Title: Restoration of Israel (Ob 01:15-18)
How did Obadiah warn Edom about what he should never do? There were eight. The reason why Edom should not do that is in verse 15. “The day of Jehovah’s judgment of the nations is near.” That is why Edom must not do such things. “The day of the judgment of the Lord is near, the day of judgment, and as you have done, you will receive it; and what you have done will return to your head.” What did Edom do to his brother Jacob? Answer with the words in verse 10. “Because of the violence you did against your brother Jacob.” I should have loved, cherished, comforted, and helped, but I committed atrocities. So I said that you will receive it as it is.
Look at verse 7. “All those who made a pact with you chase after you to the frontiers; those who were at peace with you deceive and overcome you, and those who eat your food set a trap under you, for there is no understanding in your heart.” He said that Edom was doomed to be trampled on by their allies, just as they had done to their brother Israel. “Your deeds will return to your head.”
It was said that you reap what you sow. Do you want to be loved? What can I do? You just have to love someone else. Do you want to be respected? It's about respecting others. The principle is simple. It's because I don't practice it. I am not loved because I cannot love others. I am not respected because I do not respect others first. Please love others from now on. Respect. Then you will be loved and respected. Simple. Who said it? “God has spoken.” God's Word clearly teaches us. Because I criticize others, I receive the criticism as it is. I hope that you will love and respect others without criticizing or slandering others.
Look at verse 16. “As you drank from my holy mountain, the nations will always drink, and they will drink it and swallow it up, and it will be as if it were not.” Where is God's holy mountain? If you answer with the words of verse 17, it is Zion. Just as Edom was intoxicated with victory on Mount Zion, the holy mountain of God, and ate and drank and ate and drank, the people of all nations will always drink and swallow, and it will become like nothing it was. He said that all nations, including Edom, who trampled Israel, will always drink and swallow up the cup of God's wrath, and it will be as never before. It means that they will be completely destroyed so that people behind them can say when that day happened. That's what it means to be judged by God.
In fact, Edom disappeared without a trace in history. Where is Edom? However, although the nations of the world trampled, attacked, and tortured Israel to destroy God's chosen people, Israel still exists today. Verses 15 and 16 say that Edom will be judged by God. This day of judgment is a day of chastisement and destruction for the wicked, but it is a day of salvation for God's chosen Israel.
Verse 17 speaks of Israel. “On Mount Zion there will be escape, and the mountain will be holy, and the house of Jacob will enjoy their inheritance.” Look at verse 14. “I will not stand at the crossroads to stop the fugitive, and I will not give the remnant to the enemy in the day of trouble.” Now Israel was suffering and fled from Jerusalem. But on the day God saves, there will be those who will flee to Mount Zion. Verse 16 says that the holy mountain of God will be trampled down and holiness reproached, but it will be restored to sanctity on the day the LORD judges the wicked and saves the righteous, and the house of Jacob will enjoy their inheritance. They all fled, but on the day God restores, the day the glory of Israel is restored, all the house of Jacob will return and restore their inheritance.
In verses 15 and 16 we are talking about Edom, in verse 17 we are talking about Israel, and in verse 18 we are talking about Israel and Edom together. “The house of Jacob shall be a fire, the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau a stubble, and they shall cling to him and consume him, and there shall be no left of the house of Esau, saith the LORD.” Fire symbolizes God's judgment. Who is God using as a tool to destroy Edom? Israel. The house of Jacob will be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame. The house of Esau will become grass, that is, dry grass. As a flame burns up dry grass, so there will be none left of Esau.
Look at verse 14 again. “I will not stand at the crossroads to stop the fugitive, and I will not give the remnant to the enemy in the day of trouble.” Edom tried to make sure that there were no remnants of Israel, but they could not get rid of Israel. But, conversely, what about Edom? Are there any left? isn't there? There is none left. Why? Because God judges. Because it is the judgment of Jehovah God. “For the LORD has spoken.” What God has said has already been accomplished.
Historically, Edom and Israel have fought each other since Rebekah's womb. After that, in the long history of Edom, Edom was jealous of Israel, envied, and worked very hard to get rid of them. Later, in the time of Jesus, Rome took advantage of the Edom-Israeli antagonism. Who was the king of Israel at the time of Jesus? It was Herod. Where is this Herod from? In the New Testament, they are called Idumeans. Idumea refers to Edom in the Old Testament. The reason Herod was made king was to take advantage of the hostile relationship between Edom and Israel to rule Israel.
Look at King Herod. How cruel was Jesus when he was born in Bethlehem? All boys under the age of two were killed. Historically, deep-rooted hostility is well documented. Another Herod killed John the Baptist. Another Herod beheaded James with a sword and put Peter in prison. Anyway, Edom was jealous of Israel and tried to get rid of them, but they couldn't. Conversely, Edom has completely disappeared from history. Likewise, there may be many people around us who annoy us. But we are never toppled because God watches over us and takes care of us.
Dear saints, We too may experience pain and suffering. But the day is near when God will save us and punish those who afflict us. Not far. Wherever the tears of the saints are, there is always something of the Lord. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Wherever there are tears of the saints, there is always God's comfort. The day when God will avenge our injustice and come to us is not far off. I hope that you will be the ones who wait a little longer while praying with patience, thinking that the day when the Lord will come to visit us is not far away. There will always be a day when the Lord will come to visit us, pay for all our injustices, restore us, and save us.
Please hold on to the cross more firmly. Just as Jesus loved me until the end of the cross, I hope you will love Jesus with one heart no matter what difficulties we face. “In danger, in famine, in persecution, in tribulation, I will follow Jesus to the end!” I pray in the name of Jesus that this determination and determination may be with me and all of you.