Morning, July 23

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"Even thou wast as one of them."

  Obadiah 1:11

   Brotherly kindness was due from Edom to Israel in the time of need, but
   instead thereof, the men of Esau made common cause with Israel's foes.
   Special stress in the sentence before us is laid upon the word thou; as
   when Caesar cried to Brutus, "and thou Brutus"; a bad action may be all
   the worse, because of the person who has committed it. When we sin, who
   are the chosen favourites of heaven, we sin with an emphasis; ours is a
   crying offence, because we are so peculiarly indulged. If an angel
   should lay his hand upon us when we are doing evil, he need not use any
   other rebuke than the question, "What thou? What dost thou here?" Much
   forgiven, much delivered, much instructed, much enriched, much blessed,
   shall we dare to put forth our hand unto evil? God forbid!

   A few minutes of confession may be beneficial to thee, gentle reader,
   this morning. Hast thou never been as the wicked? At an evening party
   certain men laughed at uncleanness, and the joke was not altogether
   offensive to thine ear, even thou wast as one of them. When hard things
   were spoken concerning the ways of God, thou wast bashfully silent; and
   so, to on-lookers, thou wast as one of them. When worldlings were
   bartering in the market, and driving hard bargains, wast thou not as
   one of them? When they were pursuing vanity with a hunter's foot, wert
   thou not as greedy for gain as they were? Could any difference be
   discerned between thee and them? Is there any difference? Here we come
   to close quarters. Be honest with thine own soul, and make sure that
   thou art a new creature in Christ Jesus; but when this is sure, walk
   jealously, lest any should again be able to say, "Even thou wast as one
   of them." Thou wouldst not desire to share their eternal doom, why then
   be like them here? Come not thou into their secret, lest thou come into
   their ruin. Side with the afflicted people of God, and not with the
   world.