Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked. The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.
Edom is put here as the representative of all the enemies of the Church. It was an old grudge, which begun in Esau's heart against Jacob: yea, it began long before in the person of Gain against Abel: and the enmity still runs, and ever will run, while the world continues, through the whole race., Galatians 4:29. But the hour of reckoning must come: and an awful one it will be, when all the enemies of God and his Christ will be made to drink of the cup of trembling, and be driven from the presence of God with everlasting destruction. And perhaps, the heaviest of all their condemnation and punishment, will arise from the hatred and opposition they have been found to make in this life to the people of God. Taking away the children's bread, or endeavouring to make that bread unpleasant to them; tempting them to call in question God's love, and the like; it should seem from the general standard of scripture, that this will be more to their everlasting peril and sorrow, than all the other sins which they have committed in this life, against the light of nature and of revelation. In confirmation of this, I refer to the prophecy of Obadiah.
REFLECTIONS.
READER! let us, in beholding the sad consequences of sin, in the case of the Church of old; seriously consider, to what the same cause might justly reduce the Church in any, and in every age now; if the Lord were to enter into strict judgment with his people. Was there ever a period more alarmingly distressing on this account than now? And as the Lord hath not promised exemption from the rod in case of sin: though in Christ he bath assured the Church of an exemption from everlasting ruin on that account, have we not just reason for fear? And should the Lord arise to visit our national of fences with a rod, who but would tremble?
Precious Jesus! though we are gone away as a people, yea, far away in rebellions: though for profaneness and impiety, sabbath breaking and transgression, the land mourneth: yet, Lord, turn to us, and turn our hearts to thee, that we may fear thy name. Oh! come to us, and bless us with awakening, converting, renewing, confirming grace. Be as the dew unto Israel, that we may revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: and that our scent in thee and from thee, may be as the wine of Lebanon. For then, and then only, when thou comest to bless, shall we go forth to meet thee, and have our souls renewed in the light of thy countenance.