August 16, 2018
Obadiah 12-14
You should not gloat over your brother
    in the day of his misfortune,
nor rejoice over the people of Judah
    in the day of their destruction,
nor boast so much
    in the day of their trouble.
You should not march through the gates of my people
    in the day of their disaster,
nor gloat over them in their calamity
    in the day of their disaster,
nor seize their wealth
    in the day of their disaster.
You should not wait at the crossroads
    to cut down their fugitives,
nor hand over their survivors
    in the day of their trouble.

New International Version (NIV)
                 Who rejoices over the pain of others?  Some years ago a famous athlete blamed a tsunami on a country which had misbehaved decades before.  She said, “They got what they deserve.  God doesn’t make mistakes.” 

                The Germans have a word for this:  “Schadenfreude.”  It means rejoicing over another’s pain.  The Edomites laughed the day the Israelites went into captivity.  They took the refugees and handed them over to the enemy.  Somehow they forgot that their ancestor Esau was the brother of the ancestor of the Israelites, Jacob. 

                Obadiah reminds us of the immutable principle that God humbles the exalted.  As they stood high on the cliffs surrounding their civilization (visible in present day Petra), they mistook their topography for safety.  We know that we may be flying high in one moment and crash to the ground in the next.  This is why the scriptures urge us to be humble.  Not only does God humble the exalted, but he exalts the humble.

                When we see another person suffer, the right response is to care.  Obadiah reminds us there will be a payday, someday.  God is not mocked.  If we reject his grace, we will face the consequences.  So today if you see someone in need, care for them and share with them.  Someday you may be the one who needs the compassion of another.  Already we have all received compassion from the Lord.  Shouldn’t we care?
Pray with me:  
Father, when we remember that you are a just judge, we tremble and we thank you.  We tremble because we know we have failed you, and apart from your mercy we would be destroyed.  We thank you because we have found grace in Christ.  Help us to weep with those who weep today.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.      
  This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story.  With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
 
Joyfully, 
 
Duane 
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