“Even you were as 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 joined
ranks with Israel’s enemies. Special stress in the sentence before
us is laid on the word you; just as when Caesar cried to
Brutus, “and you Brutus;” a bad action may be all the
worse because of the person who committed it. When we, who are
the chosen favorites of heaven, sin, we sin with an emphasis; ours is
a crying offence because we are so especially favored. If an angel
should lay his hand upon us when we are doing evil, he does not need
to 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 forth
our hand unto evil? God forbid!
A few minutes of confession may be
beneficial to you 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, even you were as one of
them. When hard things were spoken concerning the ways of God,
you were bashfully silent; and so, to onlookers, you were as one
of them. When worldlings were bartering in the market, and
driving hard bargains, were you not as one of them? When they were
pursuing vanity with the drive of a hunter, were you not as greedy
for gain they they were? Could any difference be discerned between
you and them? Is there any difference? Here we come to the
crux of the issue. 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 doings, lest
you come into their ruin. Side with the afflicted people of God, and
not with the world.
Taken from Charles Spurgeon’s Morning
and Evening, passage for the morning of July 23.
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