On the day that you stood aloof,
on the day that strangers carried off his wealth
and foreigners entered his gates
and cast lots for Jerusalem,
you were like one of them.
Statues are rarely erected to those who “stood aloof”. They are built for those who stood up and moved forward for whatever they believed in. In 586 BC, Jerusalem fell to Babylon in the tragedy promised by God for their unbelief. Many stood by as if nothing extraordinary was going on and watched as the temple, the house of the Lord, was looted and destroyed. Obadiah’s words here intimate that their inaction had an effect. They looked for all the world like the Babylonians. That should have jolted them into shame. If someone mistook one of God’s people for those who destroyed his people, that is not a good place to be. Obadiah’s message is that what Babylon did will be done to them and you do not want to be counted among them.
There is something similar going on in the 21st century. The church is being destroyed from within by preachers teaching poor doctrine. It is being vilified from without by those calling us hypocrites and hatemongers. What is just as harmful is the legions of Christians who are standing aloof, watching it happen and not standing up for the truth of Scripture or for their Savior Jesus Christ. The world’s lost are attacking and Obadiah would say many Christians look like one of them. Here is how you know if you are aloof. Would people mistake you for an unbeliever? If someone found out you are a Christian, would they say “Really?” Pray today that you would not stand aloof against the enemy but that you would…
Stand up for what you believe in.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church