Humility Over Pride: Lessons from Obadiah
Summary
The book of Obadiah, though the shortest in the Old Testament, carries a weighty message that echoes through generations. Obadiah’s prophecy is not directed at Israel or Judah, but at Edom—a nation descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother. The ancient rivalry between Jacob and Esau, which began with a stolen birthright, grew into a deep-seated animosity between their descendants. This tension reached a breaking point when Edom not only rejoiced over Judah’s destruction at the hands of the Babylonians but actively participated in their suffering, looting Jerusalem and betraying fleeing Jews.
God’s judgment against Edom is rooted in their pride. The Edomites, secure in their mountainous strongholds and puffed up by their own sense of superiority, allowed pride to deceive their hearts. This pride led them to celebrate the downfall of their kin and to act with violence and betrayal. God’s response is clear: pride leads to downfall. Edom’s fate is a warning to all who exalt themselves and oppose God’s purposes—eventually, the proud will be brought low.
Yet, the message is not just for Edom or ancient nations. Pride is a universal human struggle, a sin that distances us from God and from one another. It is the root of self-righteousness, the temptation to set our own standards, and the refusal to acknowledge our need for God’s grace. Scripture consistently calls God’s people to humility, modeled perfectly in Jesus Christ, who, though equal with God, humbled Himself to serve and to save.
Humility is not self-deprecation but a right understanding of ourselves before God—creatures before our Creator, children before our Father. It is the posture that opens us to God’s blessing, healing, and guidance. When we humble ourselves, we make room for God to be God in our lives, to provide, protect, and lead us. The call is to lay down our pride, confess our self-reliance, and trust wholly in Jesus, who alone restores us to right relationship with God. In the end, all human kingdoms and pride will fade, but the kingdom of the Lord will endure forever.
Key Takeaways
- Pride is a subtle and destructive force that deceives the heart, leading us to justify actions that harm others and separate us from God. The Edomites’ downfall began with their prideful sense of security and superiority, which blinded them to their kinship with Judah and to God’s standards of justice and mercy. Pride always distorts our vision and leads us away from God’s heart. [40:08]
- The story of Edom and Judah is a reminder that unresolved conflicts and old wounds, if left unchecked, can grow into generational animosity and even violence. God calls us to remember our shared humanity and, where possible, to seek reconciliation, refusing to let past grievances justify present sin. The refusal to forgive or to see the other as “brother” is fertile ground for pride to flourish. [31:15]
- Humility is not weakness but strength—the strength to lay down our rights, ambitions, and self-justifications for the sake of others. Jesus, though He had every right to exalt Himself, chose the path of humility, serving and sacrificing for us. True greatness in God’s kingdom is found in humble service, not in self-promotion or power. [41:44]
- Pride is not just a personal issue but a communal and even national one. When entire communities or nations exalt themselves, trust in their own strength, or oppress others, they set themselves against God’s purposes. Healing and restoration come when God’s people humble themselves, pray, and seek His face, acknowledging their dependence on Him above all else. [49:19]
- The remedy for pride is found in Jesus Christ. By dying to ourselves and boasting only in the Lord, we are freed from the tyranny of self and restored to our true identity as God’s beloved children. In Christ, all our striving and self-exaltation fall away, replaced by gratitude and trust in God’s enduring kingdom. [51:24]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[25:29] - Introduction to Obadiah and Series Context
[27:48] - Obadiah’s Audience: Edom, Not Israel
[28:26] - Historical Background: Obadiah’s Time and Setting
[30:29] - Jacob and Esau: The Roots of Edom and Israel
[31:15] - Generational Conflict and Animosity
[32:18] - The Edomites’ Actions and God’s Judgment
[33:44] - Edom’s Betrayal During Babylonian Exile
[35:06] - “You Should Not Have”: God’s Indictment
[36:17] - The Day of the Lord and Edom’s Downfall
[37:49] - The Underlying Sin: Pride
[40:08] - The Dangers of Pride in Scripture
[41:44] - The Call to Humility: Philippians 2
[43:23] - Jesus’ Teaching on Pride and Humility
[45:58] - Examining Our Own Pride
[47:20] - Pride’s Rejection of God’s Plumb Line
[49:19] - Humility and National Repentance
[50:14] - The First Commandment and Trusting God
[51:24] - The Remedy: Jesus Christ
[52:42] - God’s Kingdom Endures Forever
[54:15] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Book of Obadiah – Pride, Humility, and God’s Enduring Kingdom
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### Bible Reading
- Obadiah 1 (the whole book – only 21 verses)
- Philippians 2:1-11 (The Christ Hymn – Jesus’ example of humility)
- 2 Chronicles 7:14 (“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves…”)
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Obadiah, what actions did the Edomites take against Judah during the Babylonian invasion? ([33:44])
2. In Obadiah, what is the main reason God gives for judging Edom? ([37:49])
3. In Philippians 2:1-11, what specific attitudes and actions does Paul say should mark the lives of followers of Jesus?
4. What does 2 Chronicles 7:14 say is required for God to bring healing and forgiveness to a nation?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does God connect Edom’s pride to their betrayal of Judah, and how does this show the destructive power of pride in relationships? ([37:49])
2. How does the story of Jacob and Esau help us understand the roots of the conflict between Edom and Judah? ([31:15])
3. According to the sermon, why is humility not the same as weakness, and how is Jesus the ultimate example of humility? ([41:44])
4. What does it mean for a community or nation to humble itself before God, and what might that look like today? ([49:19])
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### Application Questions
1. The Edomites’ pride led them to justify actions that harmed their relatives. Can you think of a time when pride made it hard for you to see someone as a “brother” or “sister”? How did that affect your actions or attitudes? ([33:44])
2. The sermon mentioned that pride is a “subtle and destructive force” that can deceive our hearts. What are some subtle ways pride shows up in your life? How can you become more aware of it? ([40:08])
3. Philippians 2 calls us to “count others more significant than yourselves.” What is one practical way you could do this in your family, workplace, or church this week? ([41:44])
4. The story of Edom and Judah warns about letting old wounds and unresolved conflicts grow into bitterness. Is there a relationship in your life where you need to seek reconciliation or forgiveness? What’s one step you could take? ([31:15])
5. The sermon said that pride is not just a personal issue but can affect whole communities or nations. Are there ways you see pride affecting your workplace, church, or even our country? How could you be part of bringing humility and healing? ([49:19])
6. The remedy for pride is found in Jesus—by dying to ourselves and boasting only in the Lord. What does “boasting in the Lord” look like for you personally? Is there an area where you need to let go of self-reliance and trust Jesus more? ([51:24])
7. The pastor said, “When we humble ourselves, we make room for God to be God in our lives.” Is there a specific area where you need to let God lead, provide, or heal? What would it look like to humble yourself in that area this week? ([47:58])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for humility, for open eyes to see pride in their own hearts, and for the courage to seek reconciliation and trust Jesus more deeply.
Devotional
Day 1: The Dangers of Pride and the Fall of Edom
Pride deceives and leads to downfall, separating us from God.
Obadiah’s prophecy against Edom reveals how pride can blind a people to their own sin, causing them to celebrate the suffering of others and even participate in injustice. The Edomites, descendants of Esau, allowed old grudges and arrogance to fester until they rejoiced in the destruction of their kin, Judah, and took part in their suffering. God’s judgment against Edom is a warning that pride not only destroys relationships but also invites God’s opposition. When we allow pride to rule our hearts, we become deaf to God’s call and blind to our own faults, setting ourselves up for a fall. [36:17]
Obadiah 1:3-4 (ESV)
"The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?' Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord."
Reflection: Where in your life do you see pride creeping in, causing you to justify actions or attitudes that you know are not pleasing to God?
Day 2: Christlike Humility as the Antidote to Pride
Jesus models true humility, calling us to lay down selfish ambition.
The ultimate remedy for pride is found in the example of Jesus, who, though He was God, chose to humble Himself and serve others, even to the point of death on a cross. Philippians 2 calls believers to reject selfish ambition and conceit, instead valuing others above themselves and seeking unity through humility. This Christlike mindset is not natural to us, but it is the path to true greatness in God’s kingdom. When we humble ourselves, we reflect the heart of Jesus and open ourselves to God’s transforming grace. [41:44]
Philippians 2:3-8 (ESV)
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally serve or honor today, putting their needs above your own as Christ did for you?
Day 3: Rejoicing in God’s Grace, Not in Our Own Power
True joy is found in belonging to God, not in personal achievements.
When Jesus’ followers returned celebrating their spiritual victories, He redirected their joy away from their own power and toward the greater gift of being known and loved by God. Our culture often encourages us to boast in our accomplishments, but Jesus teaches that our deepest joy should come from the grace of God and the assurance that our names are written in heaven. This perspective keeps us humble and grateful, recognizing that all we have is a gift from Him. [43:23]
Luke 10:19-20 (ESV)
"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Reflection: What is one area where you have been tempted to boast in your own strength or success, and how can you shift your focus to gratitude for God’s grace instead?
Day 4: Humility Brings Healing to People and Nations
God promises restoration and healing when His people humble themselves.
Scripture makes it clear that humility is not just a personal virtue but a communal necessity. When God’s people humble themselves, pray, and turn from their prideful ways, He promises to hear, forgive, and heal. This principle applies to individuals, families, churches, and even nations. Humility opens the door for God’s blessing and restoration, while pride shuts it. The call is to seek God’s face, admit our need, and trust Him above all else, knowing that He alone can bring true healing. [50:14]
2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
Reflection: What is one specific way you can humble yourself before God today—perhaps through confession, prayer, or seeking reconciliation with someone?
Day 5: Boasting Only in the Lord
Let your life point to Jesus, not to yourself.
The final word is that all human pride will ultimately fall away, and only God’s kingdom will remain. We are called to die to ourselves and let our lives be a testimony to Jesus, not to our own accomplishments or righteousness. The Apostle Paul reminds us that our message is not about ourselves, but about Christ as Lord, and that if we boast, it should be in the Lord alone. This posture of humility and gratitude keeps us grounded in God’s grace and allows us to live as His servants, pointing others to His glory. [52:42]
2 Corinthians 4:5 (ESV)
"For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake."
Reflection: In what area of your life can you intentionally shift the spotlight from yourself to Jesus, so that others see His love and power through you?
Quotes
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