Before we leave the book of Obadiah, we should take one final summary glance at his prophetic words. We shall bookend the first and last verses of his book to do so. He wrote:
The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumor from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise, and let us rise up against her in battle. (v1) And saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S. (v21)
We learned that Israel and Judah were suffering judgment from God. The kingdom of Israel was taken into captivity by the Assyrians, and the kingdom of Judah were later taken by the Babylonians. Their plight occurred because they forsook the Lord their God and trusted in other gods and false ways. As they were being judged Edom proudly watched them be defeated. Edom cheered on their oppressors, and although Edom thought herself safe from all assaults, Edom forgot God Almighty was watching.
Edom was greedy, insatiable, and when they had opportunity to help the people of Jacob, they not only ridiculed them but gawked at and pillaged their defeated cities. When the people of Jacob tried to escape, Edom blocked their paths and turned them over to their enemies. Though it seemed that Edom was free of any oppression, there was judgment from God Almighty headed their way.
Where Edom had drunk on the mounts of Jacob, they would now be kindling for the fires of God's wrath. Edom would be no more, however, Jacob would be restored. Those who dwelt among the Edom would be forever lost, but those who dwelt in Mount Zion would not only have their land restored, but more importantly their relationship would the Lord would be restored as well.
Our enemy satan and our flesh nature are much like Edom. Sometimes they laugh at us, are prideful, greedy and insatiable, however, God is watching, and although it may seem that they are defeating us at times, Jesus Christ came into this world to come to our aid. Through the cross, Jesus defeated sin, death and the grave, and the Bible tells us in Revelation chapter twenty and verse ten:
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Oh at times fellow brethren it may seem that like Edom the enemy of our soul is victorious, and perhaps he even ridicules us and tells us that God has abandoned us. Not so, and again I say, not so! The Almighty God loves us so dearly that He sent His only Son to die for our sins that we might be able to have fellowship with Him. He knows our weaknesses, and He knows our enemy's temptations. He stands ever ready to defeat our own propensities toward sin, and He has given prophetic words for the destruction our our greatest adversary satan. God is on the throne, and as we give ourselves over to Him, no enemy who stands against us shall prosper. As with Edom, our Savior has come, and He shall stand upon the Mount of Zion in our own lives and rule and reign as we submit ourselves to Him.
Next time we shall truly be in the New Testament book of Philemon, so read ahead, and we will join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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