“The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD” (Obadiah 1:3-4).
Pride is self-esteem, confidence, and satisfaction in the self. Some people try to run their own lives without God, as if they do not need Him. Why is that? Because they put themselves first.
Introducing and Declaring the Destruction of Edom
Obadiah is the shortest book of the Old Testament. It is labeled as “TheVision of Obadiah,” as it prophesies the judgment to fallonthe nationof Edom.The only thing stated about Obadiah is his role as a prophet, nothing is noted about his historical or personal life.The Edomites were descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob,which made them relatedtothechildrenof Israel(Genesis25:19-27:45).
Jacob had taken his mother Rebekah’s advice in deceiving his father (Isaac) into receiving the blessing of the birthright of the eldest son, which rightfully belonged to Esau. Jacob had not been a good brother toward Esau, but they were still brothers. You would have expected Esau to have been better. Although they had reconciled their differences years later, there was still some animosity between them.
Although the Edomites did not initiate any attacks toward Judah/Israel, they were like mercenaries and were the “reinforcements” or “extras” in the battles. They joined in the plundering of Judah/Israel. They took whatever was available for themselves. It is not noted here why the main aggressors (Egypt, Philistines, Babylon, Assyria) are not condemned, only the Edomites. But becauseofEdom’sdefianceof God,their pride, and how they treatedJudah, disaster would come unto them.
“The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord God concerning Edom; We have heard a rumor from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised” (Obadiah 1:1-2, KJV).
The Prophecy Is Authenticated by God
“Thus saith the Lord.” It did not come from Obadiah, just through him as God used him. The prophecy’s focus was “concerning Edom,” it was not directed at the nations who were the main aggressors toward Judah/Israel.
A summary of the prophecy
“We have heard a rumor.” Obadiah includes himself. This rumor is not hearsay as the word is known today. The Hebrew translation (Shemuah) means a report. “An ambassador is sent among the heathen,” means a report has been sent out to outlying nations via a messenger.
A summary of the declaration
This concernsEdom’s future ruin.“Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen” is stated toward the Edomites to let them know how minuscule they are. Next isEdom’s future appraisal.“Thou art greatly despised.” Because of their self-centered attitude and disdainfulness, God rebuked them.
God Accuses Edom of Pride
“The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord” (Obadiah 1:3-4, KJV).
Edom was proud because of the security they now experienced, and how inaccessible they were to the outside world. Edom was the southern neighbor of Judah, and its capital was Petra, a city cut into a cliff of solid rock. It was considered impenetrable because the only way in was through a narrow canyon. The Edomites were proud of how secure they felt in their city, their self-sufficiency, their wealth, their allies, and their wisdom, but this would cause them to be brought down. They only fooled themselves.
Those that have a favorable opinion of themselves are prone to think others feel the same way about them; but they will be mistaken. God can make low those that have amplified and lifted themselves up. Those with pride in their hearts talk with certainty and may even harbor a hatred of God’s decisions, as though the intensity of the Almighty could not overwhelm them (Jeremiah 49:15-16).
Those with prideful hearts announce to everyone that they can live without God. Pride will destroy Christians, destroying their ability to be of service to God. They are all in it for the show. Remember the Pharisee and the Publican? The Pharisee was showing off, “Look at what I am not, look at what I do, and look at what I have” (Luke 18:11). Satan was proud and it was his downfall (Isaiah 14:13-15). Nebuchadnezzar was proud and look at what happened to him (Daniel 4:30-32).
The Outcome of Pride
The Bible declares the route to self-destruction is pride (Proverbs 16:18). The judgment on Edom was to bring about justice. To anyone that believes “Who shall bring me down to the ground?” God replies, “I will.” Just like the way the nation of Edom and the city of Petra fell, people with pride in their hearts will fall. Humility is more secure than pride.
In the book of Proverbs, there are six things that the Lord cannot stand, and seven things are an abomination: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running about to cause mischief, a false witness that speaks lies, and he that sews discord among the believers(Proverbs 6:16-19).What is the first one? Pride!
Pride goes against God and will bring about judgment.Satan’s sin was that of pride, and it was his downfall, just like Babylon’s. Israel tragically was too proud to even think about relying upon God, and we too are prone to that equivalent mistake (Isaiah 14:12-15).
Many Christians have pride in different things: Who they are, their social standing, or even the grace they have received from Christ. But salvation should not make us proud. It is a free gift offered to everyone and it is freely given to those who are humble.
The more an individual regards and fears God, the more that person cannot stand evil. Love for God and love for wrongdoing cannot coincide. Holding onto secret sins implies that we are enduring evil inside ourselves. We really need to make a total separation from transgression and submit ourselves totally to God(Proverbs 8:13).
Pride brings about shame, not wisdom(Proverbs 11:2).Pride is the inner voice that murmurs, “My way is the best way.” It is opposing the leadership of God and thinking that we can live without his assistance. Whenever we end up wanting to do anything on our own and peering down on others, pride is pulling us. It is when we take out pride and let God assist us that will we grow into all he has planned for us (Proverbs 16:5).
Other Scripture regarding pride:
“Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them” (Proverbs 26:12).
“Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor” (Proverbs 29:23).
“This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches’” (Jeremiah 9:23).
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited” (Romans 12:16).
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble’” (James 4:6).
“For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:16).
Seek Help from God and Others to Root Out Pride
Proud individuals make little assessment of their shortcomings and do not expect to encounter any stumbling blocks. They believe that they are immune to the frailties of everyday citizens. In this perspective, they are effectively entangled. Incidentally, proud individuals frequently miss their own problems with pride, even when everybody around them is very much aware of it. We ought to ask a trustworthy person to find out if smugness has dazed us to any noticeable signs. The person might assist us with keeping away from a fall(Proverbs 16:18).
When we try to run our own lives, we put ourselves in the place of God. How many of us try to run our lives without God, as if we do not need Him? That is pride, which is sin, and it is fatal. We are not to let pride control us. We must recognize when pride tries to set in and push it back out the door. We must pray and ask God to help us defend against any proudness of heart.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Hans Harms
