These are notes collected from studying with brothers in Christ. Anything good comes from the Lord. Everything else is from us!
Obadiah v.15 “The day of the Lord is near
for all nations.
As you have done, it will be done to you;
your deeds will return upon your own head.”
More OT justice in this short book. As mentioned earlier the LORD is warning against pride and earthly power. My main takeaway from this book comes from the last verse:
V.21 “Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion
to govern the mountains of Esau.
And the kingdom will be the Lord’s.”
God is in complete control. Everything is HIS. “The earth is the LORD’s and everything in it.” This is a tough thing for me to wrap my mind around.
It is easy for me to me to either be worried about the way the world is operating around me or prideful about how I may be faring in comparison. However, my impact is so very small. We find peace and comfort when we accept that HE is in control and try our best to join in on HIS plan.
Returning to Obadiah…
I see this picture of God saying:
Yes, my people sinned against me. They will be judged first, but only what is absolutely necessary.
In the midst of this judgment, you, Edom, added insult to the injury, and you gleefully tried to make their punishment worse. I had to focus on them at that time, but am now addressing your issues in how you treated my people.
Namely, my judgment will turn on you now, Edom. Only instead of it refining you and a remnant remaining, you will be completely obliterated.
Even more, Israel who I judged will be refined and a remnant will remain. And that remnant will be your conqueror (while you wrongly thought you were Israel’s conqueror).
So many themes here that are really expanded later, especially in the N.T.:
- God’s people are judged first (1 Pet. 4)
- This is a judgment of refining, not destruction (1 Cor. 3 – think fire refining precious metals)
- Those who poorly treat God’s people will be judged for this (Matt. 25; Acts 9 – messing with God’s church = messing with God Himself)
- The world will be judged without hope of returning and repenting (1 Cor. 3 – think of wood, hay, stubble that is burned up; or Matt. 25 – the goats being destroyed in eternal fire)
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