Ezekiel 35:10-15: a reflection

10“‘“Because you have said, ‘These two nations and these two countries will be mine, and we will possess it,’ although the LORD was there, 11therefore, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will do according to your anger, and according to your envy which you have shown out of your hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them when I judge you. 12You will know that I, the LORD, have heard all your insults which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They have been laid desolate. They have been given to us to devour.’ 13You have magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and have multiplied your words against me. I have heard it.” 14The Lord GOD says: “When the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. 15As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so I will do to you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, even all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

The prophet speaks God's judgment against Edom, and the reasons are telling. Edom had coveted the land of God's people, saying, These two nations and these two countries will be mine; and Edom had rejoiced over Israel's downfall, gloating that they had been laid desolate and given to us to devour. God had heard it all: I have heard all your insults. The sins named are coveting what belonged to another and gloating over their misfortune; and God had noticed, and would judge them. The gloating and the covetous grasping did not escape his notice.

Notice the two sins God names, and that he noticed them: coveting another's inheritance and rejoicing over their downfall. Edom had looked on Israel's calamity not with sorrow but with glee, gloating over their desolation, and had coveted the land left empty, grasping for what was not theirs. These were not hidden sins; God had heard every gloating word, seen every covetous thought. The gloating over another's misfortune and the coveting of what belonged to another did not escape him; he had heard it all, and would judge it. God notices the secret glee we take in another's downfall.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can gloat over another's downfall or covet what is not ours, and God notices. When someone who has wronged us or rivaled us falls, there is a temptation to gloat, to take secret pleasure in their misfortune; and there is a temptation to covet what belongs to another; but God heard Edom's gloating and saw its coveting, and these did not please him. Do not gloat over another's downfall or covet what is not yours, imagining these secret sins go unnoticed; God hears and sees them, as he heard Edom. Guard your heart against gloating over another's misfortune and coveting what is not yours, remembering that God notices these secret sins, as he heard all Edom's gloating words; for God sees the secret glee we take in another's fall and the covetous grasping of our hearts, and these do not please him.

Lord, the prophet speaks your judgment against Edom, and the reasons are telling. Edom had coveted the land of your people, saying, these two nations and these two countries will be mine; and Edom had rejoiced over Israel's downfall, gloating that they had been laid desolate and given to us to devour. You had heard it all: I have heard all your insults. The sins named are coveting what belonged to another and gloating over their misfortune; and you had noticed. Show me the two sins you name, and that you noticed them: coveting another's inheritance and rejoicing over their downfall. Edom had looked on Israel's calamity not with sorrow but with glee, and had coveted the land left empty, grasping for what was not theirs. These were not hidden sins; you had heard every gloating word, seen every covetous thought. The gloating over another's misfortune and the coveting of what belonged to another did not escape you. Take that to my heart, for I too can gloat over another's downfall or covet what is not mine, and you notice. When someone who has wronged me or rivaled me falls, there is a temptation to gloat, to take secret pleasure in their misfortune; and there is a temptation to covet what belongs to another; but you heard Edom's gloating and saw its coveting. Keep me from gloating over another's downfall or coveting what is not mine, imagining these secret sins go unnoticed; you hear and see them, Lord. Guard my heart against gloating over another's misfortune and coveting what is not mine, remembering that you notice these secret sins.