Obadiah 1:3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’
I think this verse gets to the heart of why God keeps after me, after all of us, about pride. He knows the deceptive power of pride. He knows that if pride gets its claws into our souls, we will depend on our own flimsy strength and turn from Him. He knows how disastrous that would be for us. And He doesn’t want that for His beloved children.
Obadiah 1:6 But how Esau will be ransacked, his hidden treasures pillaged!
But, as commentary succinctly points out, pride “makes us think things about ourselves and others that simply are not true,” things like “I’m not the one in the wrong,” like “if this were a true friend s/he would….,” like “I’m strong. I don’t need anyone.” Pride makes us forget the truth of 2 Cor 12:9, that God’s power is perfected in our weakness.
Obadiah 1:7 All your allies will force you to the border; your friends will deceive and overpower you; those who eat your bread will set a trap for you, but you will not detect it.
Precious Savior, Every time I think I have a handle on my pride, You show me another area I need to examine closely in my life. Thank You for loving me so much. Thank You for Your incredible patience during this process. Help me to empty myself of my pride so I can be filled with Your love and compassion. Draw me closer. Amen.
Obadiah 1:21 Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will be the Lord’s.
Have a blessed day.