Do Not Gloat ... in the day of His Misfortune

Obadiah 1:10-14

You should not gloat over your brother in the day of his misfortune. - Obadiah 1:12

TODAY IN THE WORD

Though brothers, Esau and Jacob struggled and fought from the very beginning. While in the womb, the twins “jostled” one another. During their delivery, Jacob’s hand grasped his brother’s heel. He took advantage of Esau by trading him a bowl of lentil stew for his birthright, and later deceived their father into giving him, instead of his elder brother, a special blessing and a double portion of the family inheritance. The two men eventually reconciled, but tension and conflict between their descendants continued down through the centuries (Genesis 25; 27-28; 32-33).

The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, while the Israelites were the descendants of Jacob. Because of the family ties, Edom’s actions were like betraying a brother (v. 10; cf. Ps. 137:7). Instead of honoring kinship bonds or even extending the common cultural courtesy of hospitality, they had broken and dishonored the relationship and treated Jacob like a total stranger. In modern terms: What they should have done when passing their brother on the street was to offer greetings and assistance. Even ignoring him would have been rude. But they had gone so far as to rob him—how shameful!

Edom’s specific sins are itemized here. They stood by and did nothing when Judah was being conquered (v. 11). They actually rejoiced in their brother’s downfall (v. 12). Out of opportunism and pride, they participated in the sacking of Jerusalem, taking advantage of the moment to “seize their wealth in the day of their disaster” (v. 13). Worst of all, they set up roadblocks to catch escaping refugees, no doubt hoping to curry favor with the Babylonians by turning these prisoners over to them (v. 14). Like battlefield scavengers, they “bravely” helped themselves to the spoils of the Babylonian conquest.

This list of things they should not have done suggests an opposite list of what they should have done. They should have spoken up in support of their brother. They should have helped rather than rejoicing in Judah’s troubles. They should have acted in humility, not pride. And they should have had mercy on the Israelite refugees rather than turning them away.

APPLY THE WORD

Edom’s pride led them to behave like bullies, kicking the people of Judah when they were down. God, on the other hand, expresses a special love for those who are poor and weak. That’s why there are provisions for aliens and strangers in the Law of Moses (Ex. 23:9), and why “pure and faultless” religion means to “look after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27), and why He is pleased to use us, weak and foolish though we are, in His plans (1 Cor. 1:26-29).

YOU Should not look down on your Brother

Obadiah 1:10-14

You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune. - Obadiah 1:12a

TODAY IN THE WORD

Nobody likes a sore loser, but a gloating winner is just as bad. Edom had watched with glee as Jerusalem was sacked by its enemies, and the Edomites had done nothing to help their relatives in Israel. In God’s eyes their refusal to interfere was itself an act of aggression. Although the relationship between the two nations had never been good, the Edomites did share a blood tie with the people of Judah. When they stood by while “strangers” carried off Jerusalem, they were no better than one of the aggressors (v. 11).

Edom’s sin was threefold. First, they regarded the plight of the people of Jerusalem with an attitude of contempt. Second, they expressed outright glee over the city’s destruction, celebrating while the residents of Jerusalem suffered. Third, they took the opportunity to boast--perhaps bragging that their own location made them impregnable (v. 12).

But there was more to Edom’s response than “passive aggression.” They entered the city themselves to loot what was left. They also lay in wait for those who had fled from Jerusalem and killed them or even handed them over to the enemy (vv. 13–14).

The judgment of Edom was a living example of the warning found in Proverbs 24:17–18: “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.” The destruction of Jerusalem was a matter of divine discipline. They deserved the punishment that they received. But Edom’s gleeful response made them liable as well. Obadiah warned that God had seen this sinful attitude and would turn His wrath from Jerusalem to Edom.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Can you think of someone who recently “got what was coming to them?” At times it is hard not to rejoice over their misfortune. This is especially true if we know that they hurt others by their actions. (Today in the Word. Moody Bible Institute. Used by Permission. All rights reserved)

From The LORD

Obadiah 1:1-9

We have heard a message from the LORD. - Obadiah 1:1

TODAY IN THE WORD

The killing of Al Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, made headlines around the world earlier this year. An elite team of U.S. Navy SEAL commandos flew by helicopter into bin Laden’s mansion compound in Abbottabad, about 30 miles north of Pakistan’s capital city. In only 40 minutes, they succeeded in killing bin Laden and escaping with his body and a valuable trove of intelligence materials. After verifying his identity, they buried him at sea. In his address to the nation, President Obama said, “Justice has been done.”

The theme of justice, already familiar this month from our study of Joel and Amos, is also at the heart of the Old Testament’s shortest book, Obadiah. No specific biographical information is known about this prophet, whose name means “servant of the Lord” or “worshiper of the Lord.” From internal data, the book is usually thought to have been written around 586 B.C., which means that Obadiah was a contemporary of Jeremiah. Obadiah is the only book of the Bible entirely aimed at a foreign nation. Specifically, the book’s main point is that Edom would be judged by God for her participation in and gloating over Israel’s downfall (vv. 1, 8-9; cf. Isa. 34:5-17). Edom may also be read as a representative of all world powers and forces opposed to God’s plan and kingdom. Themes include justice, judgment, accountability, holiness, mercy, and divine sovereignty.

The Edomites were descended from Esau, Jacob’s twin, so there was a great deal of history between the two nations. Sela, also called Teman, was Edom’s capital city, and since it means “rock” or “cliff” it can probably be identified with the ruins of Petra, 50 miles south of the Dead Sea. A fortress city in rugged terrain, the city appeared unconquerable. Nonetheless, God promised to “make you small,” a fitting response to their pride (vv. 2-4). Friends and allies would turn on them. The nation would be so completely destroyed that there would be nothing left. Clearly, Edom’s fate would be of divine, not human, origin (vv. 5-7).

APPLY THE WORD

The Edomites found security and national self-esteem in their rocky fortress of a capital city. They thought no one could bring them down. God thought differently. 1 Peter 2:4-6).

The Edomites had put their faith in the wrong object. What about us? In what do we find security and self-esteem? We need to examine ourselves to make sure we’re finding these things in Christ alone. He is the Cornerstone.

“The one who trusts in him will never be put to shame”

I will bring you down

Obadiah 1:1-9

On Today in the Word

Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down. - Obadiah 1:4

Theodore Roosevelt and his friend William Beebe performed a ritual each night before going to bed. They would scan the night sky until they found the constellation Pegasus. Once they located it, they looked for a small speck of light nearby and began to chant: “That is the Spiral Galaxy of Andromeda. It is as large as our Milky Way. It is one of a hundred million galaxies. It consists of one hundred billion suns, each larger than our sun.” Roosevelt would then turn to Beebe and say, “Now I think we are small enough. Let’s go to bed.” Perspective is often the first step to gaining humility.

The nation of Edom--the descendants of Jacob’s brother Esau--badly needed perspective in Obadiah’s day. Edom had been the enemies of Israel from its inception. When Moses asked to pass through Edomite territory in peace before beginning Israel’s conquest of the land of Canaan, he was refused, and Edomites even brought out their large army to prevent Israel from entering their land (Num. 20:14–21).

Mount Seir, a range of mountains that was fifteen to twenty miles long, epitomized Edom’s rugged terrain. Its inaccessibility was a source of pride (v. 3). God, however, had a plan that would give Edom the humbling they so badly needed. He planned to raise a coalition of nations against them. As a result, this long-time enemy of Israel, that had so proudly considered itself invincible, would become “small among the nations” and “utterly despised” (vv. 1–2).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Today’s passage underscores God’s fierce protection of His people. Although He does not always shield us from the malice of our enemies, He does hold them accountable for their actions 

(Today in the Word. Moody Bible Institute. Used by Permission. All rights reserved)