III. The Day of the Lord (15-21)
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III. The Day of the Lord (15-21)
15 Edom rejected an opportunity to receive God’s blessing by blessing his people so they would experience the terror of the day of the Lord instead. The prophets often spoke of “the day of the Lord” to refer to specific times of God’s judgment on wicked nations—either in history or at its end.
As you have done, it will be done to you brings to mind the guy we’ve all known who got what he had coming to him. The hammer he dropped on other people finally fell on his own head. Here, God tells Edom they will receive exactly what they had dealt to others. And this is what all humanity deserves: just retribution for our sins. But that’s what makes God’s grace so amazing. Grace means giving someone what they don’t deserve. And, as believers in Jesus Christ, that’s what we receive. But for those, like Edom, who oppose God’s agenda, what they deserve will return on their own head.
16 The Edomites had drunk on [God’s] holy mountain in Jerusalem, perhaps celebrating Judah’s downfall. So the Lord promised that all the nations—including Edom—would drink continually. But not at a party. The Bible often uses the metaphor of drinking to speak of God’s judgment (e.g., Job 21:20; Isa 51:17; Jer 49:12-13; Rev 14:10). The unrighteous will gulp down God’s wrath.
17-18 The day of the Lord will bring judgment to God’s enemies but deliverance to his people, reversing fortunes (verse 17). Esau will be stubble, and Jacob will be a blazing fire. Given these insights, it doesn’t take much imagination to figure out that no survivor will remain of the house of Esau (verse 18).
19-21 Those who live in southern Israel, the people from the Negev, will possess the land of Esau (verse 19). But, though the people will possess the land, the kingdom will be the Lord’s (verse 21).
God has an agenda for his kingdom. Embrace your place in the King’s plan.