Obadiah: Jesus Is The Judge Of Those Who Do Evil
IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR OWN COPY OF THE SERMON NOTES, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO DOWNLOAD A COPY: SERMON NOTES
PREACHING CHRIST THROUGH THE BIBLE |
Obadiah: Jesus Is The Judge Of Those Who Do Evil
Obadiah 1:1-4 (ESV)
1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the LORD, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!”
2 Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised.
3 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?”
4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.
I read a story of a man who was checking in his luggage at the airport. While at the counter, he became dissatisfied with the employee who was handling his luggage. For several minutes he belittled the young man and criticized his every move. Surprisingly, the curbside porter didn't seem troubled by this man's verbal abuse. After the angry man entered the airport, a woman approached the luggage handler and asked, "How do you put up with such injustice?" The young man said, "It's easy. That guy's going to New York, but I'm sending his bags to Brazil."
It is so easy to laugh at this story. Do you know why? It is because we know deep down our hearts we probably would do the same if we were given a chance. I don't know if you notice that it is so easy for us to nurture a grudge or have bottled-up resenments towards someone because of our sinful hearts. And if there's an opportunity, we won't think twice to seek revenge against those who hurt or harm us. Of course, many people in our society often don't see anything wrong with revenge because, in their mind, it's an acceptable response because we have been wronged. This attitude is exemplified by Muhammad Ali when he wrote these words in his book, The Greatest My Own Story,
"I'm a fighter. I believe in the eye-for-an-eye business. I'm no cheek turner. I got no respect for a man who won't hit back. You kill my dog, you better hide your cat."
If you share the same mindset and you are a Bible believer, I hope and pray that our message this morning can serve as a solid warning to you because it is quite evident in the book of Obadiah that this behavior is not acceptable to God.
As we begin our study of the fourth minor prophet book, it is helpful to know that Obadiah is considered the shortest book. It has only one chapter with 21 verses. Although it is short, the Lord considered it essential and allowed it to be a part of the 12 minor prophet books.
We also don't have a lot of information with regards to the prophet Obadiah. We don't know much about his family background or where he came from. The most basic information we have about him would be two-fold: First, his name, Obadiah, means "the servant of Lord" or "the worshipper of Lord." It is interesting that Jesus Christ puts these names together when he said in Matthew 4:10 (NIV)
10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
Evidently, in the mind of Jesus Christ, Worship and service go hand in hand. Whenever we are worshipping the Lord, we are serving Him as well.
Second, God called Obadiah to prophesy against the nation of Edom because of the sins they committed against the Southern Kingdom of Judah after they were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. This background gives many Bible scholars a hint to the date of the writing of this book. The majority of them believe that this book was written somewhere around 586 BC, the same year Judah fell into the hands of the Babylonians.
Now, since the book has only one chapter, it would be helpful for us to divide our study into two main parts:
I GOD'S CONDEMNATION OF EDOM (vs. 1-16)
When we begin to read the words in verse 1, "The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom." It is pretty clear that the Lord directed His prophecies against Edom. But to understand this book better, we must first establish the identity of Edom. So, who are the Edomites?
Edom or the Edomites were the direct descendants of Esau (Genesis 25:30), the twin brother of Jacob. If you revisit their story in Genesis 25:19-26, we will find that these two brothers had already been competing even before they were born. The competition was who would come out first. So, they were born, although Esau came out first, Jacob came out clutching on the heel of Esau.
Unfortunately, growing up, their parents did not help neutralize their sibling rivalry. Esau grew up as Isaac's favorite son, while Jacob was Rebekah's favorite. But, as we know, this sibling rivalry would develop into a full-blown conflict when Rebekah and Jacob took advantage of Isaac's blindness and schemed to steal from Esau the blessing that was attached to the Abrahamic covenant.
Fast–forward, the conflict between Esau and Jacob would spill over into their direct descendants. We would find Edom refusing to allow the Israelites to pass through their city after being freed from Egypt.
Numbers 20:18-21 (ESV)
18 But Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you."
19 And the people of Israel said to him, "We will go up by the highway, and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then I will pay for it. Let me only pass through on foot, nothing more."
20 But he said, "You shall not pass through." And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force.
21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.
What is really sad is that they were not just neighbors to Israel. They were literally brothers from the same bloodline. Obviously, their hostilities towards Israel will continue until this time of Obadiah, and God Himself will confront and condemn their sins.
What are some of the iniquities that God would address in the book? Here are at least two specific sins:
A. Their Haughtiness
If you read verses 3-4, we will find the Lord addressing their problem of pride:
Obadiah 1:3-4 (ESV)
3 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?"
4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.
The words in verse 3 saying, "in your lofty dwelling," can also be translated as "high mountainous home." In other words, Edom prided over their location. Since they lived on top of elevated mountains, they felt that they were inaccessible to invading forces. So, like eagles, they were looking down on nations just like Judah, which was situated on the lower plains. However, because of their pride, God Himself will bring them down.
Well, in addition to their location, another source of pride was their association with other mighty nations:
Obadiah 1:7 (ESV)
7 All your allies have driven you to your border; those at peace with you have deceived you; they have prevailed against you; those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you— you have no understanding.
Edom felt secured because of their alliances with mighty nations. However, once God would begin dealing with them because of their pride, the very nations whom they thought would help them will betray them and be the ones to destroy them.
The Bible is entirely consistent in telling us that God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Therefore, we have to examine our hearts constantly, whether or not; pride is beginning to take roots in there. If we find any, let's be diligent in taking them out because we don't want to be going against God Himself. Pride mirrors the attitude of Lucifer (Satan); while humility mirrors the attitude of Christ. Which image do you want to project today?
B. Their Heartlessness
The sins of Edom that God confronts are not only their haughtiness but also their heartlessness or their cruelty to Judah. As we have established earlier, Edom allowed their grudges or resentments against Judah to dictate the quality of relationship they would have with their brothers. So, when the Babylonians came and destroyed Judah in 586 BC, the Edomites did some heartless things to them that caught God's attention. They are detailed explicitly in Obadiah 1:10-14 (ESV)
10 Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.
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. (Stood Aloof)
12 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. (Gloated)
13 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. (Looted)
14 Do not stand at the crossroads to cut off his fugitives; do not hand over his survivors in the day of distress. (They helped their enemies)
When you examine these verses, you will find God condemning the heartless treatments of the Edomites towards God's people. Instead of helping their brothers, they decided to do the following:
They Stood Aloof (vs. 10-11) – They decided to be passive spectators while the Babylonians were slaughtering the people of Judah.
They gloated (v.12) – They did not simply enjoy seeing their brothers being destroyed; they even gloated. Gloating is more than rejoicing; it carries the idea of enjoying the misfortune of your enemies. King Solomon has a suitable warning about gloating that we need to heed:
Proverbs 24:17-18 (ESV)
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.
They Looted (v. 13) – They helped themselves with the plunders from Judah.
They helped their enemies (v. 14) – When the Israelites tried to flee, the Edomites cut them off from their defenses and handed them over to their enemies.
The way Edom responded to the miserable condition of Judah should serve as a great warning to us today. We need to do our best to free ourselves of grudges or resentments so that we would not enjoy the miserable conditions of others even if they were our enemies. Here is God's warning in Obadiah 1:15 (ESV):
15 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.
Here is the clear warning – God has appointed a "day" when He will hold everyone for their deeds as the Judge. Since He is a just judge, everyone will reap whatever they have sown.
For us today, this "day" is associated with the second coming of Jesus Christ, who will serve as the Judge. Jesus Himself talks about this truth in John 5:25-29 (ESV):
25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is nowhere, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the son also to have life in himself.
27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Again, Jesus as the just Judge, would hold everyone accountable to what he or she has done.
II GOD'S COMPASSION FOR JUDAH (vs. 17-21)
After God delivered the prophecies to Edom. He again turns to His people and assures them of their future deliverance and triumph. Listen to God's precious promises to them:
Obadiah 1:17-21 (ESV)
17 But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.
18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken.
19 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.
20 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.
21 Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the LORD's.
When the Lord judged His people because of their stubbornness, He allowed them to be crushed, and they lost the lands they possessed. However, if you read these verses, God, in His compassion towards His people, promises to deliver them and restore them to the lands they once possessed. We should especially highlight verses 20-21, where it talks about the exiles possessing their lands again and "Saviors" or "Deliverers," will be sent by God to help them. Of course, historically, these deliverers whom God chose to deliver the exiles may refer to Zerubbabel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Maccabee. Lastly, verse 21 is also considered the Messianic prophecy because Jesus Christ will ultimately establish the Lord's Kingdom on earth.
I love how the book of Obadiah concludes because it magnifies the faithfulness of God to keep His covenant with His people even when His people had been unfaithful. Today, we as believers are also in a covenant relationship with God. He promises to abide with us and be our ever-present help in our life's journey. Whatever we are going through, we should never lose hope because, as God's people, we are set to enjoy the blessings that God has reserved for us, especially the blessings of His Kingdom.