Obadiah 1:3-4, “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.”

Though small, pride was an evident problem in Edom. The Edomites had built cities amongst cliffs and rock canyons and thought them to be impenetrable militarily. A later example is that of Petra. It doesn’t matter how great our human effort; pride routinely deceives us into thinking all is well. Pride causes one to think he is greater than he is. It is utterly deceptive. And that same deception continues to this day. Pride deceives people into a false sense of superiority or security. It leads to foolish decisions and arrogance. It is evident that our current society is full of itself and thus filled with pride.

Though Edom in their pride had exalted themselves in their own minds, God warned He would abase them. In their pride, they thought themselves as an eagle riding the wind currents. In their arrogance, they thought their rank to be on the same level as the stars.

How does this apply to our nation today? We need to humble ourselves in the sight of God! Scripture states, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” (James 4:10) Otherwise be forewarned, “For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.” (Obadiah 1:15) We always reap what we sow.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1. What causes pride to grow in our hearts?

2. Do you believe everyone has some degree of pride in their lives? Explain.

3. What are some of the negative results of pride? How might they harm you?

4. What can you do to keep the words of James 4:10 forever operative in your life?