The Pulpit Commentary — Obadiah — Section 42

Vers. 10, 11.-Bocial C'T'U(!lty: 2. Perpetrated a,gaimt a brother, specially offensive to God. "For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou sho.H be cut off for ever," etc. The cruelty here is not the cruelty merely of one man against another, but of one who is in close natural relationship to the other--children of the same parents. Strange as it may be, it is nevertheless a fact that a brotber'8 enmity is often the most savage and unrelenting. How can this fact be accounted for? From the greater amount of his natural love. True, the greater amount of love a man has in him, the greater capacity he has for wrath. Wrath is but love in flames. 'l.'he measure of a creature's love determines his power of anger. The little shallow lake cannot yield that amount of boiling steam which the ocean can produce. No love, no hatred; small love, small hatred ; large love, large hatred. A brother is supposed naturally to have more love in him towards his brother than any other. Hence, when this love is kindled into wrath, it is often terribly furious. But the truth contained in the text is this, that a brother's cruelty is specially offensive to Jehovah. It is for "thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever." But why should it be specially offensive? I Bl!lOAUBE THE OBLIGATION TO LOVE IS STRONGER. It is the duty of all men to love one another, but more e~pecially the duty of a brother to love bis brother. Children of the same parents are specially bound by nature to be one in sympathy and in heart. II. BEOAUBE THE OHIEF HUMAN INSTITUTION IS OUTRAGED. What is the chief human institution? That of a family. Schools, governments, Churches, are not to be compared to the family institution. The government of the family is the model government; the school of the family is the model school; the Church of the family is the model Ohurch. But when the members of this family become cruel to each other, this human institution is outraged. III. BEOAUBE THE TENDEREST HUMAN LOVES ARE WOUNDED. When brother inflicts injury on brother, parental hearts bleed, and sisters are struck with an agony of grief. CoNOLUBION. We wonder not, then, that cruelty towards brothers is more offensive to God than any other cruelty. Solomon has said that a" brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a. castle" (Prov. xviii. 19). The closer the relationship, in case of dispute, the wider the breach and the more difficult the reconciliation. A really offended brother is often harder to win back to friendship than the taking of a strong city or the breaking of the bars of a castle. Take the case of Cain and Abel, Joseph and his brethren, Absalom and Amnon. In all these cases nothing less than death was plotted and sought. Why is this? Why le a brother's anger so implacable? 1. Great love has been wounded. The more love, the greater capability of indignation. How strong the love of a real brother 1 2. Great services have been ill requited. What attentions a true brother shows! how numerous, delicate, and self-sacrificing I If the object of all has proved utterly unworthy of them, how intense his chagrin, how poignant his distress 1 3. Great ho-..,,es are frustrated. The offended brother anticipated a brother's sympathy, counsel, friendship, through all the checkered scenes of life. These hopes are shattered, and the wreck is vexatious beyond measure. 4. Great reluctance on the offender's side to acknowledge the fault and seek reconciliation. Strange as it may seem, it is yet true -a man would sooner offer an apology to any one than to his relations, especially to brothere.-D. T. Vere. 12-16.-Social cruelty: 3. As working in various forms from generation ti> generation. "But thou ehouldest not have looked on tbe day of thy brother in the day that Le became a stranger," etc. Here we have a sketch of the workings of thi::1 cruelty towards Judah when he was in great distress, sufferiug, and peril. I. CRUELTY BAB VARIOUS FORMS OF WORKING. Look at the forms here. 1. The 38 THE BOOK OF ODADIAII. [1-21.