No Innocent Bystanders: A message for our time from Obadiah
8 minutes and 46 seconds is a long time.
It’s the amount of time a police officer spent kneeling on the neck of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020. It’s the amount of time that Reverend Al Sharpton asked people to stand in silence at the end of George Floyd’s funeral. It’s the amount of time I spent kneeling on the Morrison bridge on June 3rd with Pastor Jeremy Pummel, Pastor Joe Gruber, and thousands of other people who came to lament by grieving, repent by protesting, and hope by contending for changes in law enforcement.
The depth of what can be experienced during just 8 minutes and 46 seconds is profound. While I stood for those 8 minutes and 46 seconds, countless thoughts ran through my head, tears rolled down my cheeks, scriptures rang out in my heart. Anger, sadness, frustration, love and hope flooded my imagination. On the bridge I wept, as one of the organizers shouted the very things that have been shouted at unarmed black men, fearing for their lives. But I also thought about how uncomfortable I was kneeling on that pavement. I thought about how my arms were tired, and I wanted to put them down. As I chanted “Hands up, Don’t shoot” I caught a glimpse of the horrific reality of black men having to say those words out of necessity, rather than simple exercise.
We have had a lot of time to think about those 8 minutes and 46 seconds. A global pandemic has been eclipsed by those 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Our news cycle and social media feeds have been full of never-ending responses, lectures, and opinions; ranging from resistance to repentance in response to those 8 minutes and 46 seconds.
Amidst all the voices, for those who strive to follow the voice of Jesus, it’s important to reflect on the question—As followers of Christ, what is our role in all of this?
As we seek to answer that question, I am profoundly thankful for God’s Word and God’s Spirit that help us know WHO and HOW we are to be in this world. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Paul tells us that all scripture is God breathed and gives us everything we need for training in righteousness. Without these 66 books, every other book that may be helpful, will be lacking the support needed to truly bring about the heart change that must happen. That is why to truly answer the of question of the role of the Christian in the current situation, it is necessary to look at what the Bible says, and how the Bible not only supports the need for justice, but advocates for the historically oppressed.
The book of Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament—just 21 verses long. It is an obscure book of the Bible, that’s 21 verses that are extremely relevant to the last 400 years of North American history. In this book we hear a clear message among complex circumstances that lead God’s people to have confident expectations.
CONTEXT
The book of Obadiah is a message of judgment against the people of Edom, and subsequently all nations. Edom is a neighboring nation to Israel on the other side of the Dead Sea. Genesis teaches us that Edom is made up of the descendants of Esau. Jacob, the second born twin to Abraham and Sarah, stole Esau’s birthright and became the one whom God’s promises to Abraham would flow through. Jacob and Esau experienced some tense moments in their life, and like their forefathers, Israel and Edom would be at odds throughout the centuries. Historic pain. Historic animosity.
After centuries of idolatry and allowing injustice to flourish in both Israel and Judah, the divided kingdom, God brought judgment upon the nations. Israel in the north was conquered by Assyria, and Judah in the south was conquered by Babylon, as they became the superpower in their defeat of Assyria.
Now, Obadiah. Edom, is actually spelled using the same Hebrew characters used to spell Adam. Within the book, prideful Edom becomes representative of the prideful Nations. And therefore, serves as an encouragement to the oppressed, and a warning to the prideful powers that are responsible for the oppressing. The book of Obadiah gives us a clear message.
CLEAR MESSAGE
“This is the vision that the Sovereign Lord revealed to Obadiah concerning the land of Edom. We have heard a message from the Lord that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say, ‘Get ready, everyone! Let’s assemble our armies and attack Edom!’ The Lord says to Edom, ‘I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised. You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us way up here?’ you ask boastfully. But even if you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing down,’ says the Lord.”
Obadiah verses 1-4
Right from the start the Lord is condemning the pride of Edom. Edom lived up in the mountains, so they felt untouchable. They were prideful and boastful. They had developed a sense of false security. And Obadiah’s first message is that the proud will fall.
In the subsequent verses, God explains exactly why judgment had fallen on Edom. Edom was guilty of four specific sins. Take a look at each of the verses:
Verse 14: They were guilty of turning in refugees fleeing from Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem. Rather than providing sanctuary for their brothers and sisters who were fleeing for their lives, they turned them over.
Verse 13: They joined with the plundering of Judah. Rather than helping their brothers, they participated in the looting!
Verse 12: They celebrated the downfall of Judah. Though they were both descended from a common ancestor, they came to view Israel as the enemy. When Israel was conquered by Babylon, they celebrated!
Verse 11: What kicks off the list of grievances, is what is most applicable to the last 400 years in North America. Edom stood aloof refusing to help Israel in their time of need. We learn in Obadiah 1:11 that there is no such thing as an innocent bystander. It is one thing to not know what is going on with one’s brother; it is another thing entirely to know and refuse to act on your brother’s behalf. The descendants of Esau knew what was happening to their cousins and their passivity gave birth to active violence. The silence of Edom was as devastating as the violence of Edom. The sin of Edom was their pride, their silence, and their violence. It is a biblical trifecta of injustice.
What we discover in Jesus’ own words is that HE is present with the downtrodden, the suffering and the oppressed. In Matthew 25, Jesus echoes the heart of Obadiah, Amos, Micah and Isaiah, condemning those who do not help those who are in need. “Whatever you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for me (verse 45).” You cannot love God without loving your neighbor. People who participate in religious righteousness, but neglect to perpetuate earthly wholeness fall under the judgment of God.
You cannot love God without loving your neighbor. People who participate in religious righteousness, but neglect to perpetuate earthly wholeness fall under the judgment of God.
Obadiah presents a clear message that reverberates throughout scripture. We are our brother’s keeper. Christians don’t need “liberal” activists to convince us to care. Christians don’t need “liberal” media to convince us to care. As good as the many resources are, if Christians are dependent upon Just Mercy, Selma, I am Not Your Negro, 13th or any other movie or book, then we’ve haven’t paid close enough attention to our own Book! We haven’t been listening to the Spirit of God. We haven’t kept our eyes on the cross, in which we see the apex of injustice and the victory of God.
From Genesis to Revelation and especially the Gospels, the Bible commands and compels us to be people of compassion who care for the oppressed, the dispossessed, the orphan, the widow and the refugee and to be people who LOVE our enemies. It is all right there in the Bible—a clear message present in the midst of complex realities.
COMPLEX CIRCUMSTANCES
How many of you feel confused and conflicted during this tumultuous season? How many find yourselves stumbling over your words, not wanting to put your foot in your mouth? It is hard to disagree with the fact that Scripture offers a clear message, but it can still feel unclear on the practicalities.
I have close friends who are police officers. How do I speak out against police brutality without leading my friends to believe that I am anti-cop? How do I support by black brother and sisters without testifying to the reality of 400 years of continual violence upon their bodies?
Pastor Keith Jenkins from Gresham posted this graphic the other day:
There is always a temptation to take one side or the other. With that said, the message of Scripture is clear, but the contextual realities are always complex.
Think about the context of Obadiah. Why was Jerusalem overthrown by Babylon? Scripture contends that the overthrow of both Judah in the south and Israel in the north was the result of their unfaithfulness to God. This unfaithfulness was seen in their idolatry and in their ongoing refusal to address injustice. We have God’s judgment against a people who stood aloof while God’s chosen people experienced His judgment
Do you see how complex that gets?
Here’s what Edom did:
Stood aloof. Refused to help fleeing refugees.
Participated in the looting of Jerusalem and surround communities.
Ignored or further oppressed those suffering God’s Judgment.
Here is what I believe God expected of Edom, and subsequently all nations:
Lament and help heal the suffering of their neighbor. Grieve with the suffering.
Repent of pride. Receive the warning.
Actively hope for and participate in restoration.
God’s judgment against Judah was God’s business, not Edom’s. God hadn’t called Edom to participate with Babylon. God never calls his people to sit idly by while their neighbors suffer. God’s expectation of humanity is our business.
We are called to have love, compassion, and humility.
We are called to care for victims of violence.
We are called to lament and repent.
We are called to contend for justice.
The people of God are called to have compassion for both those who have been victimized by oppression, and more radically, those who are being victimized by oppressing. Both are being destroyed by the spiritual forces of darkness!
To participate in the clear call of Scripture, to be actively compassionate, is to recognize that we simply do not have the wherewithal to fully comprehend seemingly endless layers of injustice, and we must be ever vigilant that our pursuit of justice, doesn’t result in further injustice.
The only safe route through the chaotic waters of injustice is the route of continual repentance. We are to keep the posture of the lamb, while the lion of Judah roars through our humility.
The only safe route through the chaotic waters of injustice is the route of continual repentance. We are to keep the posture of the lamb, while the lion of Judah roars through our humility.
In the book of Obadiah, we hear a clear message in the midst of complex circumstances. But the book, like nearly all the prophets, ends with a beautiful picture of the restoration of all things. Amidst the clear message, and complex circumstances, God leads his people to have confident expectations.
CONFIDENT EXPECTATIONS
The Bible Project does a great job of communicating the expectations the prophets lead God’s people to have. Obadiah comes after Joel and Amos. Joel closes by God announcing that God would perform a new act of salvation, and that all who humble themselves and call on His name shall be saved. In Amos, after the judgment is pronounced on Israel for their passive and active perpetuation of injustice, God reveals that He will restore the line of David and usher in his new kingdom, which would include Edom. And Obadiah continues to build on the picture of God’s restored kingdom at Mt. Zion.
“The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads. Just as you swallowed up my people on my holy mountain, so you and the surrounding nations will swallow the punishment I pour out on you. Yes, all you nations will drink and stagger and disappear from history. But Jerusalem will become a refuge for those who escape; it will be a holy place. And the people of Israel will come back to reclaim their inheritance.”
“Those who have been rescued will go up to Mount Zion in Jerusalem to rule over the mountains of Edom. And the LORD himself will be king!”
Obadiah verse 15-17, 21
I love how Eugene Peterson paraphrases it in The Message: “The remnant of the saved in Mount Zion will go into the mountains of Esau and rule justly and fairly, a rule that honors GOD’s kingdom.”
The final vision of God’s Kingdom in scripture includes Edom and every other broken nation and people group. God’s vision of the future includes the oppressed and former oppressors. Jesus on the cross extends forgiveness to the very people who hung him there. Therefore, if the Christian pursuit of justice isn’t rooted in God’s vision of the future that even has room for humbled oppressors, then it isn’t a Christian pursuit of justice.
If the Christian pursuit of justice isn’t rooted in God’s vision of the future that even has room for humbled oppressors, then it isn’t a Christian pursuit of justice.
At the same time, if Christian faith doesn’t include a steady witness and pursuit of justice and shalom, then it isn’t a Christian faith. The church should hear God’s judgment against Edom as a fierce warning against passivity in the face of injustice. Jesus announced that his kingdom had come. Jesus announced the day of the Lord’s favor had come. Jesus blessed the poor, the meek, the persecuted, those who hungered for justice. Jesus called all to repentance—to turn from the ways of the world, and to align themselves with the values of His kingdom.
If Christian faith doesn’t include a steady witness and pursuit of justice and shalom, then it isn’t a Christian faith. The church should hear God’s judgment against Edom as a fierce warning against passivity in the face of injustice.
We are witnesses of Jesus’ now and not yet kingdom. We confidently long for the day in which His justice rolls down like a mighty river. And in the meantime, we live as agents of reconciliation. Agents who model the ways of the Kingdom, because in the end, the way of Jesus is the only way that will work.
We are filled with the Spirit that leads us to the third way, that has an honest assessment of the human capacity for evil and sees the spiritual forces of darkness at work. We see how both the oppressed and the oppressor are victimized by the evil. The superpower of the Christian is ongoing repentance. Repentance that is constantly aware of the ever-present temptation towards self-righteousness. The ongoing repentance of a fearless moral inventory that sees the ways in which we have been complicit in perpetuating injustice in our homes, our neighborhoods, our churches, and our culture. Repentance that not only says the hard things but does the hard things. Repentance that uses the tools at our disposal but refuses to become pawns of partisan politics that are in pursuit of something other than Jesus’ Kingdom.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Lord, forgive your church for so often standing aloof like Edom in the ongoing fight to uphold the rights and dignity of brothers and sisters. May we not turn a deaf ear to the 400 years worth of blood that cries out from the ground. May we let those 8 minutes and 46 seconds initiate eternal change. May our confident expectation and hope in Jesus’ kingdom come, lead us through the complex circumstances of this season, as we respond to Your clear message to love God by actively loving our neighbor.