Obadiah 1:11-13
11 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. 12 But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress. 13 Do not enter the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; do not gloat over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not loot his wealth in the day of his calamity.
One of the sad but ironic things about our human condition is how judgemental we can be of others who struggle with similar sins. I can recall Christians who rejoiced in President Clinton's troubles with sexual sin while they themselves struggled with their own sexual temptations. We should not turn a blind eye to the sins of others, but neither should we gloat over them as if we were better. As the old saying goes, "there but for the grace of God goes I". Obadiah condemns the people of Edom for gloating over the troubles of Judah, for they were no better, and would soon also experience calamity. When we see someone who is struggling with sexual sin, we should come beside them and help them to walk in purity rather than judging their failures.
Lord, help me to be merciful as You are merciful.
11 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. 12 But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress. 13 Do not enter the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; do not gloat over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not loot his wealth in the day of his calamity.
One of the sad but ironic things about our human condition is how judgemental we can be of others who struggle with similar sins. I can recall Christians who rejoiced in President Clinton's troubles with sexual sin while they themselves struggled with their own sexual temptations. We should not turn a blind eye to the sins of others, but neither should we gloat over them as if we were better. As the old saying goes, "there but for the grace of God goes I". Obadiah condemns the people of Edom for gloating over the troubles of Judah, for they were no better, and would soon also experience calamity. When we see someone who is struggling with sexual sin, we should come beside them and help them to walk in purity rather than judging their failures.
Lord, help me to be merciful as You are merciful.