The Judgment of Pride

Pride contains within itself inherent and unavoidable features. In the first part of Obadiah, we saw that one of those features was deception, which always leads to destruction. In this text, we see judgment as a feature of pride. Pride does not merely say, “I cannot be judged.” Pride also assumes the right to judge others. It climbs into God’s seat, takes up the gavel, and renders verdicts from a place of self-exaltation. That is what Edom did. Edom looked at Judah’s calamity, interpreted it through rivalry and resentment, and concluded, “They deserve this.”

But Obadiah gives us a sober warning: God will judge us by the very standard we have used. “As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.” Pride pronounces judgment on others, only to find that judgment returning upon itself. The measure Edom used against Judah would be measured back to Edom.

This is why the passage is not merely about ancient history. It exposes the danger in every proud heart. Whenever we delight in another person’s downfall, condemn others by standards we do not keep, or confuse justice with self-righteousness, we are standing where Edom stood. Pride makes us judges over others, but the gospel calls us to step down from the judgment seat and come to the cross, where the true Judge was judged in our place. Christ's humility becomes the end of humanity's merry-go-round of pride.