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Obadiah 1:12-14

12 But thou shouldest not have looked [ra'ah] on the day [yowm] of thy brother [ach] in the day [yowm] that he became a stranger [neker]; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced [samach] over the children [ben] of Judah [Yahuwdah] in the day [yowm] of their destruction [abad]; neither shouldest thou have spoken [peh] proudly [gadal] in the day [yowm] of distress [tsarah].
13 Thou shouldest not have entered [bow] into the gate [sha`ar] of my people [am] in the day [yowm] of their calamity [eyd]; yea, thou shouldest not have looked [ra'ah] on their affliction [ra] in the day [yowm] of their calamity [eyd], nor have laid [shalach] hands on their substance [chayil] in the day [yowm] of their calamity [eyd];
14 Neither shouldest thou have stood [amad] in the crossway [pereq], to cut off [karath] those of his that did escape [paliyt]; neither shouldest thou have delivered up [cagar] those of his that did remain [sariyd] in the day [yowm] of distress [tsarah]. KJV-Interlinear

12 'Do not gloat over your brother's day, The day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah In the day of their destruction; Yes, do not boast In the day of their distress. 13 'Do not enter the gate of My people In the day of their disaster. Yes, you, do not gloat over their calamity In the day of their disaster. And do not loot their wealth In the day of their disaster. 14 'And do not stand at the fork of the road To cut down their fugitives; And do not imprison their survivors In the day of their distress. NASB

You cannot promote yourself based on the trouble brought upon someone else. You cannot advance yourself at the expense of another. Anytime you see trouble in someone else's life, and you take advantage of it in some form so as to advance yourself, then you are in the wrong. You are just as guilty as those who bring the calamity on the target of the one you despise.

In Obadiah's day, Edom was the one taking advantage of the trouble of Judah. This could have been intended for the troubles brought on Jerusalem by the Philistines and Arabians who attacked Jerusalem in the days of Jehoram, Jehoshaphat's son, 2 Kings 8:20-22, 2 Chron. 21:16-17.

There were certainly many other occasions when Edom made fun of and took advantage of the problems of Judah.

In our current day, there are gossips galore. On the internet, on the phone lines, there are many examples of this accepted gossip and ridicule style behavior in the many television sitcoms. Even on the radio and television airwaves, the talk shows seem at times to be nothing more than self appointed critics bent on destruction.

Whenever someone finds themselves in the midst of troubles, there will be the vultures sitting on the sidelines cheering on their trouble, or promoting it with their glee. They are no better than the Edomites who sat on the sidelines and watched the people of Judea suffer. And not only sat there, but we know from these verses that the Edomites did everything to make their plight far worse than it was.

Even those who ran from the invasion were not given sanctuary or aid by Edom, but were met with even more tyranny and trouble.

So it is in life. This is not just a story of Edom and the terrible punishment that it has suffered in the past for its lousy attitude, nor is this only a story of the destruction that awaits Edom in the future Tribulation (verse 15), on the Day of the Lord, but it is also a lesson of instruction for how you and I should conduct ourselves around other peoples.

Whether others are in trouble from across the sea, or across the phone lines, or on the internet, or right next door, or in the office place, we should never participate in their demise through gossip, or other various personal attacks against them.

Of course this does not apply to the due process of law in a legitimate court setting. Other principles of doctrine apply there.

However, in all instances of gloating, ridicule, judging, just down right cheap shots at someone else simply because they do not agree with you, simply because you do not like them, and so forth, you should never ever participate in adding fuel to the fires being brought against them.

Those who gossip, malign, and judge, will find themselves in the shoes of the Edomites. And, likewise anyone who pursues this kind of pattern of life - always critical, always complaining, always judging, always doing whatever they can to advance themselves at the expense of others, will find that they are defining and designing their own demise.

Unfortunately, they will usually discover it too late.

The Edomites existed for centuries and never figured it all out. You can live your life for decades (God is gracious) and never discover that God has allowed you to live only in order to provide a testing ground for the faith of others.

Evil people are nothing more than historical filler, nothing more than a means of testing the faith of those who are advancing toward their spiritual success.

So if you want to be a nothing person, then imitate the Edomites and gossip, and gloat, and take advantage of, and encourage the calamity of Gods chosen (or anyone else for that matter). And, you'll discover your nothingness too late, and with great embarrassment. Your participation in the downfall of mature believers (or anyone else) is in effect an aid to their success and the destruction of your own destiny.

Now isn't that being really dumb?

On the other hand, you can become a hot pursuer of your spiritual life and then recognize that there will be 'mine fields' of these types of people (Edomites, gossips, and so forth) who God allows to exist if not only for the purpose of giving you a testing ground for strengthening your own faith.

They may have their laugh (of antagonism against you) now, but in the long run you will have the last and best laugh of success (in your current and eternal blessings).

Now is the time to post a prayer.

End Of Lesson

Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.

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