Title: Edom's Sin and God's Judgment / Ezekiel 35
Contents Edom's Sin and God's Judgment
Ezekiel 35
1. Edom's judgment against the people of Israel (1-9)
① Judgment declaration against Edom (1-4)
② Edom's iniquity and judgment will be made on the inhabitants and the city (5-9)
This paragraph, which begins with a declaration announcing that the judgment on Edom begins with God's command, confirms God's existence and sovereign power to the people of Israel through the prophecy of Edom's judgment in the current Babylonian captivity. are giving The judgment of Edom is a proclamation of God's sovereignty as a visible proof of Israel's salvation.
Looking at the contents of this paragraph
(1) The hostile relationship between Israel and Edom has a long historical tradition. (5) Jacob and Esau have been in constant conflict since birth, and Edom, a descendant of Esau, was a hostile force when Israel left Egypt and went to the land of Canaan. appears. In the days of Saul, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Johoram, and Ahaz, conflicts continued to be maintained. This hostility of Edom finally becomes decisive at the time of the destruction of Israel.
(2) Edom will be rewarded for what he has done (6-9)
The appearance of Edom's judgment is the same as the sins Edom had already committed against Israel. Edom will suffer the same bloodshed because it caused Israel to bleed, and it will suffer the same slaughter because it killed the inhabitants and scattered them in various places. This judgment is also the spirit of the Mosaic Law, ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’.
2. Judgment against greedy Edom (10-15)
① Part of Edom's desire to possess Israel (10-13)
② Content that the judgment of Edom will be shameful (14-15)
This paragraph records the lusts of Edom. The reason Edom is hostile to Israel is manifested in their desire to make Israel their inheritance. That is, if the previous paragraph shows the essential disposition of Edom, this paragraph refers to the result.
Ezekiel records three reasons for the judgment of Edom. The first is about Edom's desire to rule over Israel and Judah (10), and the second about Edom's boasting about themselves and blaspheming Israel and God (12-13). The third is to tell Edom that the only God of Israel is the true God.(15)
The content of the text is
(1) Even in the midst of extreme tribulation, God is with Israel.(10)
Edom, who lived in the high mountain quarters, always had an eye on fertile Palestine. Then, when Israel faced the situation of being taken captive by Babylon, Edom formed an alliance with Babylon and wanted to occupy Israel. Israel is in the midst of this decisive crisis, and Ezekiel is crying out for God's Immanuel.
(2) God judges those who rejoice in Israel's tribulation (12-13, 15).
Not only did Edom take advantage of Israel's desolation to seize territory, but they also actively ridicule and rejoice. These ridicules of Edom are not simply about Israel, but fundamentally about God's work of salvation. Therefore, God is revealing His justice and sovereignty by judging Edom according to what he has done.
⑶ God reveals Himself through judgment on Edom (15).
Edom's attitude as above is due to the idea that the God of Israel does not work, and as a result, the existence and sovereignty of God can be known through judgment.