May 15, 2019
Obadiah 1-4               
The vision of Obadiah.This is what the Sovereign Lord says about Edom—
We have heard a message from the Lord:
    An envoy was sent to the nations to say,
“Rise, let us go against her for battle”—
“See, I will make you small among the nations;
    you will be utterly despised.
The pride of your heart has deceived you,
    you who live in the clefts of the rock
    and make your home on the heights,
you who say to yourself,
    ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’
Though you soar like the eagle
    and make your nest among the stars,
    from there I will bring you down,”
declares the Lord.
New International Version (NIV)
                 Melanie and I can never forget our trip to Jordan with sixty or so of our good friends.  My fellow pastor Josh and some friends crashed a wedding in Amman late that night.  The next day we made our way to Petra where we rode horses down into the deep canyon.  Wearing my Indiana Jones hat and jacket, I felt like him riding between the sandstone cliffs.  To be clear, Indiana Jones did not have a man leading the horse by bridle as we did.

                The rusty-red rock reminded us that Jacob’s ruddy twin Esau’s descendants had settled that land.  The people of Edom lived among those cliffs and laughed when Israel went into captivity.  The Edomites stood proudly on top of the mountains and scoffed at the descendants of Jacob.  But Obadiah predicted that God would have the last laugh.

                The Germans have a word for laughing at the pain of others, “Schadenfreude.”  Since we reap what we sow, we do not do well when we celebrate others’ misfortune.  Obadiah calls it as he sees it.  Self-acclaimed high fliers who make nests high in the sky will be dragged down to the ground in judgment.  Pride goes before a fall.  But if we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, he will lift us up, no matter where we live.
Pray with me:    
Father, make us humble like our Master.  Let us take up the yoke of Jesus and learn of him today for he is still gentle and humble in heart.  Grant us rest for our souls.  Release us from the snare of comparing ourselves to others in self-justifying pride.  Today, as best we know how, we consciously come to you for rest.  Thank you for taking our burdens.  Help us not to take them back.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.             
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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