Obadiah: Pride and Prejudice (and Punishment)

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We all know what mans best friend is, right? His dog.

No, his GPS!

Just consider that no man has to ever ask for directions again…unless they refuse to follow the directions!

Create Tension

There are important lessons in Obadiah that can save us a lot of pain and punishment!

Provide Solution

Obadiah 1-4

1 This is the vision that the Sovereign Lord revealed to Obadiah concerning the land of Edom. We have heard a message from the Lord that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say, “Get ready, everyone! Let’s assemble our armies and attack Edom!” 2 The Lord says to Edom, “I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised. 3 You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us way up here?’ you ask boastfully. 4 But even if you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing down,” says the Lord.

The First thing Obadiah addresses is the pride of Edom.

Vs 3 says ”You have been deceived by your own pride”

Pride is a killer! The Bible has a lot to say about pride!

Proverbs itself says a lot.

God's Disapproval:. Proverbs frequently states that God opposes the proud (e.g., Proverbs 16:5, 16:18, 18:12). 

Pride as a Source of Strife:. Proverbs 13:10 says, "Pride only causes quarrels," emphasizing the divisive nature of pride. 

Pride as a Cause of Ruin:. Proverbs 16:18 and 29:23 suggest that pride can lead to destruction and humiliation. 

Humility as a Virtue:. Proverbs contrasts pride with humility, which is associated with wisdom, honor, and favor with God (e.g., Proverbs 11:2, 15:33, 29:23). 

Pride and Lack of Wisdom:. Proverbs often links pride with foolishness and a lack of understanding (e.g., Proverbs 11:2, 12:9). 

James 4:6 “6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.””

Galatians 6:3 “3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”

We need to understand what is meant by Pride.

Pride is simply elevating self.

When you elevate self, you start to distance yourself from reality.

One example I have seen of this is in the NBA with Labron James.

Is Labron James a great basketball player? Yes

Is Labron one of the best of all time? Yes

Is Labron the greatest of all time? according to him, Yes!

It really depends on how you define the greatest of all time!

Identifying himself as the GOAT, he started view his accomplishments with a skewed perspective.

Edom’s pride led them to think they were untouchable, that’s what pride does!

Then next thing Obadiah addresses is the result of Edom’s pride.

Obadiah 5-11

5 “If thieves came at night and robbed you (what a disaster awaits you!), they would not take everything. Those who harvest grapes always leave a few for the poor. But your enemies will wipe you out completely! 6 Every nook and cranny of Edom* will be searched and looted. Every treasure will be found and taken.

7 “All your allies will turn against you. They will help to chase you from your land. They will promise you peace while plotting to deceive and destroy you. Your trusted friends will set traps for you, and you won’t even know about it. 8 At that time not a single wise person will be left in the whole land of Edom,” says the Lord. “For on the mountains of Edom I will destroy everyone who has understanding. 9 The mightiest warriors of Teman will be terrified, and everyone on the mountains of Edom will be cut down in the slaughter.

10 “Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel,* you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever. 11 When they were invaded, you stood aloof, refusing to help them. Foreign invaders carried off their wealthand cast lots to divide up Jerusalem but you acted like one of Israel’s enemies. (Obadiah 5–11, NLT)

Obadiah then accuses Edom of Prejudice.

Obadiah 12–14 ““You should not have gloated when they exiled your relatives to distant lands. You should not have rejoiced when the people of Judah suffered such misfortune. You should not have spoken arrogantly in that terrible time of trouble. You should not have plundered the land of Israel when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have gloated over their destruction when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have seized their wealth when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have stood at the crossroads, killing those who tried to escape. You should not have captured the survivors and handed them over in their terrible time of trouble.”

8 times we read the phrase “You should not have”

Gloated

Rejoiced

Spoken arrogantly

Plundered

Gloated

Seized their wealth

Killing

Captured

What we see here is Edom looking down on Israel and that looking down resulted in evil actions.

If pride is elevating self, thinking highly of yourself then Prejudice is lowering other, thinking lonely of others!

Obadiah has words about their prejudice!

Obadiah 15–18 ““The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads. Just as you swallowed up my people on my holy mountain, so you and the surrounding nations will swallow the punishment I pour out on you. Yes, all you nations will drink and stagger and disappear from history. “But Jerusalem* will become a refuge for those who escape; it will be a holy place. And the people of Israel* will come back to reclaim their inheritance. The people of Israel will be a raging fire, and Edom a field of dry stubble. The descendants of Joseph will be a flame roaring across the field, devouring everything. There will be no survivors in Edom. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

God speaks judgement on the prejudice.

Notice it is not only on Edom but God says “I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations!”

These words were not spoken to 21 century Christian’s, but to a specific group of people. But we can learn from them.

Pride is bad, Prejudice is bad, evil will be punished.

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How should we respond?

Philippians 2:1–8 “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God,* he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges*; he took the humble position of a slave* and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,* he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”

Are you here to serve or be served?

Do you feel you should serve or be served?

Is there something you feel is beneath you that others should do but not you?