The Ukrainian situation has changed dramatically in the past few months. The rhetoric from Britain and America for most of the war has been that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainians as they face down Russian aggression. However, since President Trump’s inauguration, it has been clear that the US sees itself as having much less of a stake in Ukrainian victory. America has moved from ally to neutral bystander, albeit one that believed it could negotiate peace and from bystander to the one negotiating with Russia for a settlement where American interests remain the primary concern.
If you are able to put yourself in the shoes of the Ukrainian people right now, then you might find yourself able to put your shoes of the people of Judah at the time of Obadiah’s prophecy. The Edomites were descendants of their ancestor, Jacob’s brother, Esau and near neighbours to Israel and Judah. Esau and Jacob had of course been rivals from birth, wrestling for the birthright and the blessing but that had been settled in their lifetime. You might expect descendants of brothers to be allies. However, that wasn’t often the case. The Edomites had even been among those who had opposed the Israelites attempt to go into the promised land during the Exodus.
Now, as Judah, the southern kingdom faced an existential crisis, the onslaught of Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonians, the destruction of Jerusalem and exile to Babylon, Edom had at best stood by, claiming to be neutral whilst in fact, taking pleasure in their neighbour’s misfortunes and worse, taking advantage of them.
Where do you stand in the story?
An important question to ask when we are looking at an Old Testament account is who we identify with and who we are meant to identify with in the story. It affects how we hear what is said and how we apply it. Now, it should hopefully be immediately obvious that we are not meant to identify with the Edomites but with Judah.
This is good news. There may be times when you experience opposition for belonging to Jesus and worse still, there may be times when those who you hoped would understand and support you in your faith do not and those who you hoped, even if they didn’t get your faith, would be there for you through the challenges of life would be there for you haven’t neen. That might include non-Christian family members, friends, colleagues etc. You would have hoped for at least some sympathy or understanding when experiencing suffering, that disturbing diagnosis, the threat of redundancy, the relationship breakdown or even when others have been cruel towards you. Yet, those who you hoped would stand with you seem to have “stood aloof”, disinterested.
Do you know that God stands with you?
Whilst the prophecy was about Edom, it was probably not heard by the Edomites, at least in it s final form. So, in fact, the purpose of Obadiah making it was that God’s people would hear it. It was first of all a message of hope for them. They may have felt completely deserted, betrayed alone. Yet, Yahweh wanted them to know that he saw what Edom were doing. He declares
“Because of the violence against your brother Jacob,
you will be covered with shame;
you will be destroyed forever.”[1]
The point is that God has seen the sin of Edom against God’s people and God is acting.
God wants you to know that he is for his people. That means he is for the whole church around the world, throughout history. In Ephesians 5, we are reminded that the church is the bride of Christ. He loves us and gave his life for us. It means he is for the local church and he is for you as an individual Christian.
We don’t like to talk about eternal judgement much these days but yes ,it is good news for Gods’ people. A day will come when God’s people will be vindicated and when those who have continued to stand against god and seek the harm of his people will face judgement and justice.
This reminds us that vengeance belongs to the Lord. We do not need to waste energy, effort and emotion on seeking to get even. We continue to trust God, live faithfully, do what is right and share the good news.
Do you stand with God’s people
However, there is also a warning here too. Remember that God’s people were meant to be the main hearers of the message. Whilst there is the assurance of God’s justice against the enemy, there’s a warning too. Remember what it is that Edom stand charged with.
They “stood aloof” instead of coming to their neighbour’s aid. They looked on whilst God’s people were attacked, They acted as though they were neutral but in fact were acting just like the enemy (v11).
Some things they should not have done are listed.
- Gloated at Judah’s misfortune (v12a)
- Rejoiced at Judah’s suffering (v12b)
- Boasted about themselves (v12c)
- Marched through their gates – in your face gloating or joining in the looting (v13)
- Seized their wealth (v14)
- Picke doff the survivors as they fled (v14)
This shows that they moved beyond pretended neutrality in order to take advantage. It starts with the appearance of aloofness but moves to taking advantage of the violence and ends up with violence itself.
The problem is that not only had the Edomites done this but as you read through the Old Testament, you begin to see that even among God’s people are those who rather than standing with and for each other, they have at best stood aloof and at worst stood against their brothers and sisters, acting in their own interest. They have done the same things.
How we treat one another as believers matters. If we love Christ, we should love his bride. Some of us have experienced the pain of being severely let down by other believers. Knowing what that feels like should act as a warning. We should not act in the same way.
Do you stand with Christ?
Whenever we read Old Testament prophecy, we are meant to apply it to Christ and then through Christ to us. The New Testament describes Jesus as our brother. Jesus both encourages and warns his disciples asking whether they will be ashamed of him or with him. Will he be ashamed of them on judgement day?
In one of his parables, Jesus describes wicked tenants who fail to pay their dues to the vineyard owner. He sends messengers, servants to collect his share of the produce as rent. They are beaten up and even when he sends his own son, the Son is beaten and killed. The owner of course will not stand for this and so comes in judgement. Jesus was the rejected, beaten and killed. During his crucifixion, he was mocked and cursed by those who should have been on his side, even his closest followers deserted him, denied him and in one case betrayed him All will have to give account for how they have treated him
There is no halfway house. We cannot be neutral. We are either against Jesus or with him. Jesus’ vindication is seen first in his resurrection and will finally be seen when he returns as judge and king. Those who have continued to defy him and stand against him will face judgement. It is because we stand, not just with but in Christ that we are vindicated. This means both that Jesus suffered the shame that we deserve, just as Edom did. It also means that we have suffered his shame and died with him so that we might rise and be vindicated with him (Romans 6:1-2).
Conclusion
Do you know where you stand? What steps will you take next? First of all, this morning can I encourage you to recommit your lifer again to say not just that you stand with Jesus but that you stand in him.
For some of us there is a further step to take as soon as possible this week. It will mean that if you have failed to stand with other Christians when they have been under attack then you will want to go and speak to them, to say that you are sorry.
Longer term, it means being accountable to one another in the church and as a church to other churches, This means committing to closer fellowship with each other and as a church with other churches.
[1] Obadiah 10.
Faithroots 