Fri Apr 10

Listen up, little ones

Listen for the words do not.

Reading

Obadiah 1:10-16—Like One of Them

Optional Reading

1 Samuel 22:6-23

Keys for kids

• Pride gives birth to violence.
• Jesus suffered our pride's violence.
• God will punish pride, either in Christ or in us.

Questions

1. How is pride "worked out" in our lives?
2. Did Jesus suffer violence born of pride? Explain.
3. How does God punish the violence of men?

Notes

(See Saturday for authors.)

Sin conceived wants to be born. Like faith, pride wants to be "worked out," but instead of love, pride gives birth to violence. Sadly, the people we should love most suffer most from pride's violence.

Edom's history proves this. Esau coveted the blessing Jacob stole and tried to kill him (Gen. 27:41); Edom attacked Israel in Moses's day (Nu. 20:20); Doeg the Edomite betrayed David and slaughtered the priests (1 Sam. 22:6-23); Herod, a descendant of Esau, stood with Pilate to condemn Jesus to death (Lk. 23:6-12). Thus, Obadiah wrote, You were like one of them (Ob. 1:11). Jesus suffered pride's violence more than anyone.

God loves justice. He certainly loves mercy, but he also hates sin, especially violence against those who call us brother. Obadiah warns us that such violence will not go unpunished. He judged Edom's violence against Judah, but how much more our violence against Christ? Jesus, your elder brother, stooped to serve; he became like you in your lowliness. He was cut off for his brothers' sake in the day of calamity (vv. 10, 13). Heed this warning: God will punish brotherly violence either in Christ's once-for-all death or in our everlasting death (v. 16).

Swedish Method questions

Praise

Psalm 12, 2a

Prayer

1. Ask God to forgive your violence against his Servant, Jesus Christ.
2. Pray for the hearing of God’s word preached this Lord's Day.
3. Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.