Obadiah
Notes
Transcript
Have you ever been in a situation where you could see the obvious meaning of events around you, but you were also aware that there was a second level of purpose behind the events that were happening? I’m sure you have been. These are common in life.
Our BBQ events are for fun, but also for an introduction to our church, as an example.
Today we study a book about God’s doom on one nation that is really about God’s mercy for another nation.
Background:
The name means “Servant of the Lord.”
Virtually nothing is known of this man. There are 3 other occurrences of men named Obadiah in the OT
Date: Probably 586-539 BC
View held by most conservatives.
Other Prophets of his day: Jeremiah, Zecheriah, Nahum, and possibly Daniel
Christological Theme: Christ is the possessor of the coming Kingdom.
Sin of Edom
Sin of Edom
Pride 1-7
Pride 1-7
Satan’s problem was pride, and he taught people how to do that real well!
The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?”
The horror you inspire has deceived you, and the pride of your heart, you who live in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as the eagle’s, I will bring you down from there, declares the Lord.
Pride is a problem for so many. God will hold people to account for what they do in their pride.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Looting v13
Looting v13
Do not enter the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; do not gloat over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not loot his wealth in the day of his calamity.
If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”— my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths,
Gangs still do this today. They are a bad idea for youth because the peer pressure to do the wrong thing and end up in jail is quite high!
Indifference v 11
Indifference v 11
On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them.
Indifference is a big sin problem today.
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Nations become indifferent to other nations in need.
Churches become indifferent to the lostness of those around them.
We don’t ask God to build this church because we want to be big, but because there are so many people around us who need Living Hope - Our Lord Jesus - in their lives!
We want to grow, because in that we can minister to more hurting people.
We want to grow because that will mean more people are able to serve God alongside us.
Day of the Lord is coming 15-21
Day of the Lord is coming 15-21
For Edom 15-16
For Edom 15-16
It is near!
A. Not Karma, but a Biblical principal.
For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
B. We shouldn't rejoice when someone is being punished by God but mourn for their losses and lack of repentance. Then we should check ourselves to make sure we are humble & repentant people!
But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress.
Do not stand at the crossroads to cut off his fugitives; do not hand over his survivors in the day of distress.
Note the repeated use of the words “calamity” and “disaster”. They are also related to the word distress and misfortune that start and end this section.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
For God’s People 17-21
For God’s People 17-21
These verses were to be an encouragement for God’s people. God will show mercy even though Edom [Israels relatives] did not.
A. Remember always: God will avenge injustice to His people!
A. Remember always: God will avenge injustice to His people!
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
1. Any nation that rejects God will be made small by God. 1-4
The German government, during WW2, arrested pastors for preaching Christ is King and made churches put pictures of Hitler on the alters and communion tables.
B. Even when we feel wiped out, God still views us with mercy and has blessings (salvation) in His mind for us.
Israel shall possess the land - v 19 & 20
Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau, and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines; they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
2. God has Salvation in mind.
Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
Conclusion: God sometimes has to remind His people that He is the judge of the whole world. Those who harm God’s people are inviting harm on themselves.
This is true of us as we think of other believers and other churches. This is also still true in regards to the nation of Israel.
Do we want God’s plan for the world or ours?
Do we have a Biblical control over our feelings when we hear of problems in other churches?
with anti-semitism on the rise around the world, do we allow our selves to be indifferent like the Edomites did?