Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Is wisdom no more in Teman?"
Text: Jeremiah 49:7
A BRIEF BACKGROUND OF EDOM
Edom is the other name given to Esau. He was the older twin brother to Jacob. The brothers grew so far apart, they became two different nations. Jacob became Israel. Esau became Edom. Both nations were never friendly to each other.
“Against Edom.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
‘Is wisdom no more in Teman?
Has counsel perished from the prudent?
Has their wisdom vanished?'”
Jeremiah 49:7
1. “Against Edom. Thus says the LORD of hosts”
a) This was a brief message from the LORD.
b) It was directed to Edom as a nation.
2. Three questions were raised to Edom
a) These questions help us to understand where the problems lay.
b) They are insightful questions.
3. The first question:
“Is wisdom no more in Teman?”
a) Teman was the grandson of Esau.
b) The city of Teman was named after him.
c) It takes a lot to build a city.
d) Wisdom would be a key factor in the building up of a city.
e) But wisdom seemed to be in short supply in Teman.
4. The second question:
“Has counsel perished from the prudent?”
a) Wisdom is the more general word.
b) Prudence is a practical aspect of wisdom.
c) Prudence is seen in the counsel given by the wise.
d) But prudent advice was not forthcoming from the wise!
5. The third question:
“Has their wisdom vanished?”
a) This question accentuates what was mentioned in the first one.
b) There seems to be an absence of wisdom.
c) This provoked the third question.
d) Wisdom is not just in short supply.
It seems to have completely vanished!