Obadiah

“Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them.” (Obadiah 10–11, ESV)

Obadiah prophesied against Edom (the descendants of Esau) probably after the armies of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC. During this conquest, the people of Edom helped capture the fleeing Jews and even took over some of their villages. This angered the LORD, for they should have helped and not harmed their relatives. Now God would visit what they had done on their own heads. Edom would be destroyed though they boasted in their impregnable high places (the rock fortress of Petra). Today no Edomites remain. The last known Edomites where the Herods of the New Testament who killed the male babies of Bethlehem, beheaded John the Baptist, and executed James the apostle.

The moral of this story is to never take advantage of another’s misfortune.

“Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home; for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. Do not rejoice when your enemy falls and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.” (Proverbs 24:15–18, ESV)

Not only is it wrong to take advantage of others when they fall (especially the righteous), but also we should not rejoice in the heart over their misfortune. The LORD, who searches our hearts, may be displeased and turn His anger away from them. God may discipline others (as He did with the Jews of Jerusalem) but we ought to give comfort rather than condemnation.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:43–45, NKJV)

What person is difficult for you to love? What can you do to show him or her that you truly care?