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SHAME WILL COVER YOU (OBEDIAH 1:10-21)

REFLECTION

“Shame will cover you” is the theme for our reflection. Shame is a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behaviour. Shame will cover you is a declaration indicating that a person will suffer great humiliation or distress. We shall reflect on the fact that God can cause shame to cover us if we are wicked and insensitive to the plight of others.

The prophet Obadiah declared that God’s judgement of humiliation would come upon the Edomites for betraying Israel and refusing to come to their aid when they were attacked by the Babylonian empire. The Edomites and the Israelites were related. Edom and Israel are with Esau and Jacob respectively. But, when Israelites were in distress, the Edomites rather became the allies of Israel’s enemy to further cause harm to Israel. It is for this reason, Obadiah said concerning Edom, “On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem,

you were like one of them. 12 You should not gloat over your brother

in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah

in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble.” (Obadiah 1:11-12). Dear friend, we are greatly admonished not to delight in the suffering or calamity of others but to come to their aid. God expects us to respect the human dignity of others and be sensitive to their plight and human rights violations. We must never feel comfortable and at ease when others are being abused or attacked. Regardless of our religious, ethnic, racial, class and political ideological differences, we share a common humanity and must so be concerned about one another’s welfare and security. Edom failed to show compassion and sympathy to the Israelites in their time of suffering hence the Lord said to Edom, “Because of the violence against your brother Jacob,

you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever.” (Obadiah 1:10) It means that no matter how profitable conspiracy and evil is, there is a costly and painful price to pay. Our price is that we shall incur the wrath of God. Nahum cautions us ” Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him. (Nahum 1:6)

Christians must follow the perfect example of Jesus Christ in showing agape or unconditional love to all and sundry. Some people may not like us or even seek our downfall but it is not a justification to conspire against them or rejoice in their pain and suffering. We agree with the Psalmist when he wrote, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night…Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.” (Psalms 1:1-2, 4-6). Our attitudes and perception must be transformed by the Word of God so that we are not misled or misguided to harm others for whatever reason lest we face the judgment or wrath of God God.

In summary, we have learnt that God can cause shame or humiliation to cover us if we are unrepentantly wicked to others and insensitive to their plights. Shalom.

PRAYER

Lord forgive us for any act of wickedness, lack of sympathy for those we ought to have helped in their time of distress and calamity. The Holy Spirit strengthens us to overcome bitterness and unforgiveness, walk in the love of Christ and care for those who are in distress irrespective of our differences. Amen.