Obadiah
1 reminds me of an ugly characteristic of hate. We have all been
told that nobody likes a sore loser, but nothing is uglier than a
sore winner gloating over another’s defeat. It can be as
horrifying as dragging a dead soldier through the streets, or as
shocking as a vicious blow to an unconscious victim. Notice that it
is most common in mob settings, but it can be very personal when
hatred is fostered between individuals. It is this kind of evil that
is described in the one-chapter book. The prophet begins with God’s
judgment against the nation of Edom, “I
will make you small among the nations; you will be utterly despised.
The
pride of your heart has deceived you“.
Remember that Edom was a nation of descendants of Esau, the brother
of Jacob. It was Esau that sold his birthright for a bowl of soup
and was tricked out of their father Isaac’s blessing. Though they
were brothers, Esau held onto the betrayal. Edom was a constant
antagonist to the nation of Israel. Very typically those standing
tall in victory have a sense of invincibility, “Who
can bring me down to the ground?”
But He continues, “Esau
will be ransacked… All your allies…
your
friends will deceive and overpower you; those who eat your bread will
set a trap for you“.
And God provides the reason, “Because
of the violence against your brother Jacob“.
Have you been holding onto hatred?
Next
is a cutting indictment of how we too often behave, “you
stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth… you were like
one of them“.
Maybe we did not say the words, but we nod our head in agreement.
Perhaps we remained silent out of fear, or we did not step in to
prevent a wrong. Do you have regrets about not giving protection to
the vulnerable? Romans chapter 1 describes what happens when no one
will stand up for righteousness, “they
did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God
gave them over to a depraved mind… they not only continue to do
these very things but also approve of those who practice them“.
Have you been giving silent approval of wrong?
The
book closes with a transition from the descendants of Esau to the Day
of the Lord. “You
should not gloat over your brother in the day of his misfortune…
You should not march through the gates of My people in the day of
their disaster… nor seize their wealth… nor hand over their
survivors in the day of their trouble“.
We want vengeance against our enemy, but mercy for ourselves. God
says, “The
day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will
be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head“.
Friend, are you holding onto a grudge? Hatred destroys the one who
holds onto it. God explains the end result, “on
Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy, and Jacob will
possess His inheritance… There will be no survivors from Esau“.
What inheritance will you pass on to your descendants? You do not
have to be a sore loser or a sore winner; you can be a deliverer.
The book ends with these words of encouragement, “Deliverers
will go up on
Mount
Zion to govern the mountains of Esau.
And
the kingdom will be the Lord’s“.
You have to lay down hate in order to pick up something better.
Jesus told His followers, “I
tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
(Matthew 5:44). That simple verse can revolutionize your life.