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When God Judges Those Who Hate His People
Ezekiel — Chapter 35 (BSB)
Chapter Overview
Ezekiel 35 is an oracle of judgment directed entirely against Mount Seir, the homeland of Edom, the nation descended from Esau, Jacob's brother. God commands Ezekiel to set his face against Edom beginning in verse 2, declaring that He will make it a desolation. The reason for this judgment is rooted in Edom's ancient hatred toward Israel, as seen in verses 5-6, where God says Edom handed over the Israelites to the sword during their time of calamity. Edom's sin was compounded by their arrogance and territorial ambition — they boasted of taking possession of Israel and Judah when those lands were laid low, as revealed in verses 10-13. God's response is deeply personal: because Edom spoke against Him and gloried in Israel's downfall, the full weight of divine justice would fall upon them (v. 13-15). For the individual believer today, this chapter is a sobering reminder that God sees every act of injustice, every word of contempt, and every moment of gloating over another's suffering — and that He is the ultimate defender of His people.
Key Verses
Ezekiel 35:3 (BSB)
“and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Mount Seir. I will stretch out My hand against you and make you a desolate waste.”
These words — 'I am against you' — are among the most sobering in all of scripture. They remind you that God is not a passive observer of history; He actively moves against those who oppose His purposes. For the believer, this is both a warning to examine your own heart and a comfort that no force arrayed against God's people ultimately prevails.
Ezekiel 35:5 (BSB)
“Because you harbored an ancient hatred and delivered the Israelites over to the sword in the time of their disaster at the final stage of their punishment,”
Edom's sin was not merely opportunistic — it was an 'ancient hatred,' a deeply rooted hostility that had been nursed over generations. This verse challenges you to examine whether there is anyone in your life toward whom you have allowed bitterness or hostility to quietly take root. God notices the condition of the heart, not just the actions of the hands.
Ezekiel 35:10 (BSB)
“Because you have said, ‘These two nations and countries will be ours, and we will possess them,’ even though the LORD was there,”
The phrase 'even though the LORD was there' is breathtaking in its simplicity and power. Edom plotted and boasted as though God were absent from the situation entirely. This verse is a personal reminder that in every circumstance of your life — including your hardest seasons — the Lord is there, and no scheme against you can succeed without His awareness and ultimate veto.
Ezekiel 35:13 (BSB)
“You boasted against Me with your mouth and multiplied your words against Me. I heard it Myself!”
God says plainly: 'I heard it.' Nothing spoken in arrogance, contempt, or pride escapes His notice. For you personally, this is both a sobering caution about the words you speak — especially in moments of pride — and a profound encouragement: if God hears the arrogant words of His enemies, He also hears every prayer, every cry, and every whispered confession of faith that you bring before Him.
Ezekiel 35:15 (BSB)
“As you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, so will I do to you. You will become a desolation, O Mount Seir, and so will all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
The chapter closes with God's signature declaration: 'they will know that I am the Lord.' All of history — including every act of judgment — bends toward this revelation. For you as a believer, this final verse is an anchor for your faith: God's justice is not arbitrary but purposeful, and His ultimate aim is always the acknowledgment of who He truly is.
Main Themes
- God's active defense of His people
- The danger of cherished bitterness and pride
- Divine justice as the revelation of God's character
Discussion Questions
- Is there an area of your life where you have been acting as though God were absent — where you have forgotten that 'the Lord is there'?
- When you have seen others struggle or fail, has there ever been a quiet satisfaction in your heart — and what does this chapter say to that tendency in you?
Personal Application
This week, bring before God any long-held resentment or bitterness toward another person — even someone who has genuinely wronged you — and ask Him to replace it with His perspective and His grace.
Practice speaking words of blessing and not contempt, especially about those you find it difficult to love, remembering that God hears every word you multiply against others.
Closing Prayer
Father, this chapter humbles me because I see in Edom the same tendencies that live in my own heart — pride, bitterness, and the temptation to forget that You are always present. Forgive me for the times I have spoken carelessly, harbored secret resentment, or acted as though You were not watching. Thank You that Your justice is real, that You defend Your people, and that You are working all things toward the revelation of Your glory. Teach me to trust Your presence in every desolate place of my life, and let my words and my heart honor You today. In Jesus name, Amen.