Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 1085
Delivered
“Dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan.” Jeremiah 49:8.
WE do not quite know who these inhabitants of Dedan were, but in all probability they were some Arabian tribe or tribes. Perhaps they were descendants of Keturah. This Arabian tribe probably dwelt in the rock city of Petra and were mingled with the Edomites. The Prophet warned them that God was about to destroy the Edomites—“For I have sworn by Myself, says the Lord, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.”
And the text intends one of two things—either to inform these inhabitants of Dedan that, however deep in the cavernous rocks they should hide themselves, they would certainly be destroyed, or else it was a gracious warning to remove themselves from Edom, strike their tents, retreat into the depths of the wilderness and so escape from the invaders. I find the marginal reference of my Comprehensive Bible says, “This is an allusion to the custom of the Arabs who, when attacked by a powerful foe, withdrew into the wilderness. Always on their guard against tyranny, on the least discontent that is given them they pack up their tents, load their camels with them, ravage the country and, laden with plunder, they retire into the burning sands where none can pursue them, and so “dwell deep.”
We will take our text in the two senses I have indicated. “Dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan.” This may be understood sarcastically and instructively—let us pray that to us, in both senses, it may be instructive. From ancient warnings let us gather present benefit.
I. Let us take it SARCASTICALLY. It is as though the Prophet said to these Edomites and those that dwelt with them—“You think you never can be destroyed for your city is situated in a rocky region where a handful of men can hold the pass. You suppose that the mightiest armies will fail to conquer you and therefore you are very proud. But your pride is vain.” “Your terribleness has deceived you and the pride of your heart, O you that dwell in the clefts of the rock, that hold the height of the hill: though you should make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there, says the Lord.”
That Word has been terribly fulfilled, for the ancient rock city stands as a wonder to all travelers and when they ride through it, which is not often, for it is with great difficulty that you reach the place at all, they find the city standing, but the houses desolate and without inhabitants. Edom is a perpetual desolation because of her sins. Though they carved their houses into solid rock and their city seemed out of the spoiler’s reach, God has laid His hands upon it and its life, as well as its beauty, is gone forever.
Thus said the Lord and so it has come to pass, “also Edom shall be a desolation: everyone that goes by it shall be astonished and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities thereof, says the Lord, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.” From the text I hear a cry, like the stern voice of Elijah, to every profane sinner who thinks that he will ultimately escape the wrath of God! You may dwell deep, O Transgressor, but God shall find you out. You say, “How shall He reach me?” The hand of Death has only to be stretched out and you are his captive at once!
And a little thing will do it—the wind has but to pass over you and you are gone. A drop of blood may go the wrong way, a valve may refuse to open, a vessel may burst, a band may snap and there you lie, beneath God’s avenging hands like a stag struck by the hunter. You are dust and a breath will scatter you to the four winds. Your spirit will be equally unable to escape from God. When it leaves this body, where will it fly? It finds itself naked—disembodied and straight before it is the Throne of God and the seat made ready for judgment!
Devils shall drag the guilty spirit down to Hell and bind it with links of infinite despair. And when the Day of Judgment shall have fully come and the body shall have risen and the entire man shall stand before God, there will be no
escape for the sinner! The eyes of Christ will look into the face of every man of woman born that shall stand upon the earth and upon the sea in the dread day of wrath—and that will ensure the eternal condemnation of all the unbelieving. No one will be in so far off a country that the Judge will not see him, nor will he be able to find a cavern or deep mine where he shall be able to conceal himself from the face of Him that sits upon the Throne.
Then will the ungodly bitterly desire to dwell deep—they will call to the rocks to hide them and to the hills to fall upon them, but all in vain, for thus says the Lord—“Though they climb up to Heaven, there will I bring them down. And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out from there. And though they are hid from My sight in the bottom of the sea, there will I command the serpent and he shall bite them.” Darkness will not be able to conceal you! The glance of the Judge’s eyes shall shrivel up the vesture of night and lay all things bare. O, guilty, Christless Soul, there is no escape from God! Though you dwell deep as Hell—even there would He find you!