Be Warned- Obadiah 1-9

Brief introduction to the book of Obadiah

There are documents, men and women, and moments in history, that though brief, are forever etched into human history for their message.

On 31 October 1517, the monk, Martin Luther, nailed his 95 theses on the castle doors of Wittenburg, leading to what would become the Reformation.

On 2 July 1776 12 of the 13 colonies sanctioned the resolution that is now called the Declaration of Independence.

Take, for example, tank man, standing in front of the Chinese tanks in Tiananmen Square on 5 June 1989. Protesting the violence against the protests.

Though these and many other events stand etched in our memories, in our history books, and in monuments, these all pale in comparison to the book that we will devote the next four weeks studying. What sets this book apart from these monumental events is found in the first verse, “Thus says the Lord God...”

When God speaks, we listen. This unknown prophet, of which nothing beside this vision is revealed, was chosen by God to relay two important messages: God will judge sin and God will save His people. If we are honest, this is the message of the entire Bible. God will judge sin and God will save His people.

Obadiah, consisting of only 21 verses (the shortest book in the Old Testament), gives us these two messages. The message of judgment focuses on Edom. The message of salvation focuses on God’s people. The first three sermons will be focused on judgment, the last on restoration.

In this series, I want to offer 3 suggestions to help you get the most of our Obadiah’s vision.

First, realize that though Obadiah’s message of judgment is focused on Edom, we are also sinners. Use these as a tool to diagnose your own hearts for repentance and growth.

Second, as we work through this, draw encouragement that though God’s enemies seem to be winning, they are in fact simply pawns in His hands. Be encouraged.

Third, in the first three sermons, keep in mind the restoration of God’s people. It will be all the sweeter, as we also learn in the NT (cf. 2 Cor. 1:3-5).

With that foundation, let us look at the first section of Obadiah focused on the command, Be Warned.

I. Be Warned that we will answer to God- 1, 4, 8

This vision of Obadiah’s shows us that it is not his words, or his thoughts, that he is communicated. It is the Word of the LORD, and with that declarative statement carries the full weight of Divine authority.

Esau, the twin brother of Jacob (see Gen. 25:19-28) was not a man of God. He was a man of the flesh, a sinner, refusing the abide by God’s ways. From this man the nation of Edom arose. Though reconciliation was reached between the brothers (see Gen. 33), their offspring did not fair so well. They fought and waged war on one another.

In fact, Edom would not allow Israel to pass on their exodus journey to the promised land (see Num. 20:14-21).

There was much that passed between Israel and Edom in history, but at this point the northern ten tribes of Israel and the southern tribe of Judah have been exiled (cf. Oba. 11). Edom, the brother nation of God’s people, has rejoiced over and supported that destruction and exile.

They must answer to God. Israel is God’s people, the promised people of Abraham (see Gen. 12:1-3). Edom had fought against them, and therefore have sinned against God.

Let us heed this important lesson this morning. We must all give an account to this same God. Paul tells us such in 2 Cor. 5:10. There is a final judgment as well (Rev. 20:15-20).

“The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the eternal damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient; for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and glory with everlasting rewards, in the presence of the Lord; but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast aside into everlasting torments, and punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.”—2LCF 32.2

Be warned that we will answer to God. Be warned, secondly, against foolish pride.

II. Be Warned against foolish pride- 2-4

The pride of Edom is described in two ways: their seemingly invincible location and their apparent distance from danger.

The nation of Edom has an incredible fortress called Petra. They lived in the mountains which naturally afforded them incredible protection against enemies and vandals. You can look up some of this city online, and it is incredible.

The problem, though, was that Edom relied on that fortress. Notice Obadiah’s words. The Edomites thought they were safe, but this was foolish.

As we look back on this pronounced judgment, we often separate ourselves from these people. But do we not do the same? Do we not trust in a variety of foolish things? It may not be a rock fortress, but do we not find safety in other things? In our financial situations, our health, or wisdom, or guns, or physical might, or the money we give, or whatever else we want to add?

That is foolish pride. Anything outside of the grace of God and His person and work is a foolish object or thought upon which to lean. It is pride, and it screams like the Edomites, “We live in the clefts of the rock! We dwell in lofty dwellings!” Be warned against such foolish pride.

Anything other than God is as foolish as thinking we are like eagles out of the range of danger. Be warned against such foolish pride.

Be warned that we will answer to God. Be warned against foolish pride. Now, be warned about the thoroughness of judgment.

III. Be Warned about the thoroughness of Judgment- 5-9

Obadiah, speaking on the authority of God, warns the Edomites about the thoroughness of God’s judgment. God is a particular God. He pays attention to detail. He knows how many hairs are on our head. He knows when a sparrow dies. He pays attention to details. This encompasses his view of sin and judgment.

Obadiah uses several word pictures that describes the thoroughness of His judgment. Plunderers are not concerned about thoroughness, they are speedy and quick. They break in and grab as much as they can, but they do not grab everything.

Likewise, the harvesters gather grapes. They want as much as they can get, but the Law of the LORD prevents an exhaustive harvest (see Lev. 23:22).

But God’s judgment is thorough. His judgment includes all our thoughts, our speech, and our actions. There is nothing, the author of Hebrews tells us, that escapes his sight (see Heb. 4:13).

But Obadiah continues his warning by mentioning Edom’s allies, friends, those close to them.

God’s judgment often includes items, people, or means by which we would never see that judgment coming. Edom’s friends, her allies, will be used by God to bring His judgment about. And what is astounding, and something we must desperately keep in our minds, is that pride blinds us to the truth of situations.

The Edomites have no understanding, no insight, no comprehension. Unlike the thief or the harvester, God will be thorough. The Edomites will be completely pillaged, they will be ransacked. Nothing will get out of this judgment. Wise and mighty, foolish and weak, every man, Obadiah tells us on behalf of the LORD, will be cut off by slaughter.

Be warned, we will answer to God for our foolish pride and His thorough judgment. Be warned.

As we think about this warning that is applicable to us all, we must remember a wonderful truth, equally proclaimed by prophets and apostles alike.

God is a God of judgment, but He is also a God of grace. Through God the Son we have access to God, we have peace with God, we have union with God. Christ suffered, the just for the unjust, so that God’s justice would be upheld while God’s grace would be given to His people. Romans 3:19-26

Romans 3:19–26 NKJV

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.