(Obadiah 1:1-3) The vision of Obadiah.
Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom—
We have heard a report from the Lord, and an envoy has been sent among the nations saying, “Arise and let us go against her for battle”—
2 “Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you are greatly despised.
3 “The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in the loftiness of your dwelling place, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to earth?’
2 “Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you are greatly despised.
3 “The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in the loftiness of your dwelling place, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to earth?’
The Edomites had been in constant conflict with the Israelites throughout history, and then when Jerusalem was invaded and taken into captivity, they stood by, rejoicing, and even joined up with the enemy's efforts. This message warned them of the destruction that would come against them - as well as the Israelites - during the Tribulation. They were warned not to gloat like they had in the past, because by the end of Tribulation, the Edomites will be destroyed, and the Israelites will see their covenants fulfilled...
(Obadiah 1:4-21) “Though you build high like the eagle, though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord.
5 “If thieves came to you, if robbers by night — O how you will be ruined! — Would they not steal only until they had enough? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings?
6 “O how Esau will be ransacked, and his hidden treasures searched out!
7 “All the men allied with you will send you forth to the border, and the men at peace with you will deceive you and overpower you. They who eat your bread will set an ambush for you. (There is no understanding in him.)
8 “Will I not on that day,” declares the Lord, “Destroy wise men from Edom and understanding from the mountain of Esau?
9 “Then your mighty men will be dismayed, O Teman, so that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter.
5 “If thieves came to you, if robbers by night — O how you will be ruined! — Would they not steal only until they had enough? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings?
6 “O how Esau will be ransacked, and his hidden treasures searched out!
7 “All the men allied with you will send you forth to the border, and the men at peace with you will deceive you and overpower you. They who eat your bread will set an ambush for you. (There is no understanding in him.)
8 “Will I not on that day,” declares the Lord, “Destroy wise men from Edom and understanding from the mountain of Esau?
9 “Then your mighty men will be dismayed, O Teman, so that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter.
10 “Because of violence to your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame, and you will 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 gate and cast lots for Jerusalem— you too were as one of them.
12 “Do not gloat over your brother’s day, the day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah in the day of their destruction; yes, do not boast in the day of their distress.
13 “Do not enter the gate of My people in the day of their disaster. Yes, you, do not gloat over their calamity in the day of their disaster. And do not loot their wealth in the day of their disaster.
14 “Do not stand at the fork of the road to cut down their fugitives; and do not imprison their survivors in the day of their distress.
11 “On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth, and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem— you too were as one of them.
12 “Do not gloat over your brother’s day, the day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah in the day of their destruction; yes, do not boast in the day of their distress.
13 “Do not enter the gate of My people in the day of their disaster. Yes, you, do not gloat over their calamity in the day of their disaster. And do not loot their wealth in the day of their disaster.
14 “Do not stand at the fork of the road to cut down their fugitives; and do not imprison their survivors in the day of their distress.
15 “For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head.
16 “Because just as you drank on My holy mountain, all the nations will drink continually. They will drink and swallow and become as if they had never existed.
17 “But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. And the house of Jacob will possess their possessions.
18 “Then the house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; but the house of Esau will be as stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them, so that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau,” for the Lord has spoken.
19 Then those of the Negev will possess the mountain of Esau, and those of the Shephelah the Philistine plain; also, possess the territory of Ephraim and the territory of Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead.
20 And the exiles of this host of the sons of Israel, who are among the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the cities of the Negev.
21 The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau, and the kingdom will be the Lord’s.
16 “Because just as you drank on My holy mountain, all the nations will drink continually. They will drink and swallow and become as if they had never existed.
17 “But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. And the house of Jacob will possess their possessions.
18 “Then the house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; but the house of Esau will be as stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them, so that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau,” for the Lord has spoken.
19 Then those of the Negev will possess the mountain of Esau, and those of the Shephelah the Philistine plain; also, possess the territory of Ephraim and the territory of Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead.
20 And the exiles of this host of the sons of Israel, who are among the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the cities of the Negev.
21 The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau, and the kingdom will be the Lord’s.
Today's takeaway: these nations would have known the history between their fathers. Jacob had stolen Esau's birthright and blessing, and even though Jacob was the youngest of the two, his descendants were chosen to inherit! Even after fathers reconcile, children often continue family feuds. And so, when misfortune falls on the hated - it is so easy to gloat!
I'm curious about the feelings of James, the half brother of Jesus. James would have grown up with this PERFECT older brother. It's also very easy to hate anyone who comes off as perfect, but Jesus was actually perfect - without sin! So while Jesus was being crucified - what were all the emotions running through James' heart? Was there a bit of gloating? Like, "Ha, You thought You were so perfect, but now look where that got You?" But at some point, either at Jesus' death or at His resurrection, James became a believer. There would have been the "Ah-ha" moment where everything made sense. And there would have been big-time-humble-pie!!!
Whether someone deserves to suffer or NOT - we should never gloat - but exercise love and compassion...
(Colossians 3:1-17) Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [j]barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
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