Obadiah 1:1-21
The book of Obadiah is unique in the fact that it is the only book of the Bible written solely and specifically to a nation other than Israel. The Edomites were the descendants of Jacob’s brother, Esau (Genesis 36:9).
Over the years the Edomites were guilty of mistreating the Israelites numerous times. When Israel was trudging towards the promised-land, the Edomites refused passage to them, even threatening by force (Numbers 20:14-20). At that time Moses referred to Israel as Edom’s “brother.”
Edom was under the impression that they couldn’t be conquered because of their fortresses carved out of the rocks, their high habitation. But God promised them:
Obadiah 4 (NKJV) “‘Though you ascend as high as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,’ says the LORD.”
Apparently the Edomites rejoiced when the Israelites were conquered. We’re not 100% sure, but most likely this is a reference to the conquering of Judah in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians. The Edomites simply sat there enjoying the view of their brothers’ destruction. They rejoiced, they plundered, they even entered in to the land to steal any spoil that may have remained. If there were any Jewish refugees fleeing for their lives, they didn’t help them, there was no mercy – on the contrary they caught them and delivered them to the Babylonians.
Pastor Chuck Smith, “It’s terrible when we fail to help when someones is oppressed. It’s even worse to watch with pride and derision and profit from their demise. But what makes it worse still is when the object of our derision is our brother. How do we respond when we see a brother fall? Do we help? Do we gloat? Do we profit?”
Obadiah goes on to make it clear that Israel will rise from the ashes and be raised to glory…but not Edom.
It is never wise to oppose Israel, she is the apple of God’s eye.
Zechariah 2:8 (NKJV) “For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.’”
We should never oppose the Jews, not personally, or nationally. May we never forget that word back in the beginning, spoken in reference to the nation of Israel:
Genesis 12:3 (NKJV) “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Revelation 4:1-11
“After these things” means after the church age. I believe that when John is called to “Come up here,” it is an allusion to the rapture of the church. From this point on in the book of Revelation, we will see the church only in heaven.
What will be the first thing we see when we get to heaven? Some say (based on Revelation 4:2) that our first sight will be God on His throne (makes sense to me).
I like what Sandy Adams said regarding John’s vision at this point, “Perhaps you have thought of heaven as a series of cumulus clouds. Or that the halls of heaven were hospital white and God appears in sterile scrubs. Discard those mythical notions. Heaven is adorned with a kaleidoscope of color. God is dressed in ruby red garments that sparkle like diamonds. Lightning bolts dart from His emerald green throne. A rainbow stretches overhead…colors on earth look pale when compared to the brilliance of heavenly hues.”
The glory of God – brilliant and dazzling – beyond our comprehension on this side of time, and the rainbow, wow, it’s not simply an arc, it encircles the throne, a perfect picture of grace (Genesis 9:11-17).
We’re not sure who the 24 elders are – if I HAD to guess, I would say that these are the 12 Patriarchs of the Old Testament and the 12 Apostles of the New Testament. Others say they are symbolic of the church.
The lightning, thunder, and voices that proceed from the throne may be symbolic of God’s sovereign rule and even the way He answers prayer (see Revelation 8:3-5).
Once again, we see the Holy Spirit symbolized in the number 7 (see also Isaiah 11:2; Revelation 1:4), and emphasized with fire (see Acts 2:3-4).
The four living creatures may be living witnesses to the nature of Christ who came as a Lion (King), a Calf (Servant), a Man (Humanity), and an Eagle (Deity). I also see them as worship leaders, for whenever they worship God, the 24 elders join in to do the same.
They worship God for His holiness (holy, holy, holy), His power (God Almighty), His eternal and self-sufficient existence (Who was and is and is to come), and they worshipped God for the simple fact that He is worthy – as the Creator of all things. This gives us a glimpse of what we will be doing in heaven – so every time we worship, we are preparing ourselves for that time. And every time we serve the Lord in love and proper motives, we are laying up treasures in heaven – “crowns” – that we can cast before God’s throne, giving Him all the glory for making us and redeeming us – it’s worship for who He is and what He’s done!
Psalm 132:1-18
What an amazing Psalm, not just about the Temple, and how David wanted to build a house for God, but this is also about the “house” that God would build for David. There was this promise to David regarding his descendants, culminating in the Messiah, who would one day, rule from Jerusalem – forever!
Zion eventually became another name for heaven…and this Psalm definitely has heavenly hues.
There in heaven will be the “temple” of God – not literally for John the Beloved wrote this about heaven:
Revelation 21:22 (NKJV) “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”
But, there will be the tabernacle of God in the sense that we will dwell with Him (Revelation 21:3). There in heaven will be the throne of God, the saints of God, the bread of God, the priests of God – clothed with salvation, “…and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.” (can you imagine the joy in heaven?)
Jesus, the Anointed One will have the “horn” of all power. His enemies will be judged – and His crown will flourish, forever and ever. What a wonderful truth!
May we never forget our future home, we should consider it frequently. Heaven is not just a destination, it’s a motivation.
Proverbs 29:24-25
Proverbs 29:24 (NKJV) “Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life; he swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.”
The New International Version puts it this way:
Proverbs 29:24 (NIV) “The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies; they are put under oath and dare not testify.”
They might say, “I was just the driver, I did nothing wrong.” But such people are just as guilty as the one who used the gun to rob, or pulled the trigger to kill.
Proverbs 29:25 (NKJV) “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”
We are not to fear what man can do to us. If we fear men, they control us. Let’s not fear what they think about us, what they might say about us, or even what they can do to us. Not that we don’t care about people, it’s just we must not fear people, for if we do, we’ll be trapped in the snare of our enemies.
Jesus spoke clearly on this:
Luke 12:4–5 (NKJV) “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”
How sad to read about the way the rulers in Jesus’ day feared men; it cost them their salvation.
John 12:42–43 (NKJV) “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
Proverbs 29:25b (NKJV) “…but whoever trust in the LORD shall be safe,” set on high; out of the reach of man