Sermon Tone Analysis

*Obadiah*

*Review* – Obadiah is a prophecy against Edom.

Edom was Israel's neighbour on the south-east, south of Moab and the Dead Sea its territory extended south to the Gulf of Aqaba.

Its entire boundary was dotted with a series of fortresses.

Nowhere does it get below 5,000 feet in elevation: chief fort in the north was Bozrah and Teman in the south.

"The clefts of the rock" (v.3) (Sela, Gr. /Petra/) – the capital – accessed through a narrow canyon over 1 mile in length.

, and "nest set among the stars (v.4), perfectly describes the country.

Edom's treasure was enormous wealth from iron and copper mines, and caravan trade (6).

Edom was famous for her wise men (*Jeremiah 49:7** */Concerning Edom.

Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Is there no longer any wisdom in Teman?

Has good counsel been lost to the prudent?

Has their wisdom decayed?/).

Last time I spoke we looked at Edom, and saw that Edom typifies natural man *[OHP] *– from the story of Esau (from whom Edom is descended) we saw certain characteristics of Edom: rely on natural strength ("Adam" – man) - live by lusts ("Adom" – red stuff) - earthly ("Adamah" – dust, ground).

Edom, the nation – mountainous: typifies its pride; secure; wise.

Edom, the history - perpetual enmity; no natural compassion .

God hates Edom! [*Malachi 1:2* /Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord.

“Yet I have loved Jacob; but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.”/]

- he is very close to us!

So when we look at this prophecy we are looking at God's judgement upon natural man, our adamic nature, man outside of Jesus Christ.

We are either in Adam, have his nature, an Esau, Edom; or we are in Christ.

Theme: doom of proud; deliverance of meek and humble; Judah will possess not only her own land but Philistia and Edom.

*Read [OHP]*

*Natural man:** *Edom – characterised by pride (v.3); security (v.3); wise (v.8); boasting (v.12,13).

Remember Edom pictures natural man, what we are without Christ – man is proud (v.3) and confident in his ability to take care of himself (v.3,4) – our doctors, scientists, technology will find a way.

We have our insurance, our military, our treaties our savings – we are secure, nothing can touch us.

The spirit of Edom is alive and well today!

He trusts in his alliances with others (v.7) – democracy and politics: "If we all co-operate there will be peace and harmony" – this is humanism – trusting in man.

It is the mind set of the world in which we live.

We trust in our own wisdom (v.8) and the great knowledge that we have accumulated.

We rely on our own strength (v.9) – we are mighty men.

But oh we are not violent are we?

(v.10).

We abhor violence – man is deceived!

While I was on holiday there were 4 murders in Christchurch, look at the record of history – there is a continuous record of wars and killing.

We need to face the facts – man is violent!

We are uncaring (v.11) we stand aloof, only concerned with out own welfare – we are not our brother's keeper, that is their problem not ours.

We lack compassion for our brother, our fellow man (v.12).

We rejoice over the misfortune of others – for if they are down then we are up.

I can remember when the stock market took a fall a few years ago – I must admit that I felt smug that all these wealthy people and greedy speculators lost their money .

How do you feel when the All Blacks defeat the Aussies?

We rejoice in their downfall!

*Judgement:* Obadiah received a revelation from יהוה the LORD Himself - a vision that was a message for Edom from יהוה!

He had decreed judgement!

- war (v.1); despised (v.2); made low (v.4); decimated (v.5); plundered (v.6); deceived (v.7, 3); destruction (v.8); fear (v.9); slaughter (v.9); shame (v.10); cut off forever (v.10).

יהוה prophesied war - an aggressor would come against Edom for battle.

This report came from יהוה - it was His doing, His plan and purpose.

יהוה was calling the nations to gather against Edom, to rise up and stand against her.

Judgement on pride: In their pride they thought that they were great – but יהוה would make them small (v.2), they would be great all right – they would be greatly despised!

She thought highly of herself but in יהוה’s eyes Edom was despised.

Our evaluation is of no account for it is false – Edom was deceived (v.3,7) - what יהוה’s evaluation is, is what counts, for it is true.

Our own evaluation deceives us because of our inherent pride - we think of ourselves more highly than we ought and so we don’t make an objective self evaluation - we think we’re great when we’re not (Rom 12:3).

Pride deceives (*Jeremiah 49:16*/“As for the terror of you, the arrogance of your heart has deceived you, O you who live in the clefts of the rock, who occupy the height of the hill.

Though you make your nest as high as an eagle’s, I will bring you down from there,” declares the Lord/).

Edom saw her position as exalted in the heavens and immune to attack - who could bring her down from her lofty place?

She was utterly self assured, supremely self confident - But it was a confidence misplaced!

Just like the world today - Edom is a picture of the flesh.

Fleshly man is assured of his own security - but it is a confidence utterly misplaced.

Edom was not great but small, not esteemed by despised.

The high topographical location of Edom typified their high-minded, arrogant pride - יהוה would pull them down from this lofty position.

Edom had built her fortress on "impregnable" heights - built on easily defended high places where fire can be rained down on the attackers below.

Like an eagle, she had built her dwelling places securely in high, inaccessible places where no one could get at her. Edom, in her pride, said, "Who can bring me down?"

The answer is: יהוה! יהוה has spoken!

He has declared!

"I* *will bring you down!"

If we exalt ourselves, יהוה will bring us down.

If we humble ourselves, He will raise us up.

This is a universal principle.

God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Plundered Edom (v.5,6) would be plundered and deserted completely.

The words have an immediacy - they pour out of the prophet.

The destruction would be total!

Edom would be utterly and completely ravaged.

Oh how she would be destroyed!

Nothing left!

Nothing overlooked!

Nothing spared!

No mercy!

She would be completely plundered - thieves only steal what they want, harvesters leave gleanings - something is always left.

But not so with Edom!

She would be completely emptied and stripped of all she has.

Edom would be thoroughly searched to find all her wealth and hidden treasure - nothing would escape the eyes of the invaders.

They would search and find it all - take the lot, leaving Esau with absolutely NOTHING!When יהוה acts in judgement, it is an awesome and terrifying thing!

Edom would be utterly ransacked!

There is coming a day of judgement when natural man will be destroyed!

Left with nothing!

Trust in man is futile: Edom not only relied on her natural defences, her inaccessible position and fortresses - she also made alliances with other nations - covenants of peace.

But her allies would betray her.

Those covenanted to defend Edom (in a defence pact) will actually be the ones who expel her from the borders of her nation!

How futile to rely on man and man-made agreements.

Edom thought herself so wise in the agreements she’d made (cf.

v.8) but there is no wisdom or understanding in her at all - for it was human understanding which יהוה will utterly confound (*1 Cor 1:19* /it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” .... Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

..... the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men ..... God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong .... so that no man may boast before God./).

All Edom’s pride and confidence was utterly misplaced!

Is ours?

All Edom trusted in would prove unreliable, empty and vain when calamity struck, for יהוה Himself had appointed "a day" - a day of judgement, a day in which Edom and all her cleverness would be destroyed.

Esau epitomises "man" - he stands for human strength, skill, talent, wisdom, cleverness - human resources.

These יהוה will utterly destroy.

Man relies on his own power and ability, his intelligence, his wits.

But יהוה has set a day.

A day of reckoning, of judgement, when all man’s resources will be revealed for what they truly are: utterly puerile, useless, futile.