Something Strange

But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother
In the day of his captivity;
Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah
In the day of their destruction;
Nor should you have spoken proudly
In the day of distress. Obadiah 1:12

A strange misfortune, or the Hebrew word neker, happened to Judah, and his brother nation of Edom had a day of rejoicing over it. Today we hear of schadenfreude, or having pleasure from the misfortune of another person. It is not exactly the loving of one another our Lord Jesus commanded. Imagine the Levite or that certain priest not only passing by the wounded man by the road but stopping to do a little dance of joy until that despised Samaritan came by to render aid. Often we wonder whether an action may be bad, or if our inaction is not doing enough, but it seems that we can do both and be doubly in the wrong too. 

So, to avoid something strange befalling us we can avoid sin, help one another, love our Lord God, and praise the name of Jesus. No more problems in this world, right? Well, it seems that Jesus said that in this world we would have tribulation. At least those tribulations will not be from sinful actions or unloving inaction, but from bearing the testimony of Jesus Christ. 

Bear your witness! 

Bucky