Obadiah 1 – "The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom (We have heard a report from the Lord, And a messenger has been sent among the nations, saying, "Arise, and let us rise up against her for battle"):"

The name Obadiah means literally, servant, or worshipper of the LORD. But other than that, we know absolutely nothing about this prophet. There are twelve other men named Obadiah in the Bible, but since we have no personal information about the author in this book we cannot associate this Obadiah with any of the others mentioned in the Bible.

The authority of this book is based on the phrase, "Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom" which tells us that this prophecy is form the LORD. Obadiah also says, "we have heard a report from the LORD" which further bears witness that this message is inspired form God.

The message received by Obadiah focuses on the judgment of God coming upon the Edomites.

Because the author is unknown other than his name, it makes dating the book difficult as well. Critics tend to date Obadiah in the 6^th century B.C., while more conservative scholars tend to date the book in the 8^th century B.C. The King James Version Bible Commentary makes the following statement regarding the date of this book:

The prophecy is elastic enough in its fulfillment to embrace all of the times of Edom’s destruction, whether by the Chaldeans who laid Edom waste (Jeremiah 49:7ff.; Ezekiel 35), the Maccabees, Rome (a.d. 70), or ultimately when Christ executes the judgment of God upon Edom and her allies (Isaiah 63:1–6). (1)

Obadiah is the shortest book of the Old Testament, (21 verses). But this smallest of the minor prophetic books packs a powerful poetic message. The major message of this minor prophet is that pride always leads to destruction. Since the book of Obadiah is written in Hebrew poetry, what we have here is a poetic pronouncement of justice on the proud. Let’s see how and why God judges the proud based on the book of Obadiah.

Obadiah 1 – "The vision of Obadiah. 1 Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom (We have heard a report from the Lord, And a messenger has been sent among the nations, saying, "Arise, and let us rise up against her for battle"):"

Who were the Edomites? The Edomites were the descendents of Esau who was the fraternal twin brother of Jacob (Genesis 25; 36:9). Because Jacob cheated Esau out of his birthright and blessing, a perpetual animosity existed between the descendents of these two brothers (Genesis 25; 27). (There does seem to have been reconciliation between the two brothers themselves – see Genesis 33.)

An example of this longstanding feud between the two groups is seen in Numbers 20:14-21 when Edom refuses to allow Moses and the Israelites to pass through the land of Edom on the way to the Promised Land of Canaan. The Edomites went out of their way to make things harder for the Israelites. For this God promised judgment.

The Edomites were idolatrous (2 Chronicles 14,20), into the occult (Jeremiah 27:3,9) and a vengeful people (Ezekiel 25:12). But above all, what we will see in Obadiah is that they were proud.

The Edomites were perennial enemies of Israel. This is stated by Ezekiel who wrote:

• Ezekiel 35:5-7 - "Because you have had an ancient hatred, and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, when their iniquity came to an end,6 "therefore, as I live," says the Lord God, "I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; since you have not hated blood, therefore blood shall pursue you.7 "Thus I will make Mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it the one who leaves and the one who returns." (See also 1 Samuel 14:27)

Why did the Edomites continue to hate their brotherly descendents? Why did they refuse to forgive them? The answer to both those questions is pride.

Obadiah 2-3 - "Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You shall be greatly despised.3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’"

"The pride of your heart," is what Obadiah is inspired to pinpoint as the reason for God’s judgment coming upon the Edomites. What is "pride"? "Pride" here is a translation of the Hebrew term ZADOWN (Strong’s #2087 - pronounced ZAW-DONE) which occurs only 11 times in the Bible and means, "pride, insolence, presumptuousness, arrogance." (2) Insolence is excessive haughtiness, a disregard for others, to be overbearing, domineering. Presumption is an overstepping of proper bounds, taking something for granted, taking something beforehand, assuming something is yours before it actually is. The people of Edom were characterized by these attributes and this sinful attitude is what eventually brought God’s judgment upon them.

It was because of pride that the Edomites refused to forgive the Israelites. Pride is an obsession with self and when the self is unable to get what it wants it gets mad. When the self is deprived of what it wants, hatred brews. This is what happened with the Edomites, their pride kindled a hatred for Israel. So intense was their hatred of Israel that they were willing to join forces with Israel’s enemies in an attempt to destroy Israel (2 Chronicles 20:10). That is most severely seen when Edom helped Babylon against Israel (Psalm 137:7). Pride causes people to do some terrible things, one of which is the wedge it creates between those in one’s own family.

The primary reason God is pronouncing judgment upon the Edomites through Obadiah is that they were proud. You might say, "So what? What’s the big deal about pride? Aren’t we all a little proud?" Let’s look a little deeper at pride and see why it is such a big deal with God.

The Bible has a lot to say about pride and none of it is good. To begin with, Satan is the author of pride. His rebellion against God was fueled by a heart that was proud and lifted up against God. Isaiah wrote concerning the pride of Lucifer:

• Isaiah 14:13-15 – "For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit."

In Lucifer we see the deceptive nature of pride in that it deceived a created being to think he could ascend to the throne of His Creator. This is the height of deception. Pride blinds to the truth and reality of a situation. Pride blinds a person to their proper position and this is most clearly seen in the life of Satan.

The Bible also states that pride flows from an unsaved, sinful heart that is infested with evil. This is what Jesus said:

• Mark 7:21-22 - "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,22 "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness."

Pride is the primary characteristic of the world. The nature of the world is that everything revolves around self. Those who live in the pride of the world see the world revolving around them; they live as though they were the center of the universe. The apostle John stated the connection between the world and pride when he wrote:

• 1 John 2:16-17 – "For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."

Why is the world in the mess it is in? Because it is filled with people who think they are the center of the universe. This self–centered view of the world is the basis of why people turn a blind eye to the needy as they indulge their fleshly desires.

What does pride produce? What is the product of pride? The Bible is clear on the product of pride. The following are some examples of what pride produces.

• Hosea 7:9-10 – "Aliens have devoured his strength, But he does not know it; Yes, gray hairs are here and there on him, Yet he does not know it.10 And the pride of Israel testifies to his face, But they do not return to the Lord their God, Nor seek Him for all this."

As we learned in the book of Hosea, God reaches out to His people and often has to let them bottom out or exhaust their alternatives to faith in Him because they are too proud to admit they are wrong and sinful. Sometimes people persist in their pride unto death and that results in spiritual death for eternity.

• Proverbs 26:12 – "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."

A fool is one who fails to factor God into their life equation. A proud fool is one who fails to factor God into their life equation because they think they know better than God and His word. Pride leads a person to rely on themselves and that is always a hopeless situation in the end.

• Psalm 10:4 – "The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts."

The person who is proud says, "I don’t need God." They often refer to God as a crutch. The problem with such a view is that everyone has a crutch. It might be money, a job, a career, a person, but everyone has a crutch. The question is, "What is the most reliable crutch?" God is and pride keeps people from seeking God, the One they most need to know.

• Jeremiah 43:2 – "that Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, "You speak falsely! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to dwell there.’"

Jeremiah was called by God and inspired to bring a message to God’s people. But when that word from God didn’t meet with their liking, they proudly rejected it. That is what pride will do; it will cause the person to think they know better than God. Pride will cause a person to think they are the exception to God’s word. Pride will ultimately cause a person to reject God’s word.

• Jeremiah 49:16 – "Your fierceness has deceived you, The pride of your heart, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Who hold the height of the hill! Though you make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there," says the Lord."

We will see a very similar statement made by Obadiah against the Edomites. Pride deceives a person into thinking they are stronger and more capable than they really are. This only leads to frustration and disappointment when the inevitable failure comes.

• Proverbs 16:18 – "Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall."

The end product of pride is life without God; a wasted life; destruction. Pride causes a person to think they don’t need God and that leads to ultimate eternal destruction.

The height of pride is to see oneself as righteous on one’s own merits. Jesus referred to this when gave the illustration of the two men praying, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector, the later the most hated of individuals in that society in that day. He said:

• Luke 18:11-14 - "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.12 ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’13 "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’14 "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Since all people fall short of God’s glorious ideal necessary to gain access into heaven (Romans 3:23), it is essential to experience God’s grace to be saved. The person who proudly relies upon their own merits and works will ultimately fall far short of what is needed to be saved and is in danger of entering a place of eternal separation from God.

The ultimate price of pride is that it prevents a person from experiencing God’s grace. The ultimate problem of pride is that it puts the proud in a position where their opponent is God. The Bible states:

• James 4:5-6 – "Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
• 1 Peter 5:5 – "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

To be separated from God and His grace is a very dangerous place to be. Apart from God’s grace, any attempt to access heaven in one’s own strength requires absolute perfect obedience. The Bible calls this "being under the works of the Law." On your own, you must keep every Law of God all the time, throughout your life without one mistake. Ever lied? Ever had an evil or lustful thought? Ever stole? Been to church at every opportunity? Worshipped God and Him only, giving Him total priority in your life? Loved your neighbor as yourself always? Loved God with all your heart always? If you answered "No," to any of these questions and you are trying to get to heaven on your own, apart from faith in Jesus Christ alone, you’re sunk. Read what the apostle Paul said about this:

• Galatians 3:10-13 – "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them."13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),"

Jesus is the only way friend. You have to humble yourself before the LORD and put your faith in Christ alone. Now I can imagine some might say, "Ah, I don’t believe God would send me to hell for messing up a few times." That is pride speaking friend. Pride says, "I know better than God." Pride says, "I don’t need God’s word or warning, I’ll take my chances on my own." Be warned proud friend, there will be a heavy price to pay for your pride if you persist in that proud perspective on life. You need God’s grace. We all need God’s grace. The proud will not receive it, only the humble will.

• 2 Timothy 3:1-5 – "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"

Pride will be working overtime in the last days and the strong presence of pride and self-centeredness is evidence that we are indeed in the last days. So as we study the book of Obadiah. Let us understand the major message of this minor prophet, and that message is pride always precedes destruction, pride always leads to destruction.

The price of proud living is steep and the end is poverty. It’s always a mistake to put one’s faith proudly in yourself or things or other people. This is exactly what the Edomites did and they would wind up in the spiritual poor house as a result.

Obadiah 3-4 – "The pride of your heart has deceived you, You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’4 Though you ascend as high as the eagle, And though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down," says the Lord."

These verses refer to the capitol of Edom, which was Petra (also known as Sela – Judges 1:36; 2 Kings 14:7). This city was situated in a high rock formation fifty miles south of the Dead Sea. It was accessible only through a single narrow passage one mile long and no more than 12 feet wide in any one place. The city is located in a gorge of the rock formation that measures approximately 3,000 feet wide and about a mile in length. The ruins were discovered in 1812. The Edomites viewed this city as impregnable. They gloried in this city in the rock. But God said, " I will bring you down."

Obadiah 5-7 - "If thieves had come to you, If robbers by night—Oh, how you will be cut off!—Would they not have stolen till they had enough? If grape-gatherers had come to you, Would they not have left some gleanings?6 "Oh, how Esau shall be searched out! How his hidden treasures shall be sought after!7 All the men in your confederacy Shall force you to the border; The men at peace with you Shall deceive you and prevail against you. Those who eat your bread shall lay a trap for you. No one is aware of it."

The Edomites put pride in their possessions, but God says they will be picked clean of their possessions. Jesus taught on the proper perspective on possessions when He said:

• Matthew 6:19-21,24,31-34 - "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. . . . 24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. . . . 31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Obadiah 8-9 - "Will I not in that day," says the Lord, "Even destroy the wise men from Edom, And understanding from the mountains of Esau?9 Then your mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, To the end that everyone from the mountains of Esau May be cut off by slaughter."

There is nothing wrong with being a professional, society needs professionals. But professionalism, the proud dependence upon people highly trained can create a situation where people no longer seek God for answers and help but turn to people instead. Professionals are good and useful in their place, but we should never trust proudly in people rather than humble ourselves before God (1 Peter 5:6). Remember, amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic.

Obadiah 10-14 - "For violence against your brother Jacob, Shame shall cover you, And you shall be cut off forever.11 In the day that you stood on the other side—In the day that strangers carried captive his forces, When foreigners entered his gates And cast lots for Jerusalem—Even you were as one of them.12 But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother In the day of his captivity; Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah In the day of their destruction; Nor should you have spoken proudly In the day of distress.13 You should not have entered the gate of My people In the day of their calamity. Indeed, you should not have gazed on their affliction In the day of their calamity, Nor laid hands on their substance In the day of their calamity.14 You should not have stood at the crossroads To cut off those among them who escaped; Nor should you have delivered up those among them who remained In the day of distress."

The end of pride is the diminishing of the value of life for the sake of getting what one wants for themselves. The Edomites stood idly by as their brother Israel was carried away captive. They didn’t lift a finger to help Israel. They were so blinded by pride that they figured Israel’s loss would be their gain. Pride leads to rejoicing over those who weep and weep over those who rejoice, exactly the opposite of what God commands. The proud hate to see anyone else gain or profit or be blessed. That is the nature of pride. Pride is void of love and is satisfied to feed its lusts at the expense of those around it.

The New Testament tells us of quite a different attitude to have when it states:

• Romans 12:9-21 – "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.20 Therefore 1 "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Pride is appalling as it quenches its lust for more by stepping over or on the backs of anyone that might get in its way. A time will come when those who live in pride will have to pay for their actions. That is where we turn now.

Obadiah 15-16 - "For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.16 For as you drank on my holy mountain, So shall all the nations drink continually; Yes, they shall drink, and swallow, And they shall be as though they had never been."

The following story illustrates the mindset of the proud:

A lady answered the knock on her door to find a man with a sad expression. "I'm sorry to disturb you," he said, "but I'm collecting money for an unfortunate family in the neighborhood. The husband is out of work, the kids are hungry, the utilities will soon be cut off, and worse, they're going to be kicked out of their apartment if they don't pay the rent by this afternoon." "I'll be happy to help," said the woman with great concern. "But who are you?" "I'm the landlord," he replied. (3)

Such is the mindset of pride; use even the position of the poor to secure profit for oneself. The payment due on pride is assessed by God’s imposed principle, which states, "As you have done, it shall be done to you." Here is the consequence of pride, retribution devoid of grace, and simple and undiluted retribution. In the Old Testament we see this principle stated in the following verses:

• Proverbs 21:13 – "Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard."
• Proverbs 24:11-12 – "Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.12 If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?"

In the New Testament it continues this principle when it states:

• Matthew 6:14-15 - "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.15 "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
• Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

• James 2:13a – "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy."
• Galatians 6:7-8 – "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life."

These are only a few verses that could have been cited. The Edomites will receive the same treatment they dished out to others (Ezekiel 25:11-14). This is the payment due on pride.

Obadiah 17-21 - "But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire, And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau," For the Lord has spoken.19 The South shall possess the mountains of Esau, And the Lowland shall possess Philistia. They shall possess the fields of Ephraim And the fields of Samaria. Benjamin shall possess Gilead.20 And the captives of this host of the children of Israel Shall possess the land of the Canaanites As far as Zarephath. The captives of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad Shall possess the cities of the South.21 Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion To judge the mountains of Esau, And the kingdom shall be the Lord’s."

In contrast to the judgment on the proud Edomites is the promise made by God to Israel. While Israel and Judah both had a history of pride, they did experience a humbling in their history. Here we see in a sense how the humble will triumph over the proud. This is what the Bible says; the humble will receive the blessings of God’s grace.

When we look at the people God uses in the Bible one characteristic that is ever present is humility. Moses was humble (Numbers 12:3), Job was humble (Job 1:20-22); John the Baptist was humble (John 3:25-31), and Peter became humble (John 18:10). This is likely because humility precedes faith, a person must approach God in humility if they are to receive faith.

The link between humility and faith is seen in the gospel account of Jesus and the centurion. In this account we see the centurion respond to Jesus in humility and Jesus equates this with "great faith." Read the account:

• Luke 7:6-10 – "Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.7 "Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.8 "For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it."9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick."

Notice that this humble centurion received the promise that Jesus had offered to him, the healing of his servant. Humility and faith are inextricably connected.

Out greatest example of humility is of course, Jesus. A beautiful passage in Paul’s letter to the Philippians shows us the humility of Jesus and how His humble obedience led to the fulfillment of His mission. In Philippians it states:

• Philippians 2:5-11 – "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Jesus submitted in humility to the Father’s plan and the result is that he was successful in His mission.

As quoted earlier, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble," that is the primary promise missed by the proud (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). And that is a BIG promise to miss out on because grace is essential to salvation. Grace is God’s undeserved favor and provision in our lives. God reaches out to those lost in sin by His grace. God’s grace is motivated by His love. It is grace that brings salvation and change into a persons’ life as the following verses attest:

• Ephesians 2:8-9 – "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,9 not of works, lest anyone should boast."
• 1 Corinthians 15:10 – "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."
• 2 Peter 3:17-18 – "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."

A person cannot be saved apart form God’s grace and cannot grow in spiritual life apart from God’s grace. Therefore pride cuts a person off from spiritual life and growth. Pride cuts a person off from their eternal lifeblood, grace. Everyone needs God’s grace, but pride cuts us off from it.

There is another related passage in the context of Philippians, which is frequently misapplied. In Philippians 4 Paul speaks of how he has learned to be humbly content in all circumstances and he says he has been able to do this through Christ who strengthens him. Read what it states:

• Philippians 4:11-13 – "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

The proud are enslaved to a never-ending quest for more. The proud are consumed with their pursuit of bigger and what they perceive to be better things. But the end of pride is poverty because pride will never allow a person to have enough. But humility breeds a trusting faith in God that enables a person to be content in whatever situation they find themselves in. contentment leads to peace and allows the person to be used by God in His plans. This is the example of Jesus and this is what worked for Paul. This is something the proud can never understand. This is a promise missed by the proud.

The following excerpt was taken from an interview in Leadership magazine:

All he ever really wanted in life was more. He wanted more money, so he parlayed inherited wealth into a billion-dollar pile of assets. He wanted more fame, so he broke into the Hollywood scene and soon became a filmmaker and star. He wanted more sensual pleasures, so he paid handsome sums to indulge his every sexual urge. He wanted more thrills, so he designed, built, and piloted the fastest aircraft in the world. He wanted more power, so he secretly dealt political favors so skillfully that two U.S. presidents became his pawns. All he ever wanted was more. He was absolutely convinced that more would bring him true satisfaction. Unfortunately, history shows otherwise. He concluded his life emaciated; colorless; sunken chest; fingernails in grotesque, inches-long corkscrews; rotting, black teeth; tumors; innumerable needle marks from his drug addiction. Howard Hughes died believing the myth of more. He died a billionaire junkie, insane by all reasonable standards. (4)

In contrast to Howard Hughes, Martin Luther once said:

"I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."

John Wesley, the 18^th century minister through whom God worked a mighty revival in England, once had his house burned to the ground. His response is an illustration of true humility. He said:

"The Lord's house burned. One less responsibility for me!" 

These quotes did not come from men who were stuck in the pride of possessions. These men had humbly surrendered to God all that they had. Pride, in it s many forms, leads to destruction. God has made many promises to us, but pride will cause people to miss them all. Obadiah may have been a poet as his short book is written in Hebrew poetic form. If that is the case, the judgment pronounced upon the Edomites is an expression of poetic justice.

In 1982, "ABC Evening News" reported on an unusual work of modern art--a chair affixed to a shotgun. It was to be viewed by sitting in the chair and looking directly into the gun barrel. The gun was loaded and set on a timer to fire at an undetermined moment within the next hundred years. The amazing thing was that people waited in lines to sit and stare into the shell's path! They all knew the gun could go off at point-blank range at any moment, but they were gambling that the fatal blast wouldn't happen during THEIR minute in the chair. (5)

When you live on in proud rejection of God, it’s like sitting in that chair with a loaded shotgun pointed at your head; you don’t know when you’re going to go, but you’re gambling you can go on indulging just a little bit longer. Don’t gamble away eternity! Turn to God in humble surrender and experience the sure thing of God’s promise.

In the book of Jonah, (which we will study next) there is a verse that applies to our study of Obadiah, it states:

• Jonah 2:8 - "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."

Someone has said, "There are no U-Haul trailers attached to hearses." The popular proud motto, "He who dies with the most toys wins," is a tragic fallacy. It is more true to say, "He who dies with the most toys still dies like he with no toys." God has a plan for each person’s life and He seeks to work through the humble and surrendered. It is through the humble that God impacts the world. Such was the case of "Big Angus" in World War II.

Author Ernest Gordon wrote a true account of life in a World War II Japanese prison camp, in his book, Through the Valley of the Kwai. In this book is a story of what God can do through a person who humbly surrenders to Him.

The man's name was Angus McGillivray. Angus was a Scottish prisoner in one of the camps filled with Americans, Australians, and Britons who had helped build the infamous Bridge over the River Kwai. The camp had become an ugly situation. A dog-eat-dog mentality had set in. Allies would literally steal from each other and cheat each other; men would sleep on their packs and yet have them stolen from under their heads. Survival was everything. The law of the jungle prevailed...until the news of Angus McGillivray's death spread throughout the camp. Rumors spread in the wake of his death. No one could believe big Angus had succumbed. He was strong, one of those whom they had expected to be the last to die. Actually, it wasn't the fact of his death that shocked the men, but the reason he died. Finally they pieced together the true story.

The Argylls (Scottish soldiers) took their buddy system very seriously. Their buddy was called their "mucker," and these Argylls believed that is was literally up to each of them to make sure their "mucker" survived. Angus's mucker, though, was dying, and everyone had given up on him, everyone, of course, but Angus. He had made up his mind that his friend would not die. Someone had stolen his mucker's blanket. So Angus gave him his own, telling his mucker that he had "just come across an extra one." Likewise, every mealtime, Angus would get his rations and take them to his friend, stand over him and force him to eat them, again stating that he was able to get "extra food." Angus was going to do anything and everything to see that his buddy got what he needed to recover.

But as Angus's mucker began to recover, Angus collapsed, slumped over, and died. The doctors discovered that he had died of starvation complicated by exhaustion. He had been giving of his own food and shelter. He had given everything he had -- even his very life. The ramifications of his acts of love and unselfishness had a startling impact on the compound.

"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:12).

As word circulated of the reason for Angus McGillivray's death, the feel of the camp began to change. Suddenly, men began to focus on their mates, their friends, and humanity of living beyond survival, of giving oneself away. They began to pool their talents -- one was a violinmaker, another an orchestra leader, another a cabinetmaker, another a professor. Soon the camp had an orchestra full of homemade instruments and a church called the "Church Without Walls" that was so powerful, so compelling, that even the Japanese guards attended. The men began a university, a hospital, and a library system. The place was transformed; an all but smothered love revived, all because one man named Angus gave all he had for his friend. For many of those men this turnaround meant survival. What happened is an awesome illustration of the potential unleashed when one person actually gives it all away. (6)

Poetic justice for the proud or prophetic promise to the humble, which will it be for you?

(1) Jerry Falwell, executive editor; Edward E. Hinson and Michael Kroll Woodrow, general editors, KJV Bible Commentary [Computer File], Electronic Ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1994