today's meditation (Ob.1) Being Humble

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Obadiah 1:1-21)  The vision of Obadiah.

This is what the Lord God says concerning Edom—

     We have heard a report from the Lord,
     And a messenger has been sent among the nations saying,
     “Arise, and let’s go up against her for battle”—
2   “Behold, I will make you small among the nations;
     You are greatly despised.
3   The arrogance of your heart has deceived you,
     The one who lives in the clefts of the rock,
     On the height of his dwelling place,
     Who says in his heart,
     ‘Who will bring me down to earth?’
4   Though you make your home high like the eagle,
     Though you set your nest among the stars,
     From there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord.
5   “If thieves came to you,
     If robbers by night—
     Oh how you will be ruined!—
     Would they not steal only until they had enough?
     If grape-pickers came to you,
     Would they not leave some gleanings?
6   Oh how Esau will be searched,
     And his hidden treasures searched out!
7   All the people allied with you 
     Will send you to the border,
     And the people at peace with you 
     Will deceive you and overpower you.
     They who eat your bread 
     Will set an ambush for you.
     (There is no understanding in him.)
8   Will I not on that day,” declares the Lord,
     “Eliminate wise men from Edom,
     And understanding from the mountain of Esau?
9   Then your warriors will be filled with terror, Teman,
     So that everyone will be eliminated from the mountain of Esau by murder.

10 “Because of violence to your brother Jacob,
     Shame will cover you,
     And you will be eliminated forever.
11 On the day that you stood aloof,
     On the day that strangers carried off his wealth,
     And foreigners entered his gate 
     And cast lots for Jerusalem—
     You too were as one of them.
12 Do not gloat over your brother’s day,
     The day of his misfortune.
     And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah 
     On the day of their destruction;
     Yes, do not boast 
     On the day of their distress.
13 Do not enter the gate of My people 
     On the day of their disaster.
     You indeed, do not gloat over their catastrophe 
     On the day of their disaster.
     And do not lay a hand on their wealth 
     On the day of their disaster.
14 Do not stand at the crossroads 
     To eliminate their survivors;
     And do not hand over their refugees 
     On the day of their distress.

15 “For the day of the Lord is near for all the nations.
     Just as you have done, it will be done to you.
     Your dealings will return on your own head.
16 For just as you drank on My holy mountain,
     All the nations will drink continually.
     They will drink to the last drop,
     And become as if they had never existed.
17 But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape,
     And it will be holy.
     And the house of Jacob will possess their property.
18 Then the house of Jacob will be a fire,
     And the house of Joseph a flame;
     But the house of Esau will be like stubble.
     And they will set them on fire and consume them,
     So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau,”
     For the Lord has spoken.
19 Then those of the Negev will possess the mountain of Esau,
     And those of the Shephelah the Philistine plain;
     Also, they will possess the territory of Ephraim and the territory of Samaria,
     And Benjamin the territory of Gilead.
20 And the exiles of this army of the sons of Israel,
     Who are among the Canaanites as far as Zarephath,
     And the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad,
     Will possess the cities of the Negev.
21 The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion 
     To judge the mountain of Esau,
     And the kingdom will be the Lord’s.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Being arrogant is very deceptive.  This takes the stance that one is in control and doesn't need any help from anyone, not even God.  Arrogance even decides that one is better and knows better than anyone else, including God.  Just like being self-righteous, even if trying to live the best life possible, this takes the stance that one is right in their own thinking and actions.  But anyone who does not choose to humble themselves before God and accept His free gift of salvation, they will have no choice in the end but to bow down and be humbled before the Lord who will judge them according to their sins.  

Even though believers have been forgiven and will not be judged according to our sins, we will still struggle while here on earth.  So, as we stumble, Christians who do not confess and turn from sinful behaviors, will be humbled as God allows consequences into our lives.  And for us, the sin of arrogance and self-righteousness are still very deceptive and destructive - opposite of what a Christian should be!

A Christian - as it says in its name - is a Christ-follower.  Because we acknowledge that all things are from God, we thankfully and humbly accept His salvation and His help.  And in order to live in His will, we continually need to humbly accept His guidance and strength.  If we are to boast, let us boast in the Lord, for He has done great things!

(Ephesians 2:8-9) For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.