Edom should have shown brotherly kindness to Israel in their time of desperate need. Instead, the descendants of Esau joined forces with Israel's enemies. Notice the emphasis on that word "thou" — even you! It echoes Caesar's cry to Brutus: "You too, Brutus?" A betrayal cuts deeper when it comes from someone who should have known better.

When we sin — we who are heaven's chosen favorites — we sin with an emphasis! Ours is a crying offense precisely because we are so peculiarly indulged. If an angel laid his hand on our shoulder while we were sinning, he would need no other rebuke than this: "You? What are you doing here?" Much forgiven, much delivered, much instructed, much enriched, much blessed — shall we dare to stretch out our hand toward evil? God forbid!

Come, dear reader. Let's spend a few minutes in confession this morning. Haven't there been times when you were just like the wicked? At a party, when someone told a filthy joke and everyone laughed, didn't it sound a little funny to you too? Even you were as one of them. When people spoke hard things against the ways of God, you kept bashfully silent. To anyone watching, you were as one of them. In the marketplace, when worldlings were driving hard bargains, weren't you right there with them? When they chased after vanity with a hunter's foot, weren't you just as greedy for gain?

Could anyone even tell the difference between you and them? Is there any difference?

Here we come to close quarters! Be honest with your own soul. Make certain you are truly a new creature in Christ Jesus. And once you're sure of that, walk jealously. Guard your steps! Never again give anyone reason to say, "Even you were just like them."

You wouldn't desire to share their eternal doom — why then be like them here? Don't enter into their secret, lest you come into their ruin. Side with the afflicted people of God, not with the world!