LESSON 6, OBADIAH VERSE 3:

Obadiah's third verse, obviously in his first sermon, a message decrying the sins of the nation of Edom, says some amazing things. Well, really the Prophet is simply echoing the words of Almighty God! "Thus saith the Lord God...," back in verse one, proves this fact.

Today we notice verse three of this one chapter Prophecy. Now, remember, God is speaking to the Edomites. "The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?" Obadiah verse 3, in full.

Initially we see that God knows what a person or even a group of people (here a whole nation) is thinking! What they "say" in their hearts! Yes, our Heavenly Father is omniscient.

The Edomites, it is believed, lived in a land that was mountainous. Some of their cities were nestled, like totally-surrounded-by-rock fortified citadels, in nearly inaccessible fortresses. In the "clefts of the rock." Maybe even inhabiting the now well-known city of Petra!

Safe!

But they not only lived in the heights physically, but spiritually as well! They were guilty of the sin of pride, according to God's estimation anyway! "The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?" 

And chances are, they did not even recognize the pride of their hearts! They probably re-defined it, marginalized it, ignored it. Maybe it was just called "nationalism!" Or "patriotism!" Or good psychological "self-acceptance!"

But God said "Pride!"

In Hebrew "pride" is spelled "zadon," meaning "arrogance," really a "better than thou" kind of attitude. Another synonym, "insolence!" Rude, disrespectful, insulting behaviour.

God hates such pride, Proverbs 6:16-17. It's at the top of His list! "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him. A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

Edom will be judged, Obadiah says, and quite soon! For her pride, among other things no doubt. Some of which we shall soon see.

But today let's look at one main thing about pride, all sin really, that's so devious. God told Edom "The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee."

Wow!

"Hath deceived" is the Hebrew verb "nasha," meaning "to beguile." To mislead, to point in the wrong direction! "Nasha" is also translated "to seize" once in the King James Version!

Sin "blinds, kidnaps, hoodwinks, ambushes" its victim! At the same time making the poor dupe believe he or she is having quite a "wonderful time," really living!

Oh yes, the Devil is a liar!

James 1:14-15 says the same thing, just in a slightly different way. "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

And James 1:22 implies that even Christians can deceive their own selves, via the stealth of sin in their lives! "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

Be careful, folks!

Sin is deceptive!

And it ultimately destroyed this little Nation, the Edomites.

And they not once cared about their destiny!

"High" on sin!

But also "stupid!"

            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7, OBADIAH VERSE 4:

God is speaking to a small Nation once known as Edom. Today she exists no longer! "Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD." Obadiah's 4th Verse.

Yes, Edom prided herself greatly!

She had no need for God.

She could act just as she pleased, no divine commands would shackle her, not at all.

And loyalty or love or devotion? Unnecessary emotional baggage! Let every man care for himself!

But such attitudes just invite God's judgment!

Again, the Lord. "Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD."

No bird is more "exalted" than the eagle. No "heights" more elevated than that of the stars!

Still ... God can overrule!

Back in verse 3 of Obadiah we were allowed to hear her, that now heathen nation, reason within her own mind. "Who shall being me down? Who shall bring me down to the ground?"

God must have overheard her!

For He immediately responded, "I will bring thee down!"

If God "brought down" Edom, and He surely did ... can He also bring down other godless nations?

Yes!

As He did Sodom, for example.

Or Egypt.

Or Assyria.

Or Babylon.

Or Greece.

Or Rome.

Or Germany.

But ... what about America?

Psalm 9:17 is here very plain. "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."

So says the Bible.

Indeed, God sits about all the nations of the world!

Indeed!

            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 8, OBADIAH'S SECOND SERMON:

Obadiah's second paragraph, second "sermon" really, consists of verses five through seven. Short but powerful, bad news for the Edomites!

"If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes? How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up! All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him." Again, Obadiah 5-7, King James Version.

The many inveterate "hate acts" these descendants of Esau have militated against Israel, against Judah now, are renown.

But finally, God has raised up a Prophet whose singular mission, nearly so anyway, is to pronounce judgment on these reprobates!

The "thee" in our little sermon today is indeed the people of Edom, again, the posterity of Esau. "If thieves came to thee ...."

One interesting thing before we actually begin studying verse 5, the context here suggests God is going to bring down these enemies. Here's verse 4, word for word: "Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD." God Himself, "I will destroy you wicked people." Strong language, directly from the Almighty!

But in our subsequent text, it's "robbers" who attack Edom! It's her own "allies," those "confederate" with her, who do her harm! As she has mistreated Israel, even being Israel's distant relative, so is she going to be mistreated ... by her friends!

But what about God saying "I Myself will bring her down?"

Listen today. This is the heart of our new lesson this morning. God can, and often does, accomplish His purposes via intermediaries! He "uses" others to do His Work!

In other words, God can "send" against us enemies. Or He can "withhold" those enemies from harming a single hair on our heads!

And either way He chooses to respond, it is still Him working, overtly or covertly! Directly or indirectly!

In Genesis 20:6 God "withholds" a man, King Abimelech, from sinning! If He can do that, He can certainly "withhold" some foe from hurting His people! Also in Malachi 3:11 God can "rebuke," meaning "reprove" or even "corrupt," anything or anyone coming to "devour" us!

If God can do these things, it's for sure He can also not rebuke the devourer. Not disallow some harm that's on the way!

Oh yes, He can "deliver" from evil!

What I'm saying is this.

No doubt the "robbers" will help destroy Edom, just like Obadiah has prophesied. No doubt their very "friends" will turn against them and help perpetrate their downfall.

But behind such acts, is the Power, the Hand, the Face of God the Father!

He controls the universe!

He is Lord of all!

Again I close by sharing this verse, Proverbs 16:7. It helps prove today's point. "When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him."

Wow!

               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 9, OBADIAH VERSE 5:

Obadiah's fifth verse implies coming judgment, rather than clearly predicting it. It describes the release of God's Wrath upon the small yet wicked nation of Edom. One here must read "between the lines" to see what God is saying.

Obadiah is still quoting the Lord, it seems. And God may be talking to these rebellious people indirectly. From God through Obadiah to Judah, knowing fully that the Edomites will hear the Truth as well! "If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?" Obadiah verse 5

The Hebrew word for "thieves" means "to steal," of course. But even then, most burglars would not always totally strip their prey. Get what you "need," and make a quick escape!

But God is saying, I think, that when the robbers come to Edom ... they will take everything!

Back to verse 5, its second half: "If the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?" The same principle applies here to the grape gatherers. They, by law in Israel, had to leave behind some "grapes," for the ultra poor people to enjoy. But when Edom is stripped, because of her multitudinous sins, nothing will be spared! Total rape of her resources!

God's great "if" here becomes a "when" in short time. History now tells us, though it was prophecy when Obadiah penned the words, Edom was sacked and stripped and looted and destroyed! Just like God promised in today's verse!

Yes, Obadiah 5 is a clear testimony to the accuracy of the Bible!

And what will happen to Edom is so severe, many will be surprised, shocked! But that's tomorrow's thought, the Lord willing.

Join us regularly as we journey through these twenty-one verses, the little Book of Obadiah.

           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 10, OBADIAH 6, SURPRISE:

God, the God of Love and Mercy and Grace, is about to judge a nation! Yes, there is a Side of God's Character, His Perfect Character, that involves setting "wrongs" back "right!" Or at least "punishing" for the wrongs fragrantly committed!

The whole Book of Obadiah is given to the theme of God righteous judgment. Well, nearly all of it. It does end with a Message of Hope, Hope for Israel. Hope for God's people!

Yet this graphic judgment, which was a coming thing when Obadiah wrote, but largely is a historical event now, was absolutely astounding!

So complete that, as far as I know, there is not a single Edomite alive on earth today! Not a single heir of Esau!

And if you look at any current map, there's certainly no Land named Edom. All gone!

As absolute as the destruction of Sodom!

Obadiah's sixth verse describes the devastation. No, describes the results of the devastation. How people will react to this thing, once it has occurred!

Obadiah verse 6: "How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!" The Prophet is aghast!

Or maybe more accurately God Himself is surprised! "How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!"

These two sentences are built to express emotion! Notice that the King James Version of the Bible punctuates them with exclamation points!

Both verbs used here are passive voice. These terrible things are "done unto" Edom! The little nation is finally himself a "victim!"

"Searched out" means "tested and tried" as well as "examined." It once is translated "changed" in our Bible. Never the same again!

Look, everybody!

All his "hidden" things will be "revealed!" The verb "sought up" means "boiled out!" It has the idea of massive "swelling, bulging," the lexicons say. And people, the witnesses to this national demise, see "everything!"

Isaiah 28:21 calls "judgment" God's "strange act!" His normal Nature is kindness and generosity and sweetness!

But judge He will ... if sin is left unconfessed and wickedness continues to be practiced habitually.

All the way through the Bible severe divine Judgment is accompanied by such surprise!

"Men's hearts failing them for fear," Jesus words it in Luke 21:26. And the Apostle John from little Patmos has fearful men begging the mountains and rocks to "fall" on them ... as God's judgment approaches! See Revelation 6:16 for the whole verse.

Yes, today's verse "fits" the whole tenor of Scripture. "How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!" 

The Wrath of God!

Awesome!

       --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Wonderfully, the other side of all this is Calvary!

Whosoever will may come!

LESSON 11, OBADIAH VERSE 7, BETRAYAL:

God can "judge" a wayward people anyway he chooses! After all, He is Creator! In that sense He is Owner of all!

But His Methods with Edom are worthy of study. Here's one verse of Obadiah's tirade, inspired of the Holy Spirit too! God promises Edom, Jew-haters of old: "All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him." Obadiah's seventh verse!

Wow!

His own "friends" turn against him!

Deceive him!

Betray him!

The Hebrew noun "confederacy" accurately translates "beriyth," meaning "covenant" really. These people were "allies," bosom-buddies, of Edom!

The "border" may indicate that these "fake" friends were "acting" like they were leading the Edomites to safety. But at the border, on the brink of deliverance ... they turned against their former friends!

The verb "prevailed" is "yakol," just meaning "to overcome." Much like Judas treated Jesus! Or like Ahithophel treated David!

In the East to "eat a meal" with someone indicated a life-long peace treaty with that person or group! Even that revered tradition is violated here! "They that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee."

Such action, such two-facedness, would discourage anyone!

I almost feel sorry for these doomed Edomites, though God's judgment is always righteous! Psalm 19:9 among many other verses says so, clearly! "The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether."

What's Edom's reaction to all this?

"There is none understanding in him."

He is blindsided!

Numbed!

All I can say is this, all I can think: "The wages of sin!"

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Another way of saying it, "Sin dulls one's thinking!" Makes him or her less "aware" of life situations! Diminishes spiritual sensitivity! "There is none understanding in him." How very accurate of the sinner!

LESSON 12, OBADIAH 8, WISDOM:

We have now reached what I believe is the "crux" of Obadiah, the very "heart" of his prophecy against Edom. Some commentaries, their authors, divide this central Sermon into two separate halves. I myself do not see such an incision. It looks like the whole Text, verses 8-15, are of one theme. That being the destruction of Edom!

We shall, of course, notice the truths one verse at a time. But for the sake of again seeing the whole oration at a glance, here it is, Obadiah 8-15. "Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter. For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever. In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them. But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress. Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity; Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress. For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head."

Wow!

God begins here by asking a question. Yes, Obadiah is preaching, writing, but he is indeed expressing the Lord's very words! "Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?"

Here obviously we have another example of Old Testament parallelism. "Edom" in the first line is synonymous with "Esau" in the second line. The Edomites are the distant children, relatives, of the son of Isaac named Esau. He was the Brother of Jacob.

Two more parallel terms occur here as well. The adjective "wise" in the first half and "understanding" in the latter half. "Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?"

The idea that the Edomites are blessed with wisdom is Biblically historical. But it's largely the wisdom of this world, not God's Wisdom, far from it! Like Paul wrote in First Corinthians 3:19 ... "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain."

Anyway, God is going to "destroy," in Hebrew "abad," that vain wisdom! The verb also means "to cause to perish, to cause to vanish, to exterminate!"

This is an astounding fact.

God can augment or diminish a person's very wisdom!

No wonder James can say so boldly: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5

There are whole "hymns" to God's Wisdom throughout the Old Testament! The incomparable Book of Proverbs has several and Job 28:12-28 is certainly one as well.

If God can do this, Exodus 31:3 ... "And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship" ... He certainly can do this ...  "Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?"

Amen!

"Lord, increase our wisdom, prudence that is modeled on Thee! And belittle any worldly wisdom we may have, since it is falsely named anyhow."

            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 13, OBADIAH 9, THE "LEADERS" GO FIRST:

Obadiah's ninth verse simply adds to the tension of the whole Book, its overarching theme. God is going to judge the wicked little nation of Edom, mainly for her atrocities against sister state Israel!

"And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter." Obadiah 9

I suspect the first "sign" of God's Hand turning against a people, no matter where and when, is that her "mighty men" will begin to be diminished. The Hebrew adjective "mighty" here translates "gibbor," meaning "champions!" Her most wise leaders! Her outliers!

By the way, where are America's great leaders anymore? They have all died, it seems. None such seem to be on the horizon either.

God planned to "dismay" Edom's leadership, Edom here being named as "Teman," her major city. And "Teman" just means "south" in Hebrew. That's the general direction in which Edom lies, in relation to Judah, to Israel.

But "dismay," what does it mean? "Chathath" suggests "being shattered, broken, made fearful!" Once in the King James Bible it is rendered as "confounded!"

God sends these leaders "strong delusion," to use Paul's words of the citizenry of earth during the Tribulation, Second Thessalonians 2:11. God confuses their reasoning, misleads them, in order to set them up for utter destruction!

They then will make unwise decision, maybe like borrowing money that can never be repaid, or dismantling military prowess in the face of imminent danger ... those kinds of things!

Stupid acts!

Why would God do this?

He's leading up to the "slaughter" of the whole land! "And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter."

"Cut off" is ""hewn" to pieces elsewhere in Scripture!

"Mount Esau" is another name for Edom as well, two in this single little verse. Almost as if God disdains the very name of this murderous lot of people! Traitors all!

"Slaughter" is "qetel" in Hebrew, occurring in this form only here in the whole Bible. It's from a verb meaning "to kill, to murder."

God behind a military attack!

God angry at a whole clan of people.

God judging sin!

Yes, it is a fact of history.

And it will happen yet again!

Maybe this time closer to home than any of us realize.

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Psalm 9:17 says, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." God's Word, never wrong!

LESSON 14, OBADIAH VERSE 10, VIOLENCE:

Obadiah today tells us why the Edomites are going to be judged so harshly, judged so by God Himself. Remember, these people are related, by blood, to the Jews. To the people of Judah and Jerusalem. But they sure aren't acting like "family!"

"For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever." Obadiah, Verse 10, King James Version

For things done "against thy brother Jacob!" For lack of love, lack of loyalty, for missing an opportunity to protect him when he was under deadly enemy attack!

The noun "violence" in our Verse is spelled "hamas" in Hebrew! It basically means "cruelty." But can include many different hateful attacks ... including murder!

But such blatant terrorism will not go unnoticed by the Lord of all the earth. The people of the Mount of Esau will be punished.

They will be "shamed" for their wicked actions. The rare word for "shame" here indicates "confusion, delay," even "disgrace."

What Edom has done to the Jews here is comparable to what Can did to his brother Abel. The two situations are parallel in some ways.

Except ... God spared Cain.

Yet ... God will not spare Edom! The Almighty declares to this little nation: "Thou shalt be cut off for ever."

The sin of fighting your kinfolk!

The sin of cursing Abraham's children!

The sin of rebelling against God Himself!

"For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever."

Let us all take heed.

A sobering lesson today.

            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 15, OBADIAH VERSE 11, JUST WATCHING:

A number of Old Testament passages describe "battles." Some even tell the stories of whole "wars." And Obadiah is one good example. The Babylonians, it seems, have attacked Jerusalem, Judah as a whole Land in fact. This incident of history is well known, especially in Scripture.

But Obadiah adds a little footnote, an aside, that supplies the little prophecy's very "reason for being." The national "relatives" of the Jews, the children of "Esau," the Edomites ... also aided and abetted the enemy!

Obadiah's eleventh verse adds to the text: "In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them." Edom is the addressee, of course.

Apparently the Edomites simple "stood to the side" observing, and maybe even encouraging, the Babylonians as they sacked the City! As they ransacked Jerusalem!

Relatives doing nothing to help their brethren ... at the most dangerous time of their whole national history!

Now watch carefully. Verse eleven gives us the "stages" of this vicious attack and occupation, though maybe not in exact sequential order. The first thing the "foreigners" would have done is "enter the gates." By the way, "foreigners" means "strangers" in Hebrew, highlighting the fact that some non-strangers, blood relatives, the Edomites idly watched the whole scenario! The Edomites were not strangers to Judah, not at all!

To enter the gates of a City implies tearing the walls to pieces, killing the watchmen, overcoming any remaining army! Yes, indeed, literally so. "Foreigners entered into his gates,

Next, the people of the area were "deported." Taken into slavery! "The strangers carried away captive his forces." The noun "forces" means "strongest, most brilliant, top-notch" citizens! Not the lower levels of society! For example, Kings and princes and the intelligentsia. These may have included Daniel and Ezekiel, as well as the "three Hebrew children." The "poorest" of the people were left behind. "And they carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land." Second Kings 24:14, amazing!

Lastly in today's verse, the left-over assets, all the remaining valuables discovered, become the property of the invading soldiers! "They cast lots upon Jerusalem." They gambled, made themselves rich, at the expense of the Jewish people.

Again ... as all these things occurred ... the Edomites offered no help to their neighbors, none whatsoever!

And for this extreme negligence ... God brings severe judgment upon the whole land of Esau!

There's a Bible "principle" here. When Scripture time and time again admonishes us to "love one another" ... we had better take heed!

Apparently not to do so involves consequences!

Not to oppose an invading army, watching them decimate a people ... is in the Eyes of God ... as much as being "one of them!"

"In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them."

Let's remember this truth.

This vital truth.

It has implications for Christian life today!

First John 3:14 offers an example. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 16, THE SINS OF THE EDOMITES, AN EIGHT-FOLD LIST:

Obadiah is accusing the Edomites, long-time descendants of Esau, of a number of "sins." Atrocities, a Latin term derived from their word "atrox," simply meaning "cruel, fierce" ... seems to best fit the Edomites' blatant behaviour here!

In fact, Obadiah elaborates on the wicked deeds of these people. To be such a short book, our little author surprisingly expands this indictment into an eight-fold list!

Watch. Count them if you choose. The "deeds" of the Edomites, eight things they did to the Jews ... that they ought not to have done!

"But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress. Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity. Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress." Obadiah verses 12-14.

Yes, there are eight!

Back in the Book of Amos a four-fold pattern of accusation develops. Like this one, Amos' initial tirade: "Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron. But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad. I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD." Amos 1:3-5

But Obadiah "tops" this, doubly so!

Tomorrow we begin looking at the eight terrible acts Edom perpetrated against his own kinfolk, against the Jews. At the time of Jerusalem's greatest need!

Numbers 32:23 comes to mind. It is certainly true here. "Behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out."

Amen.

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 17, OBADIAH VERSE 12, THE FIRST THREE SINS:

The twelfth verse of Obadiah begins a list of "sins" God has observed in the national life of a little Country named Edom. They are relatives of the Jews, thus should have been allies to that favored Nation, but instead ... fought their brethren relentlessly!

"But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress." Verse 12 of Obadiah

The people of Edom "looked" and "did nothing to help" their relatives and neighbors, the people of Judah, when the Babylonians famously attacked Jerusalem and its environs. To become a "stranger" also can mean "to experience calamity, disaster, misfortune."

Passive!

Neutral!

But it gets worse.

They "rejoiced" at Judah's calamity! "Samach" means "to be glad." Really, to be "merry!" Judah is suffering, yet Edom hates her so much she is having a party, gloating over Judah's downfall. "Destruction" can mean "a going away!" And Judah was being transplanted as a nation, taken into captivity!

And Psalm 137:7 perhaps best defines what's involved in Edom's "speaking proudly" over Judah. They stood by yelling to the Babylonian army, "Rase it." Go ahead, "Rase it," meaning completely sack the city! Leave nothing in its place! Destroy it! "Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof." Psalm 137:7

Edom sins.

God counts!

Inner-family hatred!

Or is it intra-family hatred?

Either way, a gross sin in God's Eyes!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 18, OBADIAH VERSE 13, MORE ATROCITIES:

If anything ... Obadiah's thirteenth verse is worse than the twelfth one! In its listing of sins and cruelties perpetrated against the nation of Judah!

Acts designed to hurt, to destroy, God's chosen people. Committed by her own relatives, the Edomites, descendants of Esau.

Here's our Text, with God speaking directly, through Jeremiah of course, to the people of Edom. "Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity." Obadiah Verse 13, the King James Version of the Bible.

By "entering the gate" of the Jews God likely means that the Edomites physically "blocked" the exits of Jerusalem, not allowing the Jews to escape the barbaric soldiers of Nebuchadnezzar as they attacked in 586 BC, a fact of history. This is tantamount to being an "accessory" to murder!

To "lay hands," in other words "to steal" someone's "substance" ... means seizing their "wealth, possessions, property!" Greed now attaches itself to hatred!

War is being conducted!

With one's should-have-been "friend" now boldly acting as one's not-so-well-disguised "enemy!"

This is terrible.

Yet there may be one little "glimmer of hope" here for Judah! In the middle of God's indictment of Edom here, He calls the Jews yet one more time ... "My people!" Read it again, the first clause: "Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity ...." Even after all her rebellion and wickedness ... she is still "God's children!"

Surely He has loved her, Judah, with an "everlasting love!" So says Jeremiah in his great prophecy, Jeremiah 31:3.

And yes, God loves you to that extent too, dear reader of these pages today. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." One of the best-known verses in all the Bible, John 3:16.

Yes indeed ... in the vast darkness of Obadiah's imprecations, in the midst of Judah's greatest suffering, God lets shine a "light" of encouragement! A brilliant little thing, "My people!"

Praise the Lord!

Grace!

Mercy!

Love!

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 19, OBADIAH VERSE 14, WORSE YET:

In Obadiah's 14th verse God's divine "charges" against Edom are augmented. It's worse than you would have thought! As the Babylonians attacked the City of Jerusalem ... the Edomites helped destroy the City every way imaginable!

To make matters even worse ... the Edomites were, historically, blood relatives of the Jews, direct descendants of Esau. Yes that's Esau, the Son of Isaac, the Grandson of Abraham!

Here's the verse: "Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress." Obadiah 14

As the final Babylonian siege intensified, the Edomites blocked any exits from the city ... so the enemies could kill them off, could murder the Jews!

They, as traitors, literally "stood in the crossway!"

"Crossway" suggests any place in the city's walls that had been breached, broken open, inadvertently providing some way of escape!

"Cut off" is translated "destroy" four times in the King James Bible. The sentence insinuates that the Edomites may have even assisted in the killing itself! "Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape."

And when the Edomites did see any "escapee," any person successfully "hiding" from the Babylonians ... he "delivered" the strays to the heathen executioners or kidnappers!

The actual verb "delivered up" has the idea of "holding" them, the Jews ... until the soldiers arrived, from another raiding party no doubt. "Neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress."

All this while their brethren were in severe "distress," in a cramped, worsening-by-the-minute situation. Under great "pressure."

But God noticed.

And God reacted.

And God judged the Edomites.

Anti-Semitism, it still exists!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 20, OBADIAH VERSE 15, THREE DAYS:

Today our Text is Obadiah Verse 15, the Book is not divided into chapters, too short for that! "For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head." These dreaded words are addressed to the nation of Edom. Because she had been so wicked in her vicious treatment of sister nation Judah!

The opening "for" in this sentence is suggestive. In fact, it's pivotal. In Hebrew it's spelled "kiy," a conjunction revealing that a new "section" of the Book is beginning.

As of now three different "days" have been discussed in this powerful little Prophecy. The "day" of Edom's attacking Judah. Or helping Babylon attack her. The "day" of Judah's suffering. And now, with verse 15, the "day" of the Lord!

An example verse, concerning the day of Edom, her misbehavior! "In the day that thou (Edom) stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou (Edom) wast as one of them." Verse 11, Edom watching and rejoicing as Judah was "sacked!" Not helping defend her at all! What a "good" say ... for Judah's fierce enemies, for the Edomites specifically!

Now look at the day of Judah, her sorrows. He punishment for her many sins, for her rebellion against God. "But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress." Obdaiah Verse 12, three times "day" appears.

But lastly comes the "Day of the Lord!" Read about it, "For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head." Today's Verse, Obadiah 15, word for word.

Upon looking, I find this exact term, "the Day of the Lord," twenty-one times in Scripture! Both Old and New Testaments!

It's certainly a day of judgment!

In Obadiah God will judge all the wicked nations, not just Edom ... for their atrocities against His people Israel! Against the Jews!

And eye for an eye! A tooth for a tooth! A life for a life! Verse 15 thunders again: "As thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head." So says our Almighty God!

Yes, individuals will face Him, the Lord. Every single one of us. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Hebrews 9:27

But so will nations! "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." Psalm 9:17

In Matthew 25:31-32, Jesus plainly teaches this truth. "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats." Wow!

Yes, the Day of the Lord is coming!

Be sure you're "right" with God! John 3:36 says it best. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Amen!

           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 21, OBADIAH VERSE 16, THE CUP OF GOD'S WRATH:

Let me share with you what I think Obadiah's 16th Verse is literally saying. But first, here it is word for word, King James Version: "For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been."

The subjects doing the drinking here are the Edomites. I base that conclusion on the preceding verse. "As thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head." And Edom has been the "focus" of the paragraph.

Looks like the people of Edom got actually "drunk" on God's Holy Mountain! Probably rejoicing there on the Temple site, in the middle of Jerusalem, once it had all been destroyed by the merciless Babylonian army. "Rejoicing in iniquity," in other words!

And God once again "noted" their sins against the Jews! The Edomites are hereby "doomed!" In fact, they no longer exist, anywhere!

But the verse, today's text, Obadiah Verse 16, adds more. "For as ye Edomites have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been."

Now the Edomites have become "representative" of all the nations. And the "kind" of drink involved has shifted too, what it represents. The Edomites literally became intoxicated, partying hard over Judah's "demise!"

But now these other nations, all the anti-Semitic crowds of the ages, are drinking more than wine or strong drink ... but also the cup of the Wrath of Almighty God!

Several Old Testament Prophets use this word picture, people being made to imbibe God's Anger and Justice! Because of one's blatant sins. Isaiah and Jeremiah come to mind, their graphic word pictures.

Furthermore, to drink "continually" and to "swallow down" both imply slurping every drop, to the very dregs!

God will not only judge Edom for her hatred to her sisters, the Jews. God will additionally judge ALL the nations who have ever lifted a hand against His chosen people!

"And they shall be as though they had not been." Nations now put out of business, or so marginalized that they no longer "count" on the world scene!

Wow!

Indeed, world history again and again proves Genesis 12:1-3. God does bless those who love Israel. And He does curse those who harm her, in any way at all!

Amazing Grace!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 22, OBADIAH VERSE 17, GOOD NEWS:

The seventeenth verse of Obadiah changes gear, in a dramatic fashion! No longer "judgment," but "salvation!"

The Prophet writes, God the Holy Spirit being his Prompter: "But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions." Again, Obadiah 17

"Mount Zion" is Judah, the land. But more specifically it's Jerusalem, the city. But precisely, it means the Temple area, the Temple mount located there, where God's House rested.

The noun "deliverance" is "peleytah," apparently meaning that the captivity of Judah is temporary. A time of "rescue" is coming!

"Holiness" links the coming liberty for Israel to our Almighty God! "Qodesh" means "set apart, special, reserved, separated," even "sacred!"

And the Jews will also "possess their possessions" once again! Lovely in Hebrew, that last clause is "yarash morash!" God will give them back much of what He had earlier taken away ... forgiving them in the process! Remembering no more their rebellion and sin and unfaithfulness!

Yes, there is hope for that little Nation!

God will never make an end of her!

He whips ... but He restores!

For this to happen, I am convinced ... Jesus must come again!  "But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions." 

And indeed He will!

Maybe soon.

               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 23, OBADIAH VERSE 18, AVENGING THE ADVERSARY:

What goes around, comes around! Whatever a man sows, he also reaps! Things have finally come full circle!

Obadiah's eighteenth verse thunders: "And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it."

Wow!

Naming both "House of Jacob" and "House of Israel" here suggests some time yet in the future, this amazing fulfillment.

"Jacob" means the Southern Kingdom of the Israel, the two tribes. And "Joseph" means the Northern Kingdom, the ten tribes.

United again!

Brought back together by the Grace of God!

A miracle indeed!

No more "lost" tribes!

And both entities ... set aflame by Almighty God!

And the "fuel" for their fire? "And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble ...."

The Edomites!

"Stubble" means "chaff!" Reminds one of Psalm one! "The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away."

Wow again!

"Kindle" means "to burn." And "devour" means "to consume completely!" Both are strong verbs.

"And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it."

No more Edom!

The word "remaining" is best defined as "survivors!" Not one of them will live through God's coming time of retribution!

Now who is the "lost" nation?

But is this just some rumor?

Wishful thinking?

Revenge on the part of persecuted Israel?

No.

"For the LORD hath spoken it."

The Lord Himself!

So be it.

                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

The final and complete actualization of this verse well may occur when Jesus comes again to earth! Fighting on behalf of battered, hated, broken Israel! They, the Jews, then shall look upon Him Whom they have pierced ... and finally be saved indeed!

LESSON 24, OBADIAH VERSE 19, EXPANSION FOR ISRAEL:

The last three verses of Obadiah "fit" together beautifully. And they sound "good" to the people of Israel and Judah!

"And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south. And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S." Obadiah Verses 19-21, King James Version.

It sounds like God, Who is at the time of Obadiah chastening His people, plans to yet forgive them and restore them and fulfill every single promise He's ever made on their behalf!

The first of the verses in this unit, verse 19, is written as a parallelism. But it seems to me to have three lines, instead of the normal two. Let me show you. "And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead."

The "south" will some day possess Mount Edom! In other words Southern Judah will now assume the lands of the defeated, Jew-hating Edomites!

They of the "plain" will possess the land of the Philistines! The Hebrew here for "plain" is Shephelah," The land directly west of the Judean highlands, enemy Philistine territory! Expansion is again implied!

And "Benjamin" will possess the land of Gilead, with Obadiah's focus moving to the north. Once Gilead belonged to the Jews, but it was lost. Now however they will "take" it again!

Each of these lines, today leaving us with a little geography lesson,  clearly indicates a bright future for the Israelites!

Sounds like some day they will possess every inch of land God originally promised to Abraham and Moses and Joshua!

For example, Jehovah speaking to Abraham in Genesis 15:18-21. "In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."

Wow!

This is the general truth Obadiah is presenting to us in his closing paragraph. Bible prophecy, what a thrilling topic!

Lord willing, more tomorrow.

               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 25, OBADIAH VERSE 20, GOOD NEWS:

The next-to-last verse of Obadiah is really interesting. It helps prepare us for that climatic ultimate verse as well.

"And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south." Obadiah verse 20, our Text for today, King James Version of the Bible.

Two "groups" of people are here mentioned. "The captivity of the host of the children of Israel" surely are to be identified as Jews of the Northern Kingdom. Of the ten tribes of the Sons of Jacob. Who were abducted into Assyrian captivity back in 721 BC, over a hundred years prior to Obadiah's writing his prophecy.

And the "captivity of Jerusalem" are the people of the Southern Kingdom, the two tribes, more recently captured and hauled into Babylonian captivity.

But, good news!

A future "unification" will occur.

"Lost" tribes will be found!

"Scattered" tribes will be re-gathered!

"Imprisoned" tribes will be freed!

Yes, these two little Nations, even though related, had fought civil wars! More than once! But now they will live in peace!

Let me put this in other words. Jesus is coming again. And He will bring Perfect Peace with Him when He does!

Peace to all Israel.

Peace to the world.

Peace to human hearts.

Peace to the universe.

"And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south."

Yes, Israel will again "possess," spelled "yarash" in Hebrew and meaning "to seize, to occupy, to inherit," their land!

Land both to the north and to the south!

This is revival!

Both spiritually.

And materially.

Indeed Isaiah was right long ago when he penned, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Note especially that last Title, "The Prince of Peace!"

I know Him, do you?

Amen!

               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 26, OBADIAH VERSE 21, VICTORY IN JESUS:

We have finally reached Obadiah's last verse! And what an interesting journey it's been. Israel, Judah more specifically, has transitioned from a lowly state of defeat ... to the highly exalted state of "favored nation" reputation!

We'll let Obadiah tell his story though. "And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S." Obadiah verse 21, the end of the Book.

Remember that Mount Zion represents Israel, then Judah, then Jerusalem and finally, the Temple Hill itself, in ever tightening circles of meaning.

And the noun "saviours" translates the little Hebrew word "yasha," speaking of people who "preserve, deliver, defend, rescue, or save" a land! Real heroes, folks!

God will, it seems, in the last days, raise up a battery of helpers, real patriots, who will fight for Israel, victoriously so!

The verb "to judge" means "to govern," righteously of course. To lead a nation in the paths of godliness.

My opinion, based on the other Prophets, is that the Chief of these saviours is None Other than ... Jesus!

Yes, He is coming again ... to this earth.

To be King of the Jews!

King of Kings, really!

"And the kingdom shall be the Lord's," closes Obadiah.

A kingdom, worldwide in scope, centered in Jerusalem!

In Mount Zion!

Isaiah might add, "For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." Isaiah 11:9

Habakkuk 2:14 agrees. "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."

So do all God's children!

What a great ending to a little Book.

This is almost an "and they lived happily ever after" story!

Thank You, Lord.

            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 26, SOME CLOSING REMARKS, OBADIAH AND "HOPE:"

Three weeks ago when we began this study of the little Old Testament Book of Obadiah I did not know exactly where its twenty-one verses would lead us. Part history, part prophecy, all divinely inspired and inerrant!

This Portion of Scripture chronicles the relationship between the Jews, the people of Judah specifically, and the Edomites. Their cousins from across the river!

It relates how badly the Edomites, descendants of Esau, hated ... literally despised ... her cousins, her distant brothers!

We here read of one of Israel's lowest moments in all her long and varied history. When she fell to the Babylonians, because of unconfessed, blatant, rebellious, idolatrous sin!

But still, near the end of the Book Judah is offered "hope!"

And Edom, four times called the "Mount of Esau" in the Book, is offered "no hope!"

One commentator labels Obadiah a Unit of Scripture that shares a "profound theology of hope!"

God is not "through" with Israel, or Judah!

He has for her a plan!

Truly in the sense of Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

Wow!

Yes, some day Israel will believe!

She will be given ... and will accept ... a Saviour!

Jesus Christ the Lord!

So promises the Holy Spirit in many places, particularly including the little Book of Obadiah!

Again today I share with you the Prophecy's last verse. "And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S."

Amen!

Even so, Come Lord Jesus!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 27, EDOM, ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURAL DATA:

The Book of Obadiah concerns itself with one major theme, the nation of Edom. Here's its first sentence, "The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom." Half of verse one!

Only one other Old Testament Book does this, focuses on the destruction of just one entity! And that's the Book of Nahum, "The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite." The capitol city of Assyria, Nineveh.

Yet Edom was not a major factor in the ancient Near East. Or in the ancient world as a whole, really. Egypt was, along with Assyria and Babylon, then later Greece and Rome. But not Edom, ever.

Yet the very fact that Obadiah has been preserved in our Bibles is testimony that it carries a powerful message, likely a theological one! Spiritual Truth indeed!

Listen to Isaac predict the future of Esau, progenitor of the Edomites. "And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; and by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck." Genesis 27:38-40, the Edomites historically being Esau's children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren!

These words have been fulfilled, time and time again.

Conflict between Esau and Jacob!

Balaam, a heathen prophet, also predicted the ultimate downfall of Edom. "And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city." Numbers 24:18-19

I can only conclude that, to the Jews, Edom is more important than is often realized. Their being "brothers," likely is the reason.

In fact, Genesis 36:1-43 shares with us the genealogy of that little nation, of Edom. The whole chapter, a long one too, for such a small group of people! Yes, somehow they are very significant!

But, true to the speeches of Obadiah, Edom did fall! She was judged of God for her cruelties against the Jews.

Historically speaking, the demise of Edom is recorded in a secular document found by archaeologists years ago. The writings of the Babylonian King named Nabonidus!

Yes, God's Word is right, always right!

More tomorrow, Lord willing, about both Obadiah and Edom.

The Old Testament, inspired Scripture too!

                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 28, EDOM A TYPE OF ALL THE WICKED NATIONS OF THE EARTH:

The Book of Obadiah, as we have seen repeatedly over the past weeks, is filled with Bible prophecy, to the core! There we learn that the little Nation of Edom is going to be judged severely by Almighty God. Already has been so judged, in reality!

These people exist no more!

But Obadiah, in his fifteenth verse, links Edom (now gone as a national entity) to the coming terrible "Day of the Lord," a yet future time of judgment coming to the whole earth!

"For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head." Obadiah 15

The "Day of the Lord" has connotations of the coming "Tribulation" period of time. Seven years of horror on earth, war and famine and pestilence and total chaos! Blatant rebellion against God!

The Tribulation which is ... at this time ... still future!

But technically Edom is no more! Then, how can he possibly be linked to that yet coming time of anarchy?

Perhaps, and this is a mere suggestion, Obadiah is using Edom as a "type" or "symbol" of other gentile nations who also hate the Lord!

As our verse just said, "all the heathen."

For Edom to be so "small" as a people ... it's amazing to learn that Isaiah also predicts her doom! But is his prophecy also a hint that Edom "stands for" the others nations as well, the other wicked nations?

This passage is lengthy, but read Isaiah 34:1-10 anyway. You will see what I mean. "Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea (Edom), and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah (Edom's main city), and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever."

Edom, Idumea, and the nations ... clearly intertwined!

Wow!

Amos 9:11-12 also says, along the same line, equating Edom with general apostasy against our God. "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen (all the nations), which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this."

Amen!

And when Jesus comes again, at the end of the Tribulation I mentioned, at the beginning of the Millennium when He sets us His Kingdom. Isaiah 63:1-4 is graphic here. "Who is This that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come."

Bloody Clothes!

Enemies defeated!

Who is This?

Jesus!

Yes, Edom and the nations are closely linked throughout the Old Testament. No wonder Obadiah is part of canonized Scripture. And, from the devil's point of view, no wonder it is so little studied anymore!

Victory in Jesus!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 29, JUDGMENT FOR ALL, BUT AVOIDABLE:

The Prophecy of Obadiah, the Old Testament's shortest Book, addresses two main groups of people. The Edomites, predicting their doom ... and the people of Judah, ultimately predicting their restoration and wonderful blessing!

Yet also the book seems to use the Edomite Kingdom, the sons of Esau, to "hint" at the coming wrath of God to fall on all the world's wicked nations!

But now today, one more addressee!

Obadiah verse 1 ... "The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle." Notice here in Obadiah's first verse, where the proper noun "Edom" initially appears, the Hebrew term employed certainly is "Edom." But in that lovely language, totally consonantal really, that word is simply spelled "adm." Their vowels are merely little "marks" placed under the other letters. Now here's the "key." The three letters "adm" is not only the word for "Edom," but also the word for "Adam!"

In other words "Edom" and "Adam" both appear as "adm" in the Hebrew Bible, the one the King James translators used.

And "adam" is, again in Hebrew, one of the main words for "man," for "mankind." For humanity!

Thus Edom and Adam are grammatically linked, very closely so. Nearly identical, in fact.

So on that basis ... I suggest to you this morning that the message of Obadiah is not only directed toward Edom, and the Nations, and the Jews, but to all people living and reading its truths!

And the message?

God will judge sin!

Even if it appears in His Own people!

And certainly sin in the nations who hate and persecute His people, nations like Edom!

And He will furthermore judge sin in all the ethnic groups of earth, all the nations of the world.

Plus, God will finally judge sin in every human life!

Yes, "the wages of sin is death!"

Yes, "it is appointed to man once to die, and after death the judgment!"

Edom, Adam.

Them, all of us!

But praise the Lord, also "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord!"

Sin can be forgiven, buried, erased, cleansed, washed away, via the precious Blood of Jesus shed on the Cross of Calvary!

Coming judgment can be avoided!

Here's how the Apostle Paul explained it many years ago. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10

John 3:18 adds: "He that believeth on him (Jesus) is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Trust Him today, Jesus the Son of God!

Amen.

                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 30, PRIDE BROUGHT LOW:

The Book of Obadiah, as we have seen, ends with these monumental words, "And the kingdom shall be the Lords." Verse 21 of our little Minor Prophet's Message.

If the kingdom is the Lord's, and it is indeed world-wide in scope, both facts clearly being manifest, then automatically the wicked and proud and rebellious nations of the world would have been demoted, brought down, stripped of their sovereignty! 

Listen to Hannah's Old Testament prayer, "And she prayed and said ... talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength." 1 Samuel 2:3-4

THE PROUD ... BROUGHT LOW!

Mary the Virgin also prayed such. "And Mary said ... the Lord hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away." Luke 1:51-53

THE PROUD AGAIN ... BROUGHT LOW!

The Message of Obadiah ... "Edom, the pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD." Verses 3 and 4 of Obadiah.

THE PROUD YET AGAIN ... BROUGHT LOW!

Then chimes the writer of Proverbs, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look ...." Wow! First on the list, pride, Proverbs 6:16-17.

Jesus is coming again!

He will be King forever!

And He will ... promised ... judge the sin of pride.

He will "put down" the mighty from their seats!

Lesson to each of us!

James 4:10 and 1 Peter 5:6 both advise us: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God."

Amen.

         --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Proud Edom is no more!

LESSON 31, OBADIAH AND JESUS, CONCLUSION:

The last sentence of Obadiah is great!

"The kingdom shall be the Lord's." That's the very last clause of Obadiah's last verse, pure Bible prophecy! 

Yes, "the kingdom shall be the Lord's." This amazing little thought concerns the Millennium, I believe. That Kingdom ... shall be the Lord's! When Jesus comes again. And defeats the devil and anti-Christ and the hordes of evil! When He rules in Jerusalem for a thousand glorious years!

Actually in Hebrew the noun "Lord' here is Jehovah God. He not only has a heavenly kingdom now, but will have an earthly kingdom some day too!

This is the time period Isaiah described well in advance, "With righteousness shall He (Jesus) judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious." Isaiah 11:4-10

Wow!

Undoubtedly Jesus' well-known "Kingdom of Heaven" is going to be realized, literally and fully and Biblically!

What I'm really trying to say this morning is this. The little Book of Obadiah ends with a central focus on ... JESUS!

No via typology either, meaning mere ymbols and shadows!

But by Name!

For the "Jehovah" of the Old Testament is None Other than the "Jesus" of the New Testament!

And He Alone will defeat the wicked. And bring peace to the world. He solely is capable, through His sacrificial Blood, to save lost souls from hell. Jesus, King Jesus, ruling and reigning and governing on earth! Having deposed the Edomites and befriended the Jews, THE KINGDOM IS THE LORD'S!

Indeed!

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Jesus is then, in Obadiah, the Saviour of saviours! "And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S."

Yes!

We pray this Series of studies from Obadiah has been a source of spiritual strength and growth for each of you.