Violence, Standing Aloof, Gloating and Joining in (Obadiah 10-14)

In 1787 a medallion was designed by Josiah Wedgwood which showed a kneeling slave in chains, and the motto: ‘Am I not a man and a brother?’ Cain had asked: ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ (Gen.4:9), implying the answer was ‘No’, but of course the answer is ‘Yes’.

  1. How we arrive at the sin of violence.
  1. The sin of standing aloof.
  • v.11. Prov.24:10-12. Standing aloof before known evil is sinful (James 4:17).
  1. The sin of gloating.
  • vv.12-13a. The NIV has ‘look down’ in the sense of ‘despise’; the NKJV has ‘gaze on’. ‘Gloating’ is the idea – Psalm 22:17. It is a malicious looking upon someone who is struggling – Prov.24:17-18. And that is said about one’s enemy!
  • Mark 3:5-6; 2 Cor.11:29.
  1. The sin of finally joining in.
  • vv.13b-14. They came to laugh, and they stayed to loot.
  • 2 Kings 25:4-7. Judah was guilty of great sins – idolatry, violence and immorality – but the Edomites’ response was cowardly and cruel. This is given as a warning to us as to how pride can take us one step at a time away from a brotherly treatment of others.