READING FOR NOVEMBER 7, 2025: OBADIAH 1, JAMES 4, PSALM 118:10-18 OBADIAH 1 This is a book with only one chapter and only one message. It is God speaking through a vision to Obadiah about the shortcomings of Edom’s behavior and the consequen- ces that will result from God’s judgment on them. For those who have been on this Bible-reading journey, we know that the nation of Edom is located south of Judah and that Edomites are the decedents of Esau, Jacob’s older brother. The vision starts with the consequences. God has sent a messenger to the nations, calling them to fight against Edom, a small country.
God says Edom is greatly despised among the nations (vs.3). Why is that? How can America avoid that situation? Here is the most recent data this writer can find regarding international attitudes toward our country: “As of the end of May [2025], China had an 8.8 net favorability rating, compared to -1.5 for the U.S., according to favorability data for last month provided exclusively to Axios by Morning Consult.” No doubt, many factors play into this. God said Edom’s underlying problem is arrogance (vs.3). Perhaps we struggle with the same problem.
Edom apparently believed their location high among the rocks would protect them (picture at left). But the Lord said, “I will bring you down.” If God determines to bring down a country, no amount of missile defense or other assets matter. God said Edom’s seemingly peaceful neighbors will overpower them. God said another danger will be a loss of wise men from Edom (vs.8). How can a country quantify that? Jesus said wise men obey Him (Matt. 7:24). Are there fewer followers of Jesus in America than before? A [2025] study, “which surveyed 37,000 Americans, found that 62% identify as Christian. By comparison, when Pew did a similar study in 2007, 78% said they were Christian.”
Verse 10 seems to indicate that there was one particular event that brought this to a head. Foreigners invaded Jerusalem and carried off their wealth while Edom did nothing (vs. 11). In fact, Edom took advantage of the situation by acquiring some of the treasure and handing over some of the surviving citizens. Then they gloated about Judah’s misery. This vision of Obadiah is significant because it shows God holding a nation other than Israel accountable for their actions. God is more than a God for Bible believers. He is Lord of the world. This might prompt questions about our country’s responsibility when powerful nations exploit weaker ones.
Verse 16 summarizes the consequences for Edom: “For just as you drank on My holy mountain, All the nations will drink continually. They will drink to the last drop, and become as if they had never existed.”So just as Edom exploited Jerusalem, all nations will do likewise to Edom. In fact, after A.D. 70, no record exists of any surviving Edomites-thus totally fulfilling this prophecy.
READING FOR NOVEMBER 7, 2025 CONTINUED: JAMES 4, PSALM 118:10-18 JAMES 4 James diagnoses a dysfunction group of people, likely a church. Whenever God’s people are not functioning well together, the problem is with the inner life of each person in the group. Each person needs to address his/her inner lusts, envy, prayerlessness, desire for cultural approval, selfishness, and pride. As we individually confess each of these sins to God, we are in fact submitting to God in complete humility. This also means submitting to the authority of God’s word—not making God’s word submit to us. Then we as individuals, and as a group, are in a position to resist the Devil in the strong name of Jesus—because greater is He who is in us than is in the world (1 John 4:4). It is God’s counterintuitive design that those who so humble themselves before Him are the very ones He chooses to exult. We dare not exult ourselves, but always seek the lower place: “But whenever you are invited, go and take the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are dining at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14: 10-11).
James states there is only one person who is a lawgiver, judge, and qualified to save or destroy. That is God alone. Thus, we are not in a position to determine who will be saved or destroyed. This is a judgment that God will eventually render: “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds” (Rev. 20: 12). Finally, James reminds us of the uncertainty of life. His sense of life’s brevity correlates with his emphasis on being a doer of the word, not just a hearer (1:23), on showing faith through works (2:18), and on doing whatever we know needs to be done (4:14).
PSALM 118:10-18 Three times the Psalmist said he was surrounded by the nations. Of course this is poetry, but it certainly conveys a reality of being outnumbered by opposing forces everywhere. Do we as Jesus followers ever feel the same? Here are findings of Baylor Univers- ity sociologist George Yancey: “My co-author and I find evidence that media are less sympathetic to stories where Christians face hate speech or violence than identical stores where other groups are victimized. Social institutions such as academia, media, entertainment, and the arts are likely to be places where anti-Christian prejudice and discrimination take place. Those institutions greatly shape our cultural values, and thus those with anti-Christian attitudes are in a position to create and sustain anti-Christian perspectives.”
So, what’s the Psalmist’s plan to “fend off” these forces? Verses 13-14 tell us to seek help from the Lord and make Him our strength, salvation, and song. Verse 15 tells us to shout for joy. The valiant and exalted right hand of the Lord will sustain us so that we can tell others about His works. Let’s look to God in our present position of cultural marginalization and publicly express what He has done, is doing, and will do. Be encouraged.
