Isaiah 21:11-12. “The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, ‘Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?’ The watchman said, ‘The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come.”
DON’T LAUGH! You thought it was great when Israel fell, did you Edom? Perhaps you thought the children of Israel got what was coming to them after all these years. Because of the “stillness” and “silence” of your hill country, you thought maybe the God of Israel wasn’t concerned about what was happening when you mocked and rejoiced at the downfall and captivity of your historic enemy. Think back; he is your brother. It’s true, Jacob was nothing to write home about, but he was your brother. He did your ancient father a great deception; he ran like a frightened kid of the goats to the distant land of your common ancestor and stayed there for years. But he did come back. And he did bring back gifts that made you rich. And he did make it a point of facing up to his wrong-doing. Yes, all was not sweetness and light even after that, but your antagonism is that of wounded pride and an unforgiving spirit. Watch out. Pay day is coming. You shouldn’t laugh because by laughing at those who are being carried away in chains to Assyria, you are sealing your doom.
Keep your watchman on the walls at all times, Dumah, because your turn is coming soon! Make sure they keep their eyes open because the God of the valleys is also God of your hills. He heard when you laughed at His chosen ones. He knows your heart is rejoicing at the judgment He has allowed to be carried out on the sinning ones of His family. But remember, He’s not done with you yet. You may think a new day has arrived for you, but the night is coming right behind it. You didn’t help your beleaguered brethren but gloated over their downfall. You went there like jackals and looted their land. Remember, your cowardice, pride and treachery has condemned you. There is none of your high cliffs and mountains that will be able to hide you when that day comes.
You are a reminder to all of us of a divine principle: God says, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked; whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” We may not be a perfect people but we are God’s people. We may be weak and scorned but that isn’t the end of the story. It really doesn’t matter much what people think of us who are looking on and finding so much wrong. God knows all that and in His own way and time, deals with His erring children. The real scary part is, what is going to happen to the mockers; and the gainsayers; and those who are always looking to find fault.
“O God of justice and vengeance: I fear for those around who seem to delight in putting down these children of Thine who are much less than perfect. I know we should all remember who we are and live and act accordingly. As an intercessor for those who are anxious to see the failure of Thy people, and rejoice at their imperfections: please be merciful to them and spare them to repent and believe the Gospel that they may be delivered from certain coming judgment. In the name of Him who is the Mediator between God and men, Amen.”