Behind the Scenes of Biblical Scenes, Pt. 2
Study Guide, August 11, 2024
Pastor Clay Olsen
All right, Let’s try a little exercise together. For about 60 seconds let’s see how quiet we can make it in here…we’ll close our eyes, and in the quietness listen for any sounds that you hear. Are you ready? Here we go on 3…1, 2, 3…start…
Okay, that was interesting, huh? So what sounds did you hear? The AC fans…shuffling of paper…hopefully, no snoring…
That was great, but there is a place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that is recognized as the quietest room in the world. It is an anechoic chamber at Orfield Laboratories. (anechoic means ‘without echo’) The room is so quiet that it absorbs 99.99% of Sound. They use it for research purposes, like medical products, and testing for NASA, and such. But visitors can also see what it’s like to be in a soundproof room. Usually, a person can only stand it for about 45 minutes, because it begins to take on an otherworldly quality, as you yourself become the sound. You hear your own heart beating; sometimes you can hear the rushing sounds of your lungs, you hear the noises of the fluids in your head and in your stomach, along with blood flowing through your body, and you can even hear your own bones moving. And you can easily become disoriented by it all. It’s amazing how loud it can be in such a quiet place!
We bring this up because in our look behind the scenes of Biblical scenes there is a book in the Old Testament that we could refer to as the quietest book in the Bible, that is length wise and attention wise. But as quiet as it is, it has a very loud message. So, let’s check it out together. We turn to Obadiah.
Now then, the Book of Obadiah is listed along with the Minor Prophets, which by the way, are called ‘Minor’ only because of their length, not their importance, but the account of it occurred much earlier. But first – who was Obadiah? In Old Testament times, Obadiah was a common name. There are about 12 guys throughout those times that were called ‘Obadiah’. But it’s believed that Obadiah the Prophet was actually a contemporary of Elisha. Some place him later along with Jeremiah and Ezekiel, as he references a fall that sounds like the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. But another destruction occurred earlier with the Philistines and Arabians as well. So this would have had him ministering in Israel during the times of Elisha’s exploits with the Angelic Army overpowering the Syrians with blindness, and the healing of Naaman’s leprosy, and the raising of a Shunammite’s son from the dead. And on the other side of the world, a young man named Siddhartha Gautama was beginning his teachings to the people in Asia. They would soon call him ‘The Buddha’, and his followers would be called ‘Buddhists’.
But with all of this going on there is one particular nation that had become a particular thorn in the side of the people of Israel throughout their history, but now this nation’s cup of sin had become full, which called for the judgment that Obadiah would announce. And along with that, this book highlights one of the worst cases of ‘sibling rivalry’ in history. It records the example of how the roots of bitterness can spread from being a family issue to even becoming a national issue.
But before we get to the ‘why’ of the judgment, let’s go to the ‘what’ of the judgment. Obad 2-4- “The Lord says to Edom, “I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised. You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us way up here?’ you ask boastfully. But even if you soared as high as eagles and built your nest among the stars, I would bring you crashing down,” says the Lord.” NLT
This really is a loud message indeed! So the time had come for the judgment of Edom. But their capital city was such a remarkable fortress that they thought they were untouchable. Have any of you been to the ancient city of Petra in Jordan? It is pretty spectacular. This city was carved out of the rose red cliffs that are near the Dead Sea. And it was considered impregnable against attack. But the Lord would bring them down from their eagle heights and their nest among the stars.
So now to the ‘why’ of the judgment. Obad 10-14- “Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel, you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever. When they were invaded, you stood aloof, refusing to help them. Foreign invaders carried off their wealth and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem, but you acted like one of Israel’s enemies. You should not have gloated when they exiled your relatives to distant lands. You should not have rejoiced when the people of Judah suffered such misfortune. You should not have spoken arrogantly in that terrible time of trouble. You should not have plundered the land of Israel when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have gloated over their destruction when they were suffering such a calamity. You should not have seized their wealth when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have stood at the crossroads, killing those who tried to escape. You should not have captured the survivors and handed them over in their terrible time of trouble.” NLT
This is a sibling rivalry gone horribly bad. Why do we keep saying ‘sibling rivalry’? Because this animosity between the Israelites and the Edomites goes all the way back to a conflict between Jacob and Esau…who eventually parted ways. And Esau, who was later also called ‘Edom’, moved to the land of Seir, southeast of the Dead Sea. And his descendants became the Edomites. But the Edomites persisted in being Israel’s enemies. They refused to let the Israelites pass through their land on the way to the Promised Land. And for centuries they were hostile to Israel with Saul, David, Joab, and Solomon all having problems with the sons of Edom. They even encouraged Babylon to destroy Jerusalem. Now that’s a bitter root with a lot of bad fruit!
The Edomites later settled in Idumea, which was the Greek name for southern Judea. And yet with all this ancestral hatred and spite toward Israel, one particular Idumean, or Edomite, happened to become a King over Judea. And that Edomite was Herod the Great, the King of Israel when Jesus was born. Uh oh! How ironic that Herod would be a King of the Jews. Yes, Herod’s family had been converted to Judaism, but his heart was still bitter toward Israel.
So here we have the original conflict between Jacob and Esau. Before that it was Isaac and Ishmael. And before that it was Cain and Abel. Remember that ‘brother’s keeper’ thing? It’s like the school of herring that were swimming along, and one of them swam away. And one said to the other: “Where is he going?” And the herring answered: “What? Am I my brother’s ‘Kipper’?” Anyway, Even Jesus had problems from His own brothers. Remember, He said in Mark 6:3-4 – “And they took offense at Him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” NASU So just because there is a biological connection, that does not ensure that there will be a personable and considerate and lovable connection. No, over and over, it is those who have not come close to God to deal with the hardness in their own hearts that are then hardest on those who are closest to them, like their own family…their own relatives. But just like with Cain and Ishmael and Esau, if you don’t repent of your sins and let God change your heart and mind, your sin just sets into motion more harm to others, often to those in your own family, but it especially sets into motion more judgment to come for yourself as the consequences of your sin. Remember, you always reap what you sow. You sow harm to others…you will reap harm to yourself. You sow blessings to others…you will reap blessings upon yourself.
But now then, like in those times when the Israelites were obedient under God fearing kings, God protected them with protective boundaries from nations around them that meant them harm. It’s like in believer’s lives today, as the Apostle Paul pointed out to the Church in Corinth, that they too were to have protective boundaries against those who meant them harm by not dealing with the sin in their lives. Look at this: 1 Cor 5:11-12- “I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people. It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.” NLT So there are times and situations when believers are to set up boundaries to protect themselves and to protect those, they love from even other believers who do harm or are abusive toward them. We are instructed to not even associate with them until these abusive people demonstrate genuine repentance. It’s just like John the Baptist told the hard-hearted Pharisees…they were to demonstrate fruits of their repentance of their harmful and abusive ways…not just mouth the words.
So, again, the judgment on Edom was a loud message of God’s righteous anger against man’s self-pride, both in individuals and in a nation. Obad 2-3- “The Lord says to Edom, “I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised. You have been deceived by your own pride.” NLT Two things about self-pride here. One is that the Hebrew word for man’s pride is ‘zid’ or ‘zadown’. And a word picture associated with those words is that of boiling mud. Self-pride is like boiling mud! It’s as though when people are boasting in themselves or displaying an arrogant spirit, it’s like watching a boiling mud pit…spitting mud up into the air. That’s quite a depiction of a proud arrogant person! A boiling mud pit, spitting into the air… And the second thing is – How ironic that our culture esteems what God condemns…self-pride. Do not forget: Self-pride is the first on the list of seven things God says that He hates: A proud look…eyes of pride…a proud heart…an arrogant look… (Prov. 6:16) Also, Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 16:5 “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” James 4:6- “But He gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” NLT
So self-pride is one sin that there should be no question about how sinful it is in God’s sight, and no question as to how much God is opposed to it, and no question how much you will be judged by God for it, whether you are a believer or a non-believer! No one can be filled with God’s spirit if they are full of themselves. No one can be filled with love for God and love for others if they are full of themselves in self-pride.
Then consider Edom’s other sin which incurred God’s judgment. Look again: “You should not have plundered the land of Israel when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have gloated over their destruction when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have seized their wealth when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have stood at the crossroads, killing those who tried to escape. You should not have captured the survivors and handed them over in their terrible time of trouble.” Sounds like we’re reading from today’s newspapers!
But here Edom’s other great sin was assisting the enemy in attacking the Jews. As is stated here from The Bible Exposition Commentary: “It was bad enough for people to do nothing to help their brothers, and to stand and rejoice at their brothers’ calamities, but when they gave aid to the enemy, that was carrying their ancient “family feud” too far. The Edomites entered the city and shared in dividing up the spoils, thus robbing their brothers of their wealth. (Later, Edom’s wealth would be taken.) The Edomites also stood at the forks in the roads, ready to capture the fugitives who were trying to escape; and they turned them over to the enemy to be imprisoned or slain. What the Prophet Jehu asked King Jehoshaphat is applicable here: “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord and so bring wrath on yourself from the Lord?””
How hard of heart so many people are and are so slow to listen to God’s warnings to people and to nations. God’s words always come to pass! People and nations always reap what they sow! Like here with Edom, the Edomites would not repent of their sins against their brothers, therefore they suffered the consequences of God’s judgment. Obad 15-16- “The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads. Just as you swallowed up my people on my holy mountain, so you and the surrounding nations will swallow the punishment I pour out on you. Yes, all you nations will drink and stagger and disappear from history.” NLT
And that is exactly what happened. The Romans conquered Idumea, and from that time on ceased to exist as a nation. But Obadiah was not finished with his warning of this judgment to come. No, for then he reaches far into the future, all the way into the Millennial Kingdom and reveals not only how it ends for Edom, but how it will be for the believing remnant of Israel. Check this out: Obad 19-21- “Then my people living in the Negev will occupy the mountains of Edom…The exiles of Israel will return to their land and occupy the Phoenician coast as far north as Zarephath. The captives from Jerusalem exiled in the north will return home and resettle the towns of the Negev. Those who have been rescued will go up to Mount Zion in Jerusalem to rule over the mountains of Edom. And the Lord himself will be king!” NLT
God has a plan for those from the Jewish peoples who receive the Messiah as their Lord and Savior. Remember, God has made everlasting promises to the believing remnant of Israel. But we are to understand what’s been going on and what is going on now. We are to know that from the days the Messiah walked the Earth until now, and even into the Tribulation Age, many from Israel are still of that spiritual condition of a hardened heart toward Jesus Christ, the Messiah, that Paul described in Rom 11:25-30- “For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery — so that you will not be wise in your own estimation — that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” NASU
And we must understand that God said to Abraham: Gen 12:2-3- “And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” NASU So remember, God still has a purpose and a program and a place for the remnant of believing Jews in His both His Millennial Kingdom and His Eternal Kingdom.
And so, from this quiet book of only one chapter, Obadiah shouts out about the justice of God upon all who mistreat God and mistreat God’s people. Obadiah shouts out about God’s protective love toward all who love Him. Obadiah shouts out about God’s Kingdom that is coming, and the King will rule over His Kingdom. Obadiah shouts out that the time is coming, and is coming soon, that God’s will…will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Even so, come Lord Jesus!