially our brothers in Christ, aright, to avoid severe judgment.