Contemplative Bible Reading

Obadiah 1:13 (New Living Translation)

13 You should not have plundered the land of Israel
when they were suffering such calamity.
You should not have gloated over their destruction
when they were suffering such calamity.
You should not have seized their wealth
when they were suffering such calamity.

God is speaking to the people of Edom through the prophet Obadiah. Those people were guilty of a few things and punishment was coming their way.

The people of Edom plundered the people of Israel. The people of Edom stole everything they wanted. Plundering and stealing are wrong; they are crimes everywhere for all people of the earth.

And right up there with these heinous crimes is, uh, er, gloating. Gloating? Uh, well, perhaps there is something lost in translation or something like that, huh?

Nope, taking pleasure in another’s misfortune is wrong. It is just as bad as stealing.

Consider that here in America we are in an election year. Some people will suffer misfortune. Will I gloat about that? Uh, er, well…please God, help me in my unbelief.