Read Ezekiel 35
A Prophecy Against Edom
35 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir; prophesy against it 3 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you and make you a desolate waste. 4 I will turn your towns into ruins and you will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
5 “‘Because you harbored an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword at the time of their calamity, the time their punishment reached its climax, 6 therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. 7 I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste and cut off from it all who come and go. 8 I will fill your mountains with the slain; those killed by the sword will fall on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines. 9 I will make you desolate forever; your towns will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
10 “‘Because you have said, “These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession of them,” even though I the Lord was there,11 therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you. 12 Then you will know that I the Lord have heard all the contemptible things you have said against the mountains of Israel. You said, “They have been laid waste and have been given over to us to devour.” 13 You boasted against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it. 14 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate.15 Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir, you and all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”
Go Deeper
In the previous chapter, we read of the coming good shepherd who would look after Israel. In some ways, that passage served as a breath of fresh air for us and pointed towards Jesus. Today’s reading begins another prophecy against another group of people who were facing God’s judgment. God had heard their mocking and their boasting against Him, and they were about to face a reckoning because of their contempt towards God.
In seasons of abundance and peace, it can be easy to forget that we serve a God who fiercely protects His people. Nations that bring war and violence against Israel are met with a righteous justice, and those who seek to occupy the land in Israel’s weakness will ultimately be conquered. In a day and age when we turn on the news and see Hamas waging war and terror against the people of Israel, the words of Ezekiel are particularly prescient. God will not permit the wicked to prosper at the expense of His people—at least not for long. God’s timing is impossible for us to know, but His values and promises are always proven true. Those who seek to destroy His people are always the ones who will be destroyed.
In today’s passage, Ezekiel is told to prophesy against Mount Seir, which was at the center of the Edomite empire. Edom and Israel had a long history of conflict, and God was now promising an all-consuming ruin. Their cities would be desolate. Their mountains and valleys would be filled with the slain. God says, “I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred.” While it would be easy for us to read the current war between Israel and Hamas into this passage, what is more appropriate is to be comforted by the overriding truth of God’s character, nature, and victory. He protects us. He watches over us. And no matter what today’s headlines bring, He will be victorious.
Questions
- Why does God ultimately want to destroy Edom? (v. 4)
- What was their infraction against Israel?
- How have the Edomites mocked God?
Try This
Spend aside extra time throughout the day to pray and meditate on the truth that God has already won in the battle against evil.
3 thoughts on “Ezekiel 35”
What is comforting to read in all the messages Ezekiel delivers from the Lord is his sovereignty. Not even for a moment can nations or circumstances usurp his authority. In V13, God’s response to Edom’s proud boasting is “I have heard it all!” Edom was judged for their blatant hostility and hatred towards Israel. Everything, whether it be a secret agenda carried out in our hearts or one lived largely in front of others, God sees. At the conclusion of every judgement given by God we read these words, “then you will know that I am the Lord.” We have no excuse as we are privileged to have access to holy scripture that reveal the very nature and character of God and how he crafted a divine redemption plan through his beloved Son. What will it take for us to acknowledge him in our daily lives? Whatever triumphs or tragedies headed our way his sovereignty trumps it all. His authority and control over everything tied to the gift of his presence with his people ushers in an undeniable peace.
BUT GOD! He knows where we struggle, how we desire Him above all but do not follow that desire but our own selfish one. BUT GOD! He made the way for us to come away from those desires and follow Him, with freedom of choice. Sin keeps us from God and the longer unchecked the hotter it blazes. If we are not careful it comes on little by little until it overtakes. The only answer is repentance. Ezekiel’s guys just kept on keeping on in their illicit ways. BUT GOD gave them grace with multiple chances to turn away. Now today He gives us grace. You may be going to church, in a life group, saying all the right things but have not stopped and/or repented. Now is the time, tomorrow is not promised. BUT GOD so loved you/me that He gave His only beloved son, who loved His Father so much and what His Father loved (us) that He willingly died a death we deserved. Grace, BUT GOD will say enough is enough, you will reap what you sow. You’re not far from the Kingdom of Heaven when we play church, play pretended that we are doing the “right” things. But are we??????????????
The Great Commandment
Mark 12:28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
God thank You for directing my path to You, with every breath I take and step I make. I repent for checking those “boxes”. I love You and am terrified of being away from You. Thank You for guiding me through Your Word, to open the eyes of understanding as I read Your Word, to conform my heart to Yours in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!
Such powerful reflections from you and Ella both!
I am particularly convicted by the thought, “the longer sin is left unchecked, the hotter it blazes.“ Boy, that’ll preach!