Grace Baptist Church, Nokomis, IL.

Text:

Obadiah doesn’t often get a lot of attention. It’s the shortest book in the Old Testament. We don’t know much about Obadiah himself, except that his name means “Servant of the Lord.” Yet the book’s message is extremely relevant and needed in our society today: be humble before God.

“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: ‘Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!’ Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. 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?’ 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. 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? How Esau has been pillaged, his treasures sought out! 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. Will I not on that day, declares the LORD, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau? And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman, so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.” (Obadiah 1:1-9)

All the events that take place in this book are parts of Obadiah’s vision (v. 1a). These are not merely Obadiah’s predictions. God showed him what would happen in the future. The text says, “Thus says the Lord!” The text says, “We have heard a report from the Lord!” We can take God at His word because God knows everything and is in charge of everything.

We must never consider hearing from the Lord as a mundane, routine matter. For a lot of Christians, the Bible is so familiar that it becomes for them just a common, old book. Many Christians seek out new truth to cling to, to excite them, to explain things better for them. But the Bible contains the words of the Lord!

God tells us, through His Word, about our sin. God tells us, through His Word, about His wrath toward sin. God tells us, through His Word, that Jesus Christ paid the price for our sin. And God tells us, through His Word, that we must humble ourselves before Christ, trusting Him and Him alone for salvation. When God speaks, we must listen!

What was the Lord’s message to Obadiah? It was concerning Edom (v. 1), and much of it is addressing Edom directly. Edom was a nation opposed to God and opposed to God’s people. This goes way back to when Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of beans. Esau’s descendants had despised Israel ever since. This book warns them of coming judgment. Do not fight against God. God will win, and you will be judged.

But much of the book also gives instructions to the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people (v. 1b). God was giving the Israelites instructions to fight against Edom. God would use Israel to execute judgment on Edom.

But shouldn’t we love our enemies? Of course we should. The New Testament makes this very clear.

In Matthew 5:44, Jesus said, “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” Romans 12:14 says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” Then in verse 19, it says, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ ” So why do we see so much fighting and killing in the Old Testament? Why does God often tell the Israelites to kill their enemies?

Look at what Edom was going to experience (v. 6-9). Did God change His mind regarding how we should treat our enemies? No, God hasn’t changed. These commands were given to certain peoples at certain times, never as a blanket command to kill all wrongdoers. We must never take it upon ourselves to execute judgment. We often want to judge others because of their actions. But notice why God was going to judge Edom.

Edom would be judged because they did not humble themselves before God (v. 3-4). Edom was a proud, selfish, uncompassionate nation. They’re worse than thieves (v. 5a)! They’re worse than…grape gatherers? (v. 5b) It’s referring to those who were hired to gather grapes for the owner of the vineyard. It was in their best interest to gather as many grapes as possible. Yet even they are compassionate to those who are in need. You never have so little that God doesn’t call you to help others.

And notice how fitting God’s response is (v. 2). Since they desired to obtain greatness apart from God, God would make them low. Jesus said in Matthew 23:12, “Whoever exalts themselves will be humbled, but whoever humbles themselves will be exalted.” James wrote in his letter, “Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up!”

God has not changed. God judges people today by this same standard. Unbelievers will be judged if they do not humble themselves before God. Salvation is in Jesus Christ alone. Trust in Him, humble yourself before Him, and He will lift you up from the grave and into Heaven to be with the Lord.