“You were like one of them.” Obadiah 1:11
Brotherly kindness was due from Edom to Israel in the time of need, but instead, the men of Esau made common cause with Israel’s foes. Special stress in the sentence before us is laid upon the word you, as when Caesar cried to Brutus, “and you Brutus.” A bad action may be all the worse, because of the person who has committed it. When we sin, who are the chosen favorites of heaven, we sin with an emphasis; ours is a crying offense, because we are so peculiarly indulged. If an angel should lay his hand upon us when we are doing evil, he need not use any other rebuke than the question, “What, you? What are you doing here?” Much forgiven, much delivered, much instructed, much enriched, much blessed, shall we dare to put our hand forward to evil? God forbid!
A few minutes of confession may be beneficial to you, gentle reader, this morning. Have you never been as the wicked? At an evening party certain men laughed at uncleanness, and the joke was not altogether offensive to your ear, and you were like one of them. When hard things were spoken concerning the ways of God, you were bashfully silent; and so, to onlookers, you were like one of them. When worldlings were bartering in the market, and driving hard bargains, were you not like one of them? When they were pursuing vanity with a hunter’s foot, were you not as greedy for gain as they were? Could any difference be discerned between you and them? Is there any difference?
Here we come to close quarters. Be honest with your own soul, and make sure that you are a new creature in Christ Jesus. But when this is sure, walk jealously, lest any should again be able to say, “Even you were as one of them.” You would not desire to share their eternal doom, why then be like them here? Do not come into their secret, lest you come into their ruin. Side with the afflicted people of God, and not with the world.
Adapted from Morning and Evening.
