OBADIAH: PRIDE GOES BEFORE DESTRUCTION
(Study of Minor Prophets)
5/15/16 – Garfield
A. How many of you fought with your brother or sister growing up? Sibling rivalry is a very common
occurrence.
1. You may recall some of those battles between you and your brother or sister when you were younger,
and even still after 30, 40, 50, years.
COMMENT:
Despite the occasional conflicts, arguments, and hurt feelings between you and your siblings, deep down you still love each other and you’re there for each other.
2. This, however, was not the case between two brothers in the Old Testament named Jacob and Esau—
the sons of Isaac (also known as Israel) and the grandsons of Abraham.
a. They were TWINS.
b. The RIVALRY between them began even before they were born- Genesis 25:22- “The babies
struggled together within their mother’s womb.”
c. Esau was the OLDEST, being first to be born, and as the OLDEST was in line to receive the BIRTHRIGHT passed down from the FATHER—the chief portion of the INHERITANCE and all the FAMILY PERKS that go with that. But most importantly, Esau would also RECEIVE the
COVENANT PROMISE passed down from his grandfather Abraham.
COMMENT:
However, in Genesis 25:27-34 we read how Esau being FAMISHED while WORKING out in the FIELD one day and thinking he was about to STARVE to DEATH, sold his BIRTHRIGHT to his brother Jacob for a bowl of STEW. Needless to say, this intensified the RIVALRY between these two brothers making them BITTER ENEMIES.
3. “Jacob, through some trickery, received the BIRTHRIGHT and BLESSING from his father Isaac
that was intended for Esau.” You can read about that Genesis 27.
a. Both brothers eventually MARRIED and went their separate ways forming two NATIONS.
b. The DESCENDANTS of Jacob formed the nation of ISRAEL, while Esau’s DESCENDANTS
formed the nation of EDOM, which was also Esau’s nickname meaning “RED.”
COMMENT:
The CONFLICT that started with these two brothers continued with these two NATIONS.
B. Fast forward a little over 1,000 years and we come to the prophecy of Obadiah—the shortest book in the
Old Testament. Written approximately around 840-845 BC.
1. As I pointed out in two weeks ago, by this time Israel is a DIVIDED KINGDOM—with Israel to the North and Judah to the South. The Nation of Edom is connected to the southern border of Judah.
2. The book of Obadiah is the only reference that we have of the Prophet himself. His name means
“Servant of the Lord.”
a. From the temper of the book we know that Obadiah was a PIOUS, PATRIOTIC and SENSITIVE resident of Judah who dared to put into WORDS the INDIGNATION and DISGUST that he felt about the nation of EDOM because of their EXPLOITATION of and CRUELTY against Israel.
b. As a SPOKESMAN of God, Obadiah waited patiently for God to bring about for Israel a glorious VICTORY over the EDOMITES, knowing that RIGHT would ultimately triumph over WRONG.
MESSAGE:
I. EDOM’S PRIDE BLINDED THEM TO THE NEED OF GOD- Obadiah 1-9
A. Obadiah said to the Edomites, “I have received a message from God and His message is, the pride of
your heart has deceived you”- v. 3.
1. The pride that the PROPHET is talking about here is much more than SELF-IMPORTANCE, it is
SELF-SUFFICIENCY—the sense of INDEPENDENCE from God.
COMMENT:
We are now living in a CULTURE and SOCIETY where more and more people feel like they no longer NEED God. I believe that’s one of the main reasons we are seeing less and less people
in our churches today—they just don’t NEED God.
They don’t NEED God to DIRECT them toward what is RIGHT and avoid what is WRONG, the GOVERNMENT is now their new MORAL CODE. They don’t NEED God to point out SIN in their LIFE and lead them to REPENTANCE because SIN is no longer RELATIVE—there’s no such thing as SIN anymore. They don’t need God to LEAN ON during times of SORROW and DISTRESS; they have Dr. Phil, Oprah and Ellen for that.
2. Throughout the Bible God makes it very CLEAR that ARROGANCE or PRIDE is SINFUL and
will not be TOLERATED.
a. Solomon writes: “Pride goes before destruction”- Proverbs 16:18.
b. James reminds us that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”- James 4:6.
COMMENT:
Because of the PRIDE of the Edomites, they were BLINDED to the fact that God had always been there for them. He had always BLESSED them. They, too, were Abraham’s descendants, and the recipients of God’s PROMISE. Well, that is, until they allowed their PRIDE to DECEIVE them and LEAD them down the PATH of DESTRUCTION.
B. They were BLINDED by their PRIDE in FIVE areas:
1. They TRUSTED in their SECURITY- vv. 3-4
a. “They live in the clefts of the rocks…and boast, ‘NO ONE can bring us DOWN.’”
b. The capital city of Edom was “SELA,” the Hebrew word for ROCK. (Grk: PETRA now part of
Jordan.)
ILLUSTRATION:
If you saw the movie: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, you may recall the scene where Indiana Jones and his father rode on horseback through the clefts of the rocks to get to the fortress
of PETRA. (Structure carved by the Nabaeateans that moved in after Edom was conquered.)
c. The nation of Edom thought of itself as being completely SECURE in its MOUNTAINOUS
STRONGHOLD.
COMMENT:
They felt that no ENEMY could penetrate their FORTRESS. “Who can bring me down to the ground?” they arrogantly ask.
d. Edom’s MIGHTY FORTRESS was no match for God.
-God- “Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, . . . I will bring you down.”- v. 4.
2. They TRUSTED in their WEALTH- vv. 5-6
a. Arrogantly the Edomites would say, “We are so wealthy. Let the thieves come and take what
they can carry. We have plenty more RICHES hidden away.”
COMMENT:
Edom was known for their TRADE. There was ROAD that was used for TRADE known as The King’s Highway that went right past Sela (Petra) and through Edom.
You may recall that “During the Exodos when the Israelites were traveling to the Promised Land that EDOM would NOT allow them PASSAGE on this ROAD, and even brought a huge ARMY against the Israelites”- Numbers 20:21.
b. God says to Edom, “When I get through with you, there will be NOTHING left.”
3. They TRUSTED in their ALLIES- v. 7
COMMENT:
Because Edom had the only safe and fastest PASSAGE through the RUGGED TERRAIN of the DESERT and MOUNTAINS, many NATIONS wanted to ALLY with Edom so they could all
BENEFIT from the TRADE ROUTE—The King’s Highway.
a. Yet, God says that “these very ALLIES and so-called FRIENDS are going to turn against you. They will DECEIVE you, OVERPOWER you, and FORCE you out of your LAND, and you won’t even detect what’s happening.”
b. Instead of the EDOMITES trusting in God, they put their trust in people who contributed to their downfall.
4. They TRUSTED in their WISDOM- v. 8
a. The Edomites were celebrated for their WISE and PRUDENT Counsel.
b. God spoke of their “great WISDOM” in Jeremiah 49:7. “Eliphaz, one of the friends of Job
who came to comfort him, was from Edom”- Job 2:11.
COMMENT:
Yet, God says, “I will destroy the WISE and KNOWLEDGEABLE men of Edom.” Whatever WISDOM and INTELLIGENCE they RELY on and take PRIDE in ill not be a MATCH when the ALL-KNOWING God gets through with them.
5. They TRUSTED in their MILITARY- v.9
a. Edom had BRAVE and MIGHTY WARRIORS who successfully DEFEATED many ARMIES in BATTLE, but this time they weren’t at WAR with MAN but with God.
b. God says, “You’re ARMY will be TERRIFIED when they come against me. Everyone on
Esau’s mountain—in your MIGHTY FORTRESS—will be cut down.”
COMMENT:
Edom thought they had it all: SECURITY, WEALTH, WISDOM, ALLIES, POWER. But when God came AGAINST them, these were no OBSTACLES.
COMMENT:
A NATION today may BOAST of its great RICHES, its great MEN and INSTITUTIONS of KNOWLEDGE, it’s great ALLIES and MILITARY POWER, but if God chooses to bring a NATION to its KNEES, there is nothing that can be done to STOP Him.
II. EDOM’S PRIDE BLINDED THEM TO THE NEED OF OTHERS- Obadiah 10-14
A. God is judging Edom for the VIOLENCE, CRUELTY, and BETRAYAL perpetrated against the Nation
of Israel—their brother Jacob.
1. Not only did Edom flex their own MILITARY MUSCLE against Israel on occasion, they sat IDLY
by while their BROTHER was ATTACKED and PILLAGED by other NATIONS.
a. God said, “You stood aloof while strangers carried off Israel’s wealth and foreign nations
entered his gates.”
b. Although Edom did not INITIATE the ATTACK against Israel, they didn’t lift a finger to STOP
others from doing so.
COMMENT:
This is an example of VIOLENCE of SILENCE. When principles of RIGHTEOUSNESS are involved that DEMANDS that a STAND be taken, it is a SIN to be NEUTRAL in such cases.
2. We must always take a STAND for what’s RIGHT regardless of the CONSEQUENCES.
B. The Lord presents three CHARGES against Edom with these words: “YOU SHOULD NOT…”
1. “You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune”- v. 12
COMMENT:
Instead of helping Israel when other nations were ATTACKING, they “REJOICED in their DAY of TROUBLE and DESTRUCTION.”
ILLUSTRATION:
If you’ve ever wondered what God thinks about those who REJOICE in the TROUBLE and MISFORTUNE of their fellow-Christians, then you need to spend some time REFLECTING on the words of OBADIAH.
2. “You should not march through the gates of my people in the day of their disaster”- v. 13.
COMMENT:
The Edomites might not have been the ones who BREACHED the gates of Jerusalem, but they certainly took ADVANTAGE of it. They entered the city to SHARE in the SPOILS of God’s PLUNDERED people.
Instead of coming to HELP their brother Israel in their day of TROUBLE, they came to HELP themselves.
3. “You should not wait at the crossroads to cut down their fugitives”- v. 14
COMMENT:
During the ATTACKS against Jerusalem, many of the Israelites would FLEE for their lives only to be ROBBED or KILLED or CAPTURED by the Edomites who stationed themselves at the CROSSROADS of the ESCAPE ROUTE.
C. God said, “STRIKE THREE. YOU’RE OUT!”
COMMENT:
For their PRIDE against God and their CRUELTY against their BROTHER, the utter DESTRUCTION of the EDOMITES was drawing near.
III. GOD’S JUDGMENT AND FUTURE PROMISE- Obadiah 15-21
A. “The Day of the Lord is near”- v. 15.
1. Obadiah was the first to use the phrase “The Day of the Lord”, and it has since been used many
times in both the Old and New Testament.
a. “The Day of the Lord” is a metaphor used to describe God’s JUDGMENT upon a particular
NATION or NATIONS.
b. The phrase, “The Day of the Lord” also refers to the COMING of Christ to JUDGE the WORLD- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2
c. “The Day of the Lord” always results in two ACTIONS: 1). The DESTRUCTION of the WICKED. 2). The SALVATION of the RIGHTEOUS.”
2. Along with Edom’s DESTRUCTION, Israel will be DELIVERED. This is the physical fulfilment
of this prophecy.
COMMENT:
As you look on the CURRENT MAP of PALESTINE, you no longer see the NATION of EDOM listed. ISRAEL is still there, but EDOM has long been DESTROYED. God kept his PROMISE.
B. Obadiah also speaks of a FUTURE SPIRITUAL FULFILMENT- vv. 17-21
1. Obadiah said that “the house of Jacob will possess its inheritance”- v. 17.
a. This, I believe, not only refers to the physical descendants of Jacob, but also the FUTURE house
of the REDEEMED that are in Christ—the CHURCH.
b. The angel Gabriel told Mary that the child she was carrying “will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end”- Luke 1:33.
COMMENT:
That house of Jacob is the church of Jesus Christ that encompasses Jews and Gentiles alike.
2. The prophet Amos had this to say about Israel’s future restoration- Amos 9:11-12 (READ)
a. James pointed out that Amos’ prophecy found its fulfillment in the church of Jesus Christ with the conversion of Gentiles; specifically Cornelius and his household- Acts 15:13-18.
b. The glorious exaltation of Israel took place in the church, and it spiritually possessed Edom and the nations when the Gentiles were brought into the church by the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION:
A. Although Obadiah was written almost 3,000 years ago, the HOPE and RESTORATION that he speaks of is being fulfilled today in the life of Garfield Christian Church and in every Bible believing, Jesus following CHURCH that has ever existed.
B. We have 11 more MINOR PROPHETS to go.
1. Next week we will study the PROPHECY of JOEL.
a. So be sure to start GOOGLING Joel now, and learn as much as you about this book before next Sunday.
ARE YOU READY FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD?
