Choosing Compassion 心存怜悯
Dexu Xia
You should not gloat over your brother in the day of his misfortune. Obadiah 1:12
A five-minute montage of snow-related mishaps was the central piece to one episode of a TV show. Home videos of people skiing off rooftops, crashing into objects while tubing, and slipping on ice brought laughter and applause from the studio audience and people watching at home. The laughter seemed to be loudest when it appeared that the people who wiped out deserved it because of their own foolish behavior.
Funny home videos aren’t a bad thing, but they can reveal something about ourselves: we can be prone to laugh at or take advantage of the hardships of others. One such story is recorded in Obadiah about two rival nations, Israel and Edom. When God saw fit to punish Israel for their sin, Edom rejoiced. They took advantage of the Israelites, looted their cities, thwarted their escape, and supported their enemies (Obadiah 1:13–14). A word of warning came through the prophet Obadiah to Edom: “You should not gloat over your brother in the day of his misfortune,” for “the day of the Lord is near for all nations” (vv. 12, 15).
When we see the challenges or suffering of others, even if it seems they’ve brought it upon themselves, we must choose compassion over pride. We’re not in a position to judge others. Only God can do that. The kingdom of this world belongs to Him (v. 21)—He alone holds the power of justice and mercy.
How do you react to the hardships others face? What does a loving, merciful response look like?
Merciful God, forgive me for my feelings of self-righteousness. Thank You for Your justice and mercy.
你兄弟遭难的日子，你不当瞪眼看着。—俄巴底亚书1章12节
在某个电视节目中，主持人播放了一段长达五分钟与雪地有关的影片剪辑，都是一些意外事故的家庭影片。有人从屋顶上滑雪摔落地面，乘坐充气雪筏时撞上异物而翻倒，或在冰上行走时滑倒。这些影片让现场和电视观众哄堂大笑、掌声连连。尤其是观众认为这些人是因行为愚蠢而自食其果时，就会笑得特别大声。
这些引人发噱的家庭影片并没什么不好，但却揭露我们内心的光景：当别人遇到困境时，我们很可能会取笑对方或从中牟利。俄巴底亚书就有类似的记载，当以色列民因自身的罪孽而遭受上帝公义的刑罚时，与以色列民为敌的以东人却幸灾乐祸。以东人趁火打劫、攻城掠地，而且还支持以色列的仇敌，使众民几乎无路可逃（俄巴底亚书1章13-14节）。先知俄巴底亚警告以东人说：“你的亲族遭难之日，你不该幸灾乐祸”，因为“耶和华惩罚万国的日子近了”（12、15节，当代译本修订版）。
当我们看到别人面临困境或遭受苦难时，即使他们可能是自招祸患，但我们仍须心存怜悯，而非骄纵狂傲。我们并没有资格评断他人，只有上帝才能施行公义的审判。这世界的国度都属于上帝（21节），唯独祂有审判和赦罪的权柄。
看到别人遭难时，你会有什么反应？
你如何以恩慈怜恤作为回应呢？
慈爱的上帝，感谢祢有公义又有怜悯，
我时常自以为义，求祢赦免我。