tempting adversity. The inatrnment employed in humbling the proud may be human, a.a in the case of the Edomites, but the power that chastises is Divine. It ia ever true under the government of God that he abases the proud and gives grace unt.o the lowly. Ver. 1.-The treacherou, betrayed. The Edomitea had turned against their own kinsmen, the children of Israel, had leagued with Israel's enemies, and aided in bringing about Israel's calamities. They had chosen for their allies heathen nations in their own vicinity, relying upon their fidelity and support. The prophet is inspired to BSsure them that the confederacies they have formed shall fail them, that the friends in whom they have trusted shall prove false, and that Edom shall suffer the • reward of perfidy in desertion and subjection. I. To DESERT AND TO INJURE THE FRIENDS OJ' Goo IS TO INCUR THE DISPLEASURB OJ' GoD. The sons of Israel were the chosen and beloved people, and, notwithstanding their frequent unfaithfulness, they were the objects of Divine regard and interest and love. Those who attacked the Israelites attacked him who was in reality their King. Israel was e. theocracy, and the anger of the King was enkindled against those who, like these Edomites, treated with injustice the beloved nation. rr. To FORM A LEAGUB WITH Goo's ENEMIES WILL NEVER CONDUCE TO PROSPERITY: THEY WILL JlECOME INSTRUMENTS OF DIVINE RETRIBUTION. The Edomites were attacked, wounded, disgraced,-and despised by the very people whose friendship they had courted in preference to that of God's own chosen nation. Their confidence was in vain; the prop upon which they leaned proved e. spear to pierce them. Their fancied wisdom brought them to utter perplexity and ruin. APPLICATION. No alliance with wicked men can serve any holy purpose. It may promise well, but the reality will not correspond with the promise. The friendship of sinners is illusive, seductive, and vain. " The companion of fools shall be destroyed.'' Vere. 8, 9.-Wisdom and po1Dl!JI' of no avail against God. OC all their pcssessions men a.re most prone to rely upcn and to boast of their physical prowess and their intellectual sagacity. It is thought that great pcwer, directed by consummate prudence and wisdom, is of all things earthly the most trustworthy, the most unfailing. Yet warnings a.re in Scripture often addressed to men to dissuade them from an undue confidence even in gifts and qualities so rare and admirable as these. The sons of Esau are in this passage admonished that, if they trust to their own wisdom and their own strength for safety, protection, and deliverance, their trnst shall be disappointed. I. HUMAN POWER AND WISDOM ARE ALWAYS IN THEJIISELVES VERY LIMlTED. What is the might of man when compared with the great forces of nature-the earthquake, the tempestuous sea, etc. ? And before how inany speculative difficulties and practical problems does the wisdom of man confess itself utterly baffled I It is strange that whilst, looking at the general law, men are always ready to confess their physical and intellectual impctency, when they come to particular cases calling for strength and wisdom they are so ready to confide in that which they have every reason to distrust. II. HUMAN POWER AND WISDOM ARE OFTEN MISDIBECTED. Good in themselvee, and admirable instances of the creative skill of God himself, these qualities are especially liable to abuse. Such is the case when power is employed in the cause of injustice and oppression, when wisdom is misused to defeat the designs of truth and charity. Often in the history of other nations than Edom has this misuse been exhibited. We are too prone to admire and extol strength and sagacity superior to our own; but it is better to ask-How have these gifts been used? By what principles have they been guided? I!J. fiUJ.t:AN POWER AND WISDOM WILL CERTAINLY BE BROUGHT TO NOTHING IJ' OPPOSED TO THE COUNSELS OF GoD. Mnn's power may be great; God's is irresistible. Man's wisdom may be profound, but God's is omniscient. Hence when that which is finite opposes itself to that which is infinite, the result c~n only be disastrous for man. Edom found this to be so; and the experience of Edum has been the experience of multitudes in every age. A'l'PLIOATION. "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty 10 TnE BOOK OF OBADIAH. [1-21.
man glory in bis might; .•. but let him that glorieth glory in this, thAt be under- Fh!.ndetb Rnd knowetb me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth."
'Vers. 10-14.-.A neighbou,,.'s cro,e!ty. The prophet deeply feels the injury which Esau hag inflicted upon Israel, and the Jauguage of this passage gives evidence of a heart deeply aggrieved and wronged and distressed. We have, indeed, in these verses an example of the length to which the cruelty of man can go. I. THE DETAILS OF THIS CRUELTY. 1. Edom i~ charged with siding with foreigners again~t Jerusalem in the day when the city was assaulted and taken. 2. And with rejoicing over Judah's misfortunes, and mocking at her calamities. 3. And with sharing in the spoils of the city when the capture took place. 4. And even with cutting off the retreat of the wretched fugitives. II. 'l'HE AGGRAVAT1;0N. OF THIS CRUELTY. If a stranger, a "natural enemy" (as men say), h:id done this, 1t would have been bad enough. But the Edomites were of the same descent with the Jews; these being sons of Jacob, those of Esau. The point is given to the sting by this fact. It is with "violence against thy brother Jacob" that Edom is charged. "Man's inhumanity to ma.n" is the most sad and depressing spectacle that earth affords. When natural kindred and affinity bind men together, those who snap those ties and assail their brethren are monsters of iniquity. · III. THE PENALTY OF THIS CRUELTY. This was plainly published by Obadiah. "Thou," said he to Edom-" thou shalt be cnt off for ever." The laws of God· cannot be violated with impunity. The relations which God ha.s fashioned cannot be outraged without invoh-ing the guilty in tho awful consequences of their sin, "The way of transgressors is hard."