Ezekiel 35:8

This is the early name of the long mountain range that runs from about eight miles south of the Salt Sea to near the Gulf of Akaba. It is also called "the land of Seir." The Horites lived there first, and later the descendants of Esau, and it came to be called Edom.

God notices the feelings of the heart, and distinguishes in judgment as He does everywhere else. Israel had many proud enemies. Which of them was not ready to harm the people of Jehovah's choice? But He fixes His eyes on "the old enmity" of Edom, and the relentlessness which was even more cruel than usual in the day of their calamity. Not an atom of generosity was there; natural feeling had turned to gall and wormwood. His own people had shamefully dishonoured Him, yet He was chastening them only in measure. Who were the Edomites to take advantage of that, and to crush without measure and destroy without mercy?

The enmity a man nurses in his soul will turn and pursue him. And when that enmity is against God and against His grace, God will judge it for what it is, however the man may disguise it. The end is sure. Edom is the ancient unbeliever as to God. He sees Israel's land, but he does not see Jehovah's presence in it. So he tries to seize the very thing where he meets Jehovah as his adversary. He receives the bitter fruit of his unbelief as the thing he chose, though he never knew what he was choosing.

The question is not between Edom and Israel, but between Edom and God. If they said of the mountains of Israel that they were desolate, was it not true? But they did not see the difference between chastening and rejection. So they said, "They are given us to devour." Israel may throw themselves out of their own land for a time. Edom can never enjoy it.

The Edomites wanted such a natural fortress because it suited their destiny. They were a very warlike people. At the edge of the desert they lay open to raids by robbers, whether their Ishmaelite relatives or others. So they saw with clear instinct that the rocky homes of Mount Seir would be an excellent means of easy defence against surprise.

Mount Seir is the stronghold of the flesh, the fortress of godless man. But Edom would be pulled down from his high nest. In the end he would lose his high perch and be brought low. And so shall all proud thoughts and pretentious strongholds of the flesh be laid in the dust!

There is no doubt that Edom is the special object of judgment in the last days... Ezekiel 35 has in view the time of the Babylonian captivity. At that time Edom, Jacob's rival, gloated over the ruin of Jerusalem. But it goes on to the final desolation of Mount Seir.

The emphasis is very strong. Blood flows and pursues the blood-thirsty Edomites. More than that, they themselves become perpetual desolations, their mountains and valleys filled with their slain, and their cities never rebuilt. So they would know Him to be Jehovah.

Yet I may add a warning for any careless soul who may glance over these pages. It was awful to learn in this way that He who had so spoken and acted is Jehovah, seen in the chastening of Israel and the judgment of the nations. Far more awful must be His dealing with every soul in Christendom who trifles with the name and word of the Lord now.