Wisdom Protects

JEREMIAH 49 v 7-22

Can we ever handle a situation properly with the best outcome with our own wisdom?

The Edomites were descended from Esau as the Israelites were descended from Jacob but they both came from the same father Isaac. There was always conflict between the two nations just like there was between the brothers. The Edomites have plagued the Israelites ever since the Israelites left Egypt to when Saul defeated them. But after that Israel ruled over them, kept them under control but even then when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem they celebrated. Edom was destroyed for its pride in itself and its own wisdom. They thought they could do it on their own taking all the glory for themselves.

I think there are 3 key lessons and pictures God gives to the Edomites:

1)  Our wisdom if not used to glorify God creates pride.

2)  Decrease you and put you in the valley of salt (near the Dead Sea), somewhere people cannot live again.

3)  God depicts himself as a Lion again, coming up out of the bushes on the prowl.

Our wisdom if not used to glorify God creates pride within us and this pride is what made Edom fall. 1 Kings 3 v 7-14 - "⁷ “Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. ⁸ Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. ⁹ So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”¹⁰ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. ¹¹ So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, ¹² I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. ¹³ Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honour—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. ¹⁴ And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”" Solomon doesn't just ask for the usual things such as riches and honour no he asks for Wisdom and not just human wisdom as the Edomites had but godly wisdom. Solomon became world renound but the fame didn't get to him, he didn't become proud. God used Solomon for many great things because he has asked and use his "talent" (Matthew 25 v 14-30) / gift very well and was using for the purposes of God. This didn't make Solomon perfect but he made much better decisions than with just human wisdom.

Decrease you and put you in the valley of salt (near the Dead Sea), somewhere people cannot live again. This is what God did to the Edomites, he wanted people to travel near where their cities were and be reminded of the horror. Just like in Jeremiah 48 v9 where God says he will put salt on Moab he says he will do the same to Edom, which will stop any growth and God also says no-one will be able to live there again, but God does not say he will completely destroy them he just says he will make them very small. Sometimes God has to humble us because of our pride.

God depicts himself as a Lion again, coming up out of the bushes on the prowl the land to devour all that displeases Him. The Edomites pride had got the better of them and so God would be on the prowl like a Lion, this is how he would show his judgement.

Does want to devour us as a lion devours it’s pray? I don't think he does but sometimes like with most of the nation’s Jeremiah prophecies over they needed to be taken out and destroyed. God wants to give us wisdom, we should always be asking for it in different situations in life, because without God's wisdom I don't believe we can fulfil what he has called me and anyone else to do.