Minor Prophets Major Message
Pride
Obadiah 1-21
#minorprophets
INTRODUCTION… Obadiah is the shortest… guinnessworldrecords.com/records/
If Obadiah was a spy, he’d be French spy Richebourg (1768-1858) during the French Revolution
If Obadiah was a street, it be Ebenezer Place in Wick, Scotland
If Obadiah was a Pokémon, he’d be joltik
If Obadiah was a completive body builder, he’d be Pratik Mohite of India
If Obadiah was a James Bond film, it would be Quantum of Solace
If Obadiah was a WWE Championship reign, it would be Andre the Giant
What do all of these have in common? They are the shortest.
This morning we are going to look at the shortest and smallest book of the Old Testament. In terms of all the books in the Bible, Obadiah is #4 by word count.
#1 3rd John with 219 words
#2 2nd John with 245 words
#3 Philemon with 335 words
#4 Obadiah with 440 words
#5 Jude with 461 words
What is Obadiah about? I have read articles in the past that said (overviewbible.com/least-popular-book-bible/) according to web searches and other statistics that Obadiah is the least studied or least popular book in the Bible.
SERIES INTRODUCTION
In the Bible, when God wanted to get His people’s attention He would often do something demonstrative like speak from a burning bush or lead by a pillar of cloud or shake the ground or do a miracle in nature. God did all of those things. God also spoke through people we call prophets.
We know some of the names of these folks whom God called to be His prophets: Moses, Miriam, Deborah, Nathan, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Huldah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Anna, John the Baptist, and many more. God calls the people through His prophets and gives them directions in their relationship with Him. God calls the people through His prophets and encourages their faithfulness and warns them that faithlessness would have dire consequences.
This morning we are continuing our journey in the last twelve books of the Old Testament which I have called “Minor Prophets Major Message.” I want to focus each week on one of these specific prophets and the message that he brought to the people of God because those messages are also important for us. Today we focus on the prophet Obadiah.
TRANSITION
We begin by looking at his pronouncement.
I. PRONOUNCEMENT (VERSE 1a)
READ OBADIAH 1a (ESV)
“The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations:”
Obadiah makes it very clear in the first part of verse 1 that everything he is about to share is from God. None of what he is about to say are his ideas. None of what he will share are his opinions. Every word he shares in these 21 verses are from God. How does he let us know that?
First, Obadiah says that he has had a vision. The word that Obadiah uses, “chazown,” sounds like something you might order at a pizza place, but is actually an important word. The word means “divine communication.” Obadiah received divine communication from God and is relaying it to us.
Second, Obadiah points out that the One giving this message is in charge. He is the Sovereign Lord. He is the “Lord God” (ESV, KJV). He is the one in charge of the Universe and everything in it and we had better take note when He speaks. This is an authoritative Word from God.
Third, Obadiah says that he has heard the message given to a messenger or ambassador of the Lord. Obadiah is not speaking his words. Obadiah is not sharing his attitudes or what he thinks will happen, but rather he is reporting what the messenger from God has pronounced to the nations.
Who is this prophecy given to? I want you to notice that this prophecy is not even directed to Israel. It’s not directed to God’s people. God’s people are involved, but the warning or the message from God is for the people of Edom who are the descendants of Esau. If you will remember, in Genesis 25, Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau. Jacob was the son through whom the nation of Israel came and Esau was also blessed with many descendants (Genesis 36). Genesis 25:30 shares with us Esau’s nickname was Edom and Genesis 36:43 states directly, “This was Esau the father of the Edomites.” This prophecy is directed to the descendants of Esau who live in the area outside of Israel to the southeast.
TRANSITION
We know that this small book was a message from God to the descendants of Esau sent by His messenger Obadiah. What does Obadiah say? Obadiah’s message to the Edomites is centered around pride and how it will be their downfall.
II. PRIDE (VERSES 1b-16)
READ OBADIAH 1b-16 (ESV)
“Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!” 2 Behold, I will make you small among the nations you shall be utterly despised. 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” 4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord. 5 If thieves came to you, if plunderers came by night— how you have been destroyed! — would they not steal only enough for themselves? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? 6 How Esau has been pillaged, his treasures sought out! 7 All your allies have driven you to your border; those at peace with you have deceived you; they have prevailed against you; those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you— you have no understanding. 8 Will I not on that day, declares the Lord, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau? 9 And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman, so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter. 10 Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. 11 On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. 12 But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress. 13 Do not enter the gate of My people in the day of their calamity; do not gloat over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not loot his wealth in the day of his calamity. 14 Do not stand at the crossroads to cut off his fugitives; do not hand over his survivors in the day of distress. 15 For the Day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. 16 For as you have drunk on My holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been.
The Edomites have a lot of arrogance in their hearts and they have much pride. As we read these verses, I believe we are to look at the Edomites and their attitudes and see if any of those attitudes are reflected in us. We have to do this! We have to take the Scriptures and apply them to our own hearts and see if the sin we see in Edom is present in our own hearts.
PRIDE IN LOCATION
We find in verses 3-4 that they are prideful in their location. The Edomites actually carved their cities and villages right into the land and into the rocks. This made them difficult to conquer. The whole land was steep mountains and dangerous valleys. It was desert with little water. It was an extreme place. Feeling secure or confident in ourselves can certainly bring pride and make us think we don’t need God. The message from God said that He would bring them down.
APPLICATION
Do we think like them?
Do we act like them?
Do we have the same emotions as them?
Americans are notoriously pride-filled and arrogant throughout the world. Does that accurate stereotype apply to you? If you were to travel abroad, would folks from other lands roll their eyes and peg you as a loud obnoxious typical American? Of better yet, are you prideful because of the color of your skin or where you are from? Racism doesn’t have to be overt, but can be hidden within us when we do not often interact with folks who do not have our same skin color. Pride in one’s race is deadly to the soul.
In addition, in this part of Indiana there is a divide between those who love Purdue and those who love IU and the weirdos we all ignore who love Notre Dame. There is much banter about hating one another and rivalry and supporting the team in any sport. Make sure that your good-natured ribbing about an educational institution or sports does not cross the line into actual hate or actually hurting someone’s feelings because of where they went to school or where they wish they had. It’s worth mentioning because the human spirit can get out of hand when it comes to pride.
READ PROVERBS 16:18 (ESV)
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
PRIDE IN WEALTH
Next, we find in verses 5-6 that the Edomites were prideful because of their wealth. All the trade routes for the region went through their land and they controlled it. They enjoyed wealth with very little effort. Wealth can certainly bring pride and make us think we don’t need God. The message from God said that they would be conquered and they would lose all their wealth.
APPLICATION
Do we think like them?
Do we act like them?
Do we have the same emotions as them?
It is human nature to turn to God when things are bad and poor and to forget God when things are good and plenty. That is literally the whole book of Judges in the Bible and the cycle many of us find ourselves in spiritually. Are you a typical human being? Does money or the ability to buy what you need turn into buying more than you need or forgetting to praise God from Whom all blessings flow? Do you look down on those who are poor or struggling because of what they don’t have? Pride in money or wealth or stuff pushes God out and away.
READ 1 John 2:16 (ESV)
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
PRIDE IN FRIENDS
We then find in verse 7 that Edom felt good and secure because of the allies the nation had. It is true that we can surround ourselves with friends and family that prop us up, but the wrong kind of friends can influence us away from God and not challenge us to live righteously. People around us can make us prideful in ourselves. The message from the Lord indicated that the very people that Edom trusted would turn on them.
APPLICATION
Do we think like them?
Do we act like them?
Do we have the same emotions as them?
Who are the people that are closest to you? Those that are closest to us should push us to God and refine our faith and should not lead us into false hope or away from God. Perhaps you are someone with many friends and you like the feeling of popularity and attention. Pride in who we know or what group we are a part of is false hurtful self-centeredness that is a big house built on spindly sticks.
READ Psalm 10:4 (ESV)
In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek Him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
PRIDE IN EDUCATION
We find in verses 8-10 that as a nation they also trusted in their wise teachers and in their armies. In the time that would come, God says to the Edomites that no wise teaching and none of their armies would be able to protect them. Even the remotest parts of Edom would have trouble. Education or skills or belief in ourselves can definitely lead to us not relying on God. The message from God said that the whole nation would suffer defeat.
APPLICATION
Do we think like them?
Do we act like them?
Do we have the same emotions as them?
As I thought about these questions, I remember reading an article once that said that many children and preteens and teenagers today are not having traditional conversations with their parents because they are googling the answer to questions they have and are skipping conversations with human beings. I say that to say that it matters in whom we trust. When you have a problem, whom do you talk to? Is prayer involved? Is the Bible involved? Is a seasoned believer involved in the conversation or is it just a google search or the closest person who will listen? Life is difficult and it matters what we let influence us. Not all knowledge or wisdom or advice is equal.
READ Psalm 59:12-13 (ESV)
“For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter, 13 consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth.”
PRIDE TO MISTREAT OTHERS
We find in verses 11-16 that not only had the Edomites been infected with pride, but that pride had led them to mistreat the People of Israel. The people of Edom loved that Israel was in distress and they celebrated it. Gloating while other people suffer is a sin, not just here but in other passages of Scripture. Not only did the Edomites celebrate when Israel was suffering, but from the way Obadiah tells it, the Edomites took an active role in rounding up survivors and handing them over to their enemies. They helped the enemies of Israel plunder and kill and enslave.
APPLICATION
Do we think like them?
Do we act like them?
Do we have the same emotions as them?
There will be people in life that you do not get along with, people who get on your last nerve, bosses who drive you up a wall, mothers-in-law, and people that you must associate with just because they are in your life… how do we treat them? It is not for us to be glad when people we don’t like have a hard time or suffer. The suffering of someone who makes us suffer should not bring a smile to our face. I would say it is human nature to do so, but it is not God’s way to think, feel, act in this way. Gloating over others’ misfortune diminishes God in us.
READ PROVERBS 24:17-18 (ESV)
“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, 18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.”
SUMMARY
Pride is a sin. Pride is the source of racism, unforgiveness, workaholism, arguments, self-absorption, abortion, divorce, hurtful words, and so many other sins of which we need to rid ourselves. This is why pride needs to be constantly checked in our lives because it leads to so many other sins which compound in our lives.
When there is pride in us, God will work to discipline it out of us and may I encourage you do let Him do so! Pride leads to us mistreating others. Pride leads to attitudes that draw us away from God. Pride leads us to accept sin in our lives as normal. Pride comes out in our words and how we act. Pride is a sin.
TRANSITION
Believe it or not, the message from Obadiah to Edom is not finished. Obadiah outlines the pride of the Edomites and how that will be their downfall. He outlines how they gloated over Israel when they had problems and this will be judged by God. Obadiah finishes out his short vision with the promise that God makes. The promise is that Edom will surely go away, but God’s People, His People, will remain and will be victorious in all things. God promises, in the last part of Obadiah, “I will take care of my people!”
III. PROMISE (VERSES 17-21)
READ OBADIAH 17-21 (ESV)
But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions. 18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the Lord has spoken. 19 Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau, and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines; they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. 20 The exiles of this host of the people of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the Negeb. 21 Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord's.
The People of Israel, who are to be marked by safety, salvation, holiness, abundance, unity, and the presence of God will have victory over the Edomites. Edom will not win. Pride will not win. Those who are against God will not win. God wins. God’s People win. We see in history that all this came true. In 125 BC, what we call the time between the testaments, the Jewish leader and high priest John Hyrcanus led a campaign and conquered the Edomites. Everything that Obadiah saw 100% came to pass in verifiable history.
I love the two ways in which God promises “deliverance” for us in this last part of Obadiah.
First, in verse 17, God promises that, “on Mount Zion will be deliverance.” What does that mean? Mt. Zion is the nickname for Jerusalem. Mt. Zion is a poetic way in the Bible of talking about the People of God who are part of the Kingdom of God. Mt. Zion is a poetic way in the Bible of talking about where God dwells and describes all of God’s People, including us!
Where God dwells, there is deliverance.
With God’s people, there is deliverance.
God provides deliverance for those who are in His Kingdom.
God provides for those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ. God provides deliverance for us in this life and in the next. We who are believers in Jesus have everything that God promised in the last part of Obadiah.
Safety: Our souls are kept safe by God and nothing can take us away from Him
Salvation: Salvation of our souls is assured through Jesus Christ and His death on the cross
Holiness: Believers are set aside as God’s People and He claims us as His own.
Abundance: In Him, we are given love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control.
Unity: Believers are connected to each other through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Victory: Believers are more than conquerors over sin, death, and temptation.
Second, in verse 21, God promises that “Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will be the LORD's.” The deliverance that God provides will not stay only in Jerusalem but will expand into the rest of the world. They will become deliverers themselves of a kingdom that will never be destroyed.
This says to me that even though people sin with pride, it can be healed and forgiven. Deliverance can come even to those who deal with pride. The message of deliverance is for all of us no matter our sin. God promises that even the Edomites can be redeemed.
CHALLENGE
The challenge is simple: Let God deal with your pride and beat it out of you. The end result will be a soul that relies on the Lord God as a solid foundation and rejects the brittle foundation of self-centered pride.
INVITATION
