Obadiah 1:12
“But don’t look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don’t rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don’t speak proudly in the day of distress.”
What does Obadiah 1:12 mean?
When someone we know is suffering, it's easy to feel a mix of emotions, especially if there's been conflict between us. Obadiah is warning against a very human temptation: to feel satisfied or superior when those who've wronged us face their own ruin. He's saying that gloating, looking down on others' misfortune, or speaking boastfully while they're in crisis reveals something broken in our own hearts. The call here is to let go of the small victories we might feel when karma seems to catch up with someone else, and instead to recognize our common humanity in struggle. This kind of restraint and compassion, even toward those we've had problems with, is what builds character and honors God.