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Obadiah
We invite you to join us for worship on Sunday morning at 9:30. You will receive a warm welcome and hear the truth of God. As we celebrate the anniversary of America’s independence, many today think America is invincible. Some would say because we are One Nation Under God, both divine protection and blessing will usher us through this age of grace and the Great Tribulation into millennial bliss where America becomes part of the New Heaven. An interesting thought since our national philosophy seems to be God need only be invited into America during times of national crisis; absolute truth is whatever works for you; morality is whatever feels best for you; justice is whatever is most politically correct; murder is an acceptable way to settle disputes and family is just an historic artifact of how life use to be. Obadiah’s message to Edom is a message to America today. The only difference is time in history, the people, and geography. Notice first
- THE CERTAINTY OF JUDGMENT! Read verses 2-4. The prediction is absolutely authoritative because it is from The Sovereign Lord. This statement is also one of the strongest proofs of verbal inspiration! The spoken word of God is always a demonstration of His power. Read Heb. 1:3 then Gen. 1-2. Whenever God speaks, something always happens. Interestingly enough, we can hear God speak only if our heart desires to hear Him. Because we are redeemed by a God of certainty, our future is certainly secure.
- THE CAUSE OF JUDGMENT is found in verse 3. Perhaps of all sin, pride is the ultimate. To be proud (arrogant, self centered) is to be evil in character, nature, heart and essence. It’s that inner thought that aggrandizes one’s own self. Pride is Satan’s most effective way of causing people, even Christians, to compare themselves to other people rather than to Jesus Christ. Read 2 Cor. 10:12 for a Biblical definition of pride. The Edomites were much like most 21st Century Americans. Their prosperity had made them arrogant. They thought they were invincible because of their achievements, their armed forces, and weapons. They were deceived by a false sense of security that caused them to be spiritually blind.
- THE CREATOR OF JUDGMENT is met in verse 4. Pride not only causes spiritual and moral blindness – it also causes amnesia. Pride causes people to think that all they are and have is because of them. The truth is all that is solely because of God and His benevolence toward us. No enemy of America can touch her in any way without express consent from God. God tells Edom “all you have is nothing before Me!” The same is true of America! God made her, God can/will destroy her.
- JUDGMENT WILL BE COMPLETE. In verses 5-14 God’s message here is simply “you would sooner be robbed than judged. Even what you think can’t be taken from you – will be.” Americans tend to think we can’t lose our freedoms, rights, and possessions. The truth is that none of those things are as secure as we would like to believe. Remember just a couple years ago how our savings disappeared right before our eyes? We are not nationally secure enough we can’t be judged! Like all prophets of God, Obadiah ends by telling us that even after a severe judgment, God will find a faithful remnant that will come though the judgment and spend eternity with Him. As you celebrate our national independence, remember to thank God for all His gifts to us, and thank Him for your eternal spiritual freedom in Christ.
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