the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Obadiah 1:12-21
"Thou shouldest not . . . neither shouldest thou . . . neither shouldest thou . . ." Seven times over, the voice of the divine Judge pronounces more and more serious accusations. At first they concern only guilty looks, and an evil joy sated by the sufferings and disaster experienced by others. The same shameless, cynical looks were directed upon the crucified Jesus. "They look and stare upon me" (Psalms 22:17). But the malice of Edom (and that of the enemies of Jesus) is also translated into words and into actions. "They shoot out the lip, they shake the head" (Psalms 22:7; cf. end of v. 12). Is there a worse form of cowardice than to insult someone who is in distress? Impelled by their plundering instincts, Edom had taken advantage of Israel’s calamity to lay hands on their substance; they had pitilessly cut off those that escaped . . . None of these crimes will remain unpunished. The day of the LORD will bring a final and complete revenge from "Mount Zion" upon "the mount of Esau". Whilst a remnant from other nations will live happily under Messiah’s sceptre, Edom is to be wiped off the map of the millennial reign. A solemn disappearance of this race of Esau, who had once despised the blessing!
