Bible Studies
Mount Seir Contra. The Mountains of Israel (Ezek. 35:1-36:21)
Series: God Speaks to Our People In ExileIntroduction:
1. Reading of Ezek. 35:1-4 and Ezek. 36:1-12. 2. Chapter 35 and chapter 36 present a contrast between Mount Seir and the mountains of Israel. 3. Mount Seir is the chief mountain of the Edomites. It is probably to be taken as representative of all the lands opposed to the land of God. And it is not the lands themselves that are under consideration, but the people represented by the lands. 4. Already in this “Hopeful section” (Chapter 25ff) we have observed the judgment of God against Israel’s enemies: Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon and Egypt. 5. God’s judgment against her enemies meant hopefulness and relief for Israel. 6. But what had Mount Seir (the Edomites) done that justified the judgment of God against her? And what was God going to do in the mountains of Israel in contrast? And what lessons can we learn for our modern 21st century context where men redefine marriage, take advantage of one another and despise the word of God?Discussion:
I. God’s message to Mount Seir is a message of judgment (35:1-15).A. It is not a good to be in opposition to God.
1. Abraham is described as the friend of God (James 2:23).
2. Jesus described his disciples as friends, because he disclosed to them the things of God and called on them to love one another, as He loved them and laid down His life for them (Jn. 15:15). It is appropriate to respond faithfully to your friend. This is what distinguished Abraham’s relationship with God (James 2:23).
B. Edom was at enmity with God and with His people (5).
1. This enmity had a long history.
2. It traced back to the days of Jacob and Esau and the stolen blessing (Gen. 27:41).
3. There was preferential treatment by Isaac to Esau, but preferential treatment by Rebekah to Jacob. Problems also associated with whom Esau married (Gen. 27:46).
4. Sometimes such long-term history leads to long-term enmity between peoples. We may see vestiges of it in our country from WW II and our view of Germany or Japan. Past racial history in this country continue in modern times to result in hatred and enmity.
C. God’s judgment would fall upon Mount Seir (6-9).
1. They rejoiced in the calamity of Israel.
2. They looked upon the calamity in Israel as an opportunity to take the land that God had given Israel (10).
3. In this way they had shown hatred.
4. They had reviled Israel and spoken arrogantly against God.
5. Because they had rejoiced over the desolation of Israel, they would become a desolation (15).
6. “Rejoice with those that rejoice and weep with those that weep” (Rom. 12:15).
II. God’s message to the land of Israel is “I will bless you” (36:1-121).A. God said, “I have spoken against the rest of the nations” (v. 5).
B. He had spoken against the rest of the nations because His people had endured “the insults of the nations” (v. 6).
1. You can get by with insulting me.
2. But do not insult my wife. Then you will incur my jealousy and my wrath.
3. Wrath would be upon those who had insulted His people. They would endure their insults.
C. The mountains of Israel would put forth branches and bear fruit for God’s people Israel (8-12).
1. These mountains would be cultivated and sown.
2. God would multiply men on them, cities would be inhabited, and waste places rebuilt.
3. The mountains would be a place of fruitfulness for both man and beast.
D. Though they had experienced the judgment of God (through the Babylonians) now they would no longer hear insults from the nations, no longer would they bear their disgrace, no longer would there be stumbling.
1. Israel had defiled the land.
2. God had poured out His wrath upon them.
3. He had scattered them among the nations.
4. They had been judged according to their deeds.
5. But God, out of concern for His holy name, renewed them and gave them life.
III. Lessons for our day.A. God is opposed to those who revile His people.
1. Friendship with God is what is to be desired, not enmity.
2. God has acted for the forgiveness of those who are at enmity with Him (Rom. 5:10).
3. Practically this transfers to us the responsibility to “pray for our enemies; to bless those who persecute us” (Rom. 12:14ff). Our interest is not in their destruction but in their salvation.
4. Judgment comes upon those who afflict the people of God (2 Thess. 1:6-9).
B. Let us not act in anger and envy against the people of God, nor rejoice over the calamity of any people (our enemies), but let us pray for their repentance. The Lord does not wish for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).
C. God’s people are crushed by evil.
1. Sometimes as a result of their own disobedience, as in the case of Israel.
2. God used Babylon, an evil nation, as His instrument, to bring judgment upon Israel.
3. Sometimes God’s people are crushed and other’s rejoice that God’s people are experiencing calamity. Such was the case for Mount Seir.
a. There is no place for rejoicing in calamity. If that calamity be in judgment on the people of God there is no place for rejoice. If that calamity be on the enemies of God, there is still no place for our rejoicing.
b. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. He does not rejoice in bring calamity on any and neither should we.
D. In our day and age where the word of God is despised, where men redefine marriage, disrespect one another and trample under foot the grace of God let us live lives that respect the Lord.
1. May we not be like those who profane His Holy name.
2. Let us be among those who respect Him and who call upon others to do the same.
Conclusion:
1. Yes we live in a difficult period of history. 2. The nation of Israel did to. 3. Let us not be like them, nor like their enemies, but let us be like the God who brings life and good things to the mountains of Israel.
