The Grumpy Prophet

Introduction:

· Have you ever felt unfairly attacked? Criticized? Discouraged?

OBADIAH IS A BOOK WRITTEN JUST FOR YOU.

I) Sibling Rivalry Gone Wrong

A. The Minor Prophets: From Warnings to…Comfort

i. So far, the minor prophets have emphasized warnings for Israel

1. The minor prophets have no shortage of critique for Israel

2. Obadiah is a late prophet, long after Judah’s glory days,

ii. The message is one of comfort: FOR Israel, ABOUT Edom (vs. 1)

1. Things have changed…YET God doesn’t kick when his people are down

2. The book is aimed at Edom, but spoken so Israel can hear

B. A Long and Testy History Between Siblings

i. From the infants to nations (PICTURE)

1. Edom traces its line to Esau – who jostled in the womb

2. Jacob a con man…Edom the stubborn border guard…the warring nations

ii. The climactic Moment Of Edom’s Schadenfreude (vv. 11-12)

1. Obadiah recounts Edom’s bitter & hostile actions towards Judah

2. Have you ever been on the receiving end of schadenfreude?

IN MANY WAYS, THE STORY IS THE SAME; THE CHARACTERS ARE DIFFERENT, THE SETTING HAS CHANGED, BUT THE SAME STORY PLAYS OUT, EVEN TODAY.

II) Justice For the Oppressed

A. Who are the oppressed?

i. The names change, the story does not: The World scorns the Christian Faith

1. A kingdom is a power structure, a set of priorities, an administration

2. What does our world value? Materialism; Hedonism; Individualism

ii. Sometimes we need prophetic rebuke, but sometimes…comfort!

1. God’s kingdom is defined by sacrifice, suffering: Out of alignment!

2. EXAMPLES: Dear Annie & a letter seeking help for pornography

B. A Message of Just Judgment

i. God’s Anger would be poured out in proper measure(vv. 15-16)

1. We repay with interest – personally, or as nations

2. God will punish – but unlike Edom, it will be just

3. EXAMPLE: Dante’s inferno

ii. But God would cleanse his land so it would be free from evil (vs. 18)

ISTIHS SOME SORT OF PROMISE CENTERED ON A POLTICAL REALITY? SHOULD WE WAIT FOR THE RESTORATIO NOF ISRAEL TODAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

III) Hope For The Future

A. The Future Certainty of God’s Kingdom

i. Famous Last Words: God’s reclaimed kingdom (vs. 19-21)

1. Dispossessed people à be returned: an unthinkable idea! (vv. 19-20)

2. The clue is in the last line: the kingdom will be the Lord’s (vs. 21)

ii. The Remnants of Rivalry are Revived

1. When Jesus is born in Judah another king of Edom would attack

2. Yet God preserves this infant king in order to secure his kingdom

3. On that same mountain, the greatest king of all time would be killed

B. The Future Promise of a King (Rom 9:13)

Romans 9:13 ESV

As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

i. “How do you get in?”

1. Why should God choose Jacob over Esau? Israel over Edom?

2. God chooses some for his kingdom on the basis of grace

ii. On Mt Zion a king would lay down his life for his subjects (vs. 17)

1. So: How to get in? Admit you have no claim and surrender ot him.

Transition:

Conclusion

asd