Obadiah 1:1-4 The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom—
We have heard a report from the Lord,
And an envoy has been sent among the nations saying,
“Arise and let us go against her for battle”—
2 “Behold, I will make you small among the nations;
You are greatly despised.
3 “The arrogance of your heart has deceived you,
You who live in the clefts of the rock,
In the loftiness of your dwelling place,
Who say in your heart,
‘Who will bring me down to earth?’
4 “Though you build high like the eagle,
Though you set your nest among the stars,
From there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord.
You have been a proud nation, so proud you began to believe that you could not be destroyed. You looked outward to claim that you were invincible, that no one nation could defeat you. You did not pay attention to the most insidious enemy, yourself. You did not pay attention to the destruction that was underway from within. You are crumbling. You are shattering. You have given yourself over to self-adulation, to selfish ambitions, to fulfilling your selfish desires. You have made gods out of intellect, power, fame, money – all things that dissipate and do not have eternal significance. You bow down to desire. You fan the flames of hatred and racism. You care only for the moment. You have lost your compass, you have lost sight of true north. I am what you seek. I have what you desire. But, until you bow down to me, instead of your own egos, you will forever seek to fulfill your “desires”. You will forever strive to be more, to do more, to earn more, to garner more attention. When you drove me out of your society, you opened the door to all these behaviors that are destroying you from within. And it is not until you humble yourselves, repent and return to me that anything will change. Stop putting bandaids over gaping wounds. Stop trying to stop the bleeding while continuing to behave in ways that cause it. Stop trying to do what only I can do. (2019)
Amanuensis 