Bring Judgment Against Them

Jude & Obadiah

Jude is a brother both to James the Bishop of Jerusalem and Jesus the King of Israel. We're not sure what his role was in the early church. By the letter he wrote it would seem that maybe he was an overseer of some churches.

He also seemed to be a busy man, but when he heard about what was going on in some of the congregations, he felt compelled to write a emotional and vivid letter. It's a real short one - compact, full of Old Testament stories and allusions - very impactful to that first audience.

It seems that this group of believers were known for their love of God, exuding the grace of Jesus, praying in the Spirit. But for whatever reason there were people joining their group who were more interested in challenging the norms, insisting on self-serving practices, and bringing in filthy attitudes and actions. Rather then being people who wanted to change and grow in the faith, they were wanting the benefit of the church while staying rooted in the ways of the world.

Jude insists that God will bring judgment against them. Not because God is a big mean old man up in the sky waiting to smite sinners. Evil is like cancer, sin is like a virus, selfishness and greed spread and infect and wreck and distract and ruin and taint and suck the life out of a community.


Judgment is God's gift to a community - to point out the obvious, the truth, the reality of the situation and intervene. God will let things go for awhile, giving the people opportunities to repent and change their ways. But if it goes on for too long, then God will bring an end to it.

This is what we find in the prophecy from Obadiah in the Old Testament. He is writing to the Edomites, descendants of Esau who was the twin brother of Jacob (also known as Israel, the father of the Twelve Tribes). Esau and Jacob had a difficult, competitive, edgy relationship - and so did their descendants.

There would be much tension and many skirmishes between them in the centuries to follow. When the Northern Tribes and Southern Tribes of Israel were conquered by the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires, Edom gloated and harrassed. And God was not happy about it.

There is so much in the world that is not right - between tribes and nations, empires and superpowers. God lets so much go on and on and on. Finally, after one too many times, God spoke a word of judgment to Edom through Obadiah. You reap what you sow. What goes around comes around. God promised to bring justice to Edom for their sins against their brother Israel, for mocking and abandoning him.

But at the very end of Obadiah's letter, he notes that someday Israel will return and bring justice to Edom. Another way to look at it: Israel will break the cycle of violence and revenge and hatred. When God brings Israel back, they will be part of God's plan to bring shalom - even to their enemies. 

It's this same attitude that Jude wants Christians to take towards those that are infecting their community with sin: "Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven." God is the one who brings judgment on sinners. And he is also the one who initiates grace. We do no favors when we overlook sin, but we also ought not to overlook sinners.

Just as God brought justice to Edom, so God will bring it to each sinner. But God also promised a new life on the other side of judgment. Judgment is a gift - it brings an end to wickedness, abuse, hate.


Judgment is often hard and harsh - since it often comes at the hands of other humans, and it is often the real consequences from the long culmination of our choices and desires. If we are willing to see our fall as a gift from God, we'll be ready for Him when he picks us up and stands us on our feet.

And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating - to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, to the end of all time. Yes.