King Of The Mountain (Sibling Rivalry)

Sibling rivalry is particularly intense when children are very close in age and of the same gender and/or where one or both children are intellectually gifted.

According to Kyla Boyse from the University of Michigan, each child in a family competes to define who it is as an individual and wants to show that it is separate from its siblings. Children may feel they are getting unequal amounts of their parents’ attention, discipline, and responsiveness.

Stress in the parents’ and children’s lives can create more conflict and increase sibling rivalry.

Vernon Weihe suggests that four criteria should be used to determine if questioned and/or questionable behavior is rivalry or sibling abuse.

First, given that children use different conflict-resolution tactics during various developmental stages, one must rule out the possibility that the questioned behavior is in fact age-appropriate for the child exhibiting it.

Second, one must determine whether the behavior is an isolated incident or instead part of an enduring pattern: abuse is, by definition, a long-term pattern rather than occasional disagreements.

Third, one must determine if there is an "aspect of victimization" to the behavior: rivalry tends to be incident-specific, reciprocal, and obvious to others, while abuse is characterized by secrecy and an imbalance of power.

Fourth, one must determine the goal of the questioned and/or questionable behavior: while rivalry is motivated entirely or primarily by aspects of a child's self-interest in which the interests of others, including the child's rival, do not play a role, in scenarios featuring abuse the perpetrator's ultimate interests tend to include domination, humiliation, or at least embarrassment of the victim.

Abuse occurs when one sibling consistently intimidates, terrorizes or controls another.

Sibling abuse includes the physical, psychological, or sexual abuse of one sibling by another, more often younger sibling by older sibling. A fourth category that brought attention from researchers during the first decade of the 21st century is sibling relational abuse, which derives from relational aggression.

Studies have shown that of the three sibling pairs, sister/sister pairs are the closest and brother/brother pairs are the most rivalrous. (Identical male twins tend to be the most competitive.)

That takes me to our text today because Edom’s & Israel’s/Judah’s behavior, which is placed front and center within the book of Obadiah, in contrast to the LORD God’s compassion within verses 17-21, are biological descendents of Jacob and Esau

The Bible is filled with Sibling Rivalry

The Book of Genesis in the Bible contains several examples of sibling rivalry: the story of Cain and Abel tells of one brother's jealousy after God appears to favour his sibling, and the jealousy ultimately leads to murder. Esau was jealous of his brother Jacob's inheritance and blessing; sisters Leah and Rachel compete for the love of Jacob; Joseph's brothers are so jealous that they effectively sell him into slavery. David & his brothers?

Sibling Rivalry within the Family of God, the body of Jesus Christ

And as said earlier, sibling rivalry isn’t just between biologically related siblings either…

What about within the church? What about among the people of God?

Transition To Body- History of Esau’s & Jacob’s sibling rivalry

Esau, the elder twin of Jacob (Gen. 25:24–26), is nicknamed Edom (“red”), purportedly after the red stew of which he was fond (v. 30), but also a logical choice because of the color of his hair (v. 25).

When Israel attempted to pass through their territory in Transjordan on the way from Egypt to Canaan, the Edomites refused passage (Num. 20:14–21).

David conquered Edom (2 Sam. 8:12, 14; 1 Kings 11:15–16; 1 Chron. 18:11, 13), but only after Saul’s inability to do so (1 Sam. 14:47).

Solomon controlled Ezion Geber long enough to build ships in that Edomite seaport (1 Kings 9:26; 2 Chron. 8:17), but Hadad, a member of its royal house, rebelled against him (1 Kings 11:14–22).

Judah seems to have regained control by the time of King Jehoshaphat (871–848 B.C.), who also built trading ships associated with Ezion Geber (1 Kings 22:47). He had apparently set up a puppet ruler in place of the Edomite king (“deputy”; v. 48).12 Soon thereafter, Jehoshaphat sallied forth in battle against Moab and his allies, including King Jehoram of Israel and “the king of Edom” (2 Kings 3:9). This is probably still the Judean puppet rather than a newly enthroned ethnic Edomite, since Edom did not enjoy such self-rule until the reign of Jehoram/Joram, the son of Jehoshaphat (848–841 B.C.; 2 Kings 8:20–22; 2 Chron. 21:8–10).

King Amaziah of Judah (800–783 B.C.) regained control of Edom with the slaughter of ten thousand of its inhabitants and the capture of its capital, Sela (2 Kings 14:7; 2 Chron. 25:11–12, 19–20). This city, mentioned in Obadiah 3, was renamed Joktheel as a sign of total control over it (2 Kings 14:7).

Joktheel- God subdued

The Israel-Edom/Esau national relationship is fraught with as much tension as occurred between the brothers from whom they were descended. Though biologically “family,” blood did not preclude bickering.

This longstanding, antagonistic relationship between sibling groups makes it easy to understand why Edom is grouped among Israel’s, and God’s, perpetual enemies in poetry (Ps. 60:8, 9; 83:3; 108:9, 10) and prophecy (e.g., Isa. 11:14; 63:1–6; Jer. 25:21; 49:7–22; Ezek. 25:12–14; Joel 3:19; Amos 1:6, 9, 11; Mal. 1:4).

In the Book of Genesis, Teman is a son of Eliphaz, Esau's eldest son

Edom means red- possibly symbolic of Esau’s favorite

Body- The LORD God Is King of the Mountain because

The LORD God Speaks to Godless People (vv1-4)

The LORD God Humbles Godless People (vv5-14)

The LORD God’s Mountain Of Security & Safety (vv15-18)

The LORD’s Godly Kingdom Of Redeemed People (vv19-21)

Obadiah 19–21 ESV

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. The exiles of this host of the people of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the Negeb. Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.

Transition To Close- You Wanna Be Down With The King

Illustration: Run- DMC: The Kings of Rock

My first hip-hop/rap album received as a birthday gift was “King of Rock” by Run DMC

My favorite MC in Run- DMC is DMC

I'm the king of rock, there is none higher

Sucker MC's should call me sire

To burn my kingdom, you must use fire

I won't stop rockin' till I retire

Sophomore year in college, Down with the King is the sixth studio album by hip hop group Run-D.M.C., released on May 4, 1993 by Profile Records.

DMC on Verse 3:

I'm takin' the tours, I'm wreckin' the land

I keep it hardcore because it's dope man

These are the roughest toughest words I ever wrote down

Not meant for a ho like a slow jam, check it

Sucka MCs could never swing with D

Because of all the things that I bring with me

Only G-O-D could be a king to me

And if the G-O-D be in me, then the king I be

You be wanna be

Down with the king

The king down with the king

Close

Psalm 24:1–10 ESV

1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. 3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 5 He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah 7 Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! 9 Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah

According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

1 Peter 1:3–9 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Prophets Prophecy concerning salvation

1 Peter 1:10–12 ESV

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

1 Peter 2:1–3 ESV

1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Psalm 34:1–4 ESV

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:5–6 ESV

5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

Psalm 34:7 ESV

7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Psalm 34:8 ESV

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

The LORD is good!

Psalm 100:5 ESV

5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

1 Peter 2:4–5 ESV

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:6–8 ESV

6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

A Chosen people, royalty, holy

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

You have received mercy

1 Peter 2:10 ESV

10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:17 ESV

Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Revelation 11:15–19 ESV

15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” 19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

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