Be Humble

Be Humble

 

Obadiah 1-21

 

The Book of Obadiah is the fourth of the Minor Prophets, and the shortest book in the Old Testament. The name Obadiah means ‘A Servant of Yahweh.’ Some scholars believe that this is the same person as the official of King Ahab appearing in 1King Chapter 18. The Book of Obadiah largely talks about God’s judgment of Edom and the restoration of Israel. In the Bible, Edom is used as one of three meanings, Jacob’s twin brother Esau, Esau’s descendent the Edomites, or the land occupied by the people. This land corresponds to today’s southern Jordan, and the territory includes the famous historical city Petra. As you can see in the picture below, this city is enclosed by towering rocks. This is quite coincident with the image described in Obadiah verse 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.” 

 

 

“The pride of your heart,” this was the root cause that called God’s judgment upon the kingdom of Edom. Living in the clefts of the rocks and making his home on the heights, Edom said to himself, “Who can bring me down to the ground?” Edom built his home in an invincible fortress like an eagle’s nest on a high cliff, like a star high in the sky. Then he boastingly said to himself, “Who can bring me down to the ground?” Then God declared him, “I will bring you down!” When Edom raised himself high and made himself great, God said to him, “I will bring you down and I will make you small.”

 

The title of my sermon based on Obadiah is “Be humble.” In fact, humility is the most secure fortress that protects us from all kinds of harms. on the contrary, pride is the most horrible sin in God’s eyes and it exposes us to all kinds of dangers. So we must be humble, and beware of pride. Be humble and beware of pride. This is the key point of my sermon today. Hmm…… Since I became a Christian, I have heard the word “humility” so many times and learned how great virtue it is. But still “humility” looks like a mirage to me. I often ask myself, “Am I humble?” and I have never been able to answer “Yes” with confidence. I have heard about the good taste of humility many times, but I have never taste it myself. Humility is a mirage. This is very tantalizing.

 

Let me tell you a story about a red monkey. There was an old master who knew a magic word, something like abracadabra. He had a young student and the master taught him how to use the magic word. The young man practiced the magic word diligently and some day he also mastered it. It was time for the young disciple to leave his master for his own business. When the man was about to leave, the master told him, “Wait a minute! I forgot to tell something very important. Remember this! When you use the magic word, you should never think a red monkey in your mind. If you think a red monkey in your mind, the magic word doesn’t work.” Then the young man answered, “I see!” Later when he became alone, he tried to use the magic word that he had learned from the master, but when he said the magic word, almost simultaneously, a red monkey came up in his mind together. And as the master had said, the magic word lost its power and became useless. He concentrated just on the magic word but the red monkey didn’t go away. Whenever he said the magic word, the red monkey appeared. He couldn’t drive away the red monkey, so the man was never able to use the magic word. Later, he forgot the magic word, but could not shake off the red monkey even until he died.

 

This is how humility is to us. Humility is the magic word, having a magical power. Then what is the red monkey that neutralizes the power? It is “I.” Even in being humble, “I” want to be a champion of humility. “I” want to enjoy the glory of being humble. At least, “I” want to look humble and to be called a humble person. Then I lose the power of humility and have to look at it beyond my reach in agony. How can I be truly humble and taste the power of humility? I don’t know exactly, but I may suggest a starting point with two important questions, two very important questions. The two questions are: “Who is God?” and “Who is God?” They look the same but you know the difference, don’t you?

 

First, who is God? This is the question for a God contest. We can see in the Bible that there were many God contests. In today’s passage, Edom proudly questions, “Who can bring me down!” and this is an example of God contest. In fact, he is almost saying, “Who is God except me?” Out of his pride, he raised himself high above God, and challenged God’s almighty power. A clearer example is in 1King Chapter 18 describing Elijah’s showdown with the prophets of Baal. In verse 24 of this chapter, Elijah says, “Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire – he is God.” The first step of humility is finding the answer to the question “Who is God?” This question is raised not only when I am in pride and say “Who can bring me down?” but also when I am in despair and say, “Who can bring me up?” Saying “Who can save me out of these miseries” is an equally arrogant challenge to God and His Almightiness. Humility is confessing that the Lord is my God whether I am high or low, whether I am in peace or in fear, whether I am rich or poor, and whether I am in hope or in despair.” He is God who can bring me down from the height, and who can bring me up from any powers in the world.

 

Second, who is God? This is a question about the greatest joy or greatest treasure in my heart that I think about day and night and want to know more about. Today’s passage shows us what were treasured in Edom’s heart. In addition to his invincible rock fortress, Edom had highly productive vineyards, allies and friends, brave warriors, wise men, and also hidden treasures. All these treasures were so valuable that even just looking at and thinking about them made Edom full of joy. But God said that all these would turn useless. Each of us has a genuine treasure cherished in my heart, and God wants to become that treasure hidden in my heart. Jeremiah 9:23,24 says, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice, righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.” God does not allow us to boast of anything, our wisdom, our strength, or our riches. But there is one thing that we are allowed to boast of. It is that we know who God is. This is true humility. Humility is treasuring God in my heart and boasting of Him boldly.

 

The question we should ask for humility is not “Am I humble?” The question to be asked persistently is: ‘Who is God?’ and ‘Who is God?’ This is the God-centered thinking and God-centered life, not harassed by the red monkey. God is our joy, our ultimate joy, and our only joy. When we are fully absorbed into that joy, then we can forget the red monkey and can experience the magical power of humility. This is how Jesus lived, how St. Paul lived, and how many faithful servants of God lived powerfully and joyfully in the middle of extreme sufferings. Humility is truly a magic word as long as we care about God’s glory and don’t care about whether I look humble or not. May God bless each of us to be humble in acknowledging the Lord as our God and growing in our knowledge of God our Father and Jesus Christ our Savior!