Obadiah 1:2-14

In the Old Testament, the principle of reciprocal justice (lex talionis), exacted an eye for an eye and stripe for stripe.  In today’s text, the prophet comforts the people of Israel in their suffering in exile with the assurance that Yahweh will expose Edom as his enemies at the points of pride in their military, economic strength and wisdom.  Edom’s sins of omission, failing to come to the aid of their brothers, escalated to sins of commission through standing in the way of their brother Jacob.  May we examine our own hearts to repent of our own sins and learn to trust in the Creator rather than created things.  According to God’s perfect justice, we who are in Christ will escape his judgment and, by the stripes of the punishment for our sins laid upon Christ, we are healed.