Lesson3-ObadiahChapter1Continued2
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THEBOOKOFOBADIAH
Lesson3,Chapter1Continued2
Verse8ofObadiahchapter1(andthereisonly1chapterinObadiah)wasour
drop-offpointinthepreviouslesson.Weclosedwithhighlightingthatthe
phrases“whenthatDaycomes”,“theDayofYehoveh”,“theDayoftheLord”,or
just“TheDay”,allrefertothesamething:aneventoftheLord’sjudgmentand
wrath.Thatwrathhas,inthepast,fallenonIsraelaswellasonafewofthemany
gentilenationsoftheworld,andthesameisprophesiedinObadiahtohappen
againintheEndTimes,onlyonafarlargerscale.
AswestudyBibleprophecythequestionforusallis,arewereallynearingorin
theEndTimes?Andifweare,what,exactly,doesthatlooklike?Whatisits
real-worldeffectonuspersonally,onournation,ontheworldingeneral?The
problemthatwefaceisthatlifeexperienceisrelative.Thatis,weactuallyonly
haveourindividualgenerationalexperiencetogobythatfeelsrealtous.Wecan
readhistorybooks,theBible,wecanhaveourparentsandgrandparentstellus
whatlifewaslikeforthem,butjusthowtangibleorapplicabledoesthatfeelfor
us?Weallfacethefrog-in-the-kettlesyndromeinthatchangesinworld
conditionsgenerallyhappenslowlyorsometimesincrementallysuchthatweare
adaptingaswego,andinarelativelyshorttimethosechangesbecomemerely
ournewnormal,andso,wemoveon.ThisiswhatmakesBibleprophecyandits
fulfillmenthardforustodetectorevenaccept.Andespeciallyinthemodern
anti-God,trust-scienceworldviewthatisthenewnormfortheWesternworld,it
isnotsociallyacceptabletoseedramaticorsubtleworldeventsasassociated
withbiblicalprophecy.ThisisatrapthatwemustavoidasBelievers.Andwith
theriskofbeinglabeledahysteric,orabackwardthinkingperson,Itellyouthat
whatwearereadingaboutinObadiahandinotherpropheticbooksaboutIsrael
andthegentilenationsintheEndTimesisunderway.Itmaybeearlyinthe
process,butitishere,now.Ifyoubelievethat,orthinkitmightbetrue,thenpay
closeattentionbecauseyouarelikelygoingtopersonallyhavetodealwithwhat
isbeingforetold.Ifnot…well,theneverythingyou’regoingtohearfrommeisbut
sciencefictionandfairytales.
IntheBookofObadiah,EdomistheprimaryfocusastherecipientofGod’swrath.
However,Edomismeanttobeviewedintwoforms:one,asthesovereignnation
Lesson3-ObadiahChapter1Continued2
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itself,andtwo,astherepresentativetypeofallthegentilenationsoftheworld.
Thatis,whileitmightnothappensimultaneously,thesortsofthingsthatGod’s
wrathwillbringdownonEdomwillhappeninlikekindtoall(ormany)ofthe
nationsoftheworld.WhatisjustasimportanttorecognizeisthatGod’swrath
willbedirectedtowardstheseothernationsforthesamereasonsitwillwith
Edom.Itwillbebecauseoftheirbadtreatmentof,andlackofsupportfor,Israel.
Thisrealitywillbecomemoreapparentaswegoalongintoday’slesson.
Thebestwaytosetthedirectionoftoday’slessonistore-readObadiahstarting
atverse8.
READOBADIAHCHAPTER1:8–end
Justasparentsareoftendismayedastheirchildrenarriveatthelegalageof
adulthood,andforafewyearsafterward(hopefullyveryfew!)donotreflect
anykindofwisdombutratherseemtomakedecisionsandchoicesthatare
bafflingandattimesself-defeating,soaccordingtoverse8itwillbeforEdom.
Theterm“wisemen”ofEdommeanstheirleadership…religious,governmental
andacademic.Thementhatareinapositionofinfluenceandauthoritywhohave
beencountedontomakethebestpossibledecisionsforthewelfareofthepeople
andthecontinuationofthehomeland.But,now,thosesamepeoplewhohave
heretoforehelpedEdomtoascendinpowerandwealthandprestigeseemto
forsakethewisdomtheyclaimtohaveandinsteadmakeunwisedecisionsthat
sendtheirnationintoadownwardspiral.
TheconceptbeingspokenofhereisthattheunwisedecisionsofEdom’sleading
menincludepoliciesofbad,oppressivetreatmentofIsraelorevensimplyalack
ofsupportwhenothernationsmightoppressorattackIsrael.NothingI’vejust
saidisdifficulttounderstand;whatisharder,however,istomovethisbeyondan
etherealconceptwithoutformtoaclearmentalpictureofjustwhatthatcould
looklikeinpractice.Verses12through14helpstodrawthatclearmental
picturebyGodtellingEdomwhattheymustnotdoasregardsIsrael.We’llget
moreintothosekindsofdetailsshortly.
ImentionedinourintroductiontoObadiahthatthisbookisverycomplexbothin
itsmessageandinitsconstruction.Thefirst18versesaremostlyHebrewpoetry,
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sowehavetobelookingmoretothethought-patternbeingpresentedthanto
theexactliteralmeaning.Thatis,Obadiahisquitedifficultfromatechnical
standpointtointerpretandsothereislittlechoicethantoexaminethesentence
structuresandchoiceofwordsfromabiblicalHebrewgrammarapproach
combinedwithhowcertainwordsandthoughtsareusedinHebrewpoetryversus
howthosesamewordsareusedinnormalrhetoricinordertoextractproper
meaning.So,Iapologizeinadvanceforthedetailinwhichwe’lllookatsomeof
thesesentences,butwithoutdoingsowe’llmissmuchofwhatObadiahistelling
us.
InObadiahchapter1verse8YehovehsaysthatHewilldestroythewisefrom
Edom.BecauseoftheHebrewgrammar(combiningapersonalobjectwitha
verb),thenotionofdestroyingthewisemeansthatthosewisemen(the
leadership)ofEdomwillliterallydie,thusalsoindicatingtheircompleteremoval
fromthescene.Thisisversus“destruction”moremeaningtheyareremoved
frompowerortheirpersonalreputationsareruined.Asaconsequenceofthese
men’sremovalfromleadershipEdomwillfinditselfarudderlessship.A
rudderlessshipwandersaimlesslyandisalsoeasilyovertakenbyanenemy.
Oneofthereasonsthatthesubjectofwisdomisbroughtupisthatinthatancient
eraEdomwaswidelyknownforitswisdom.Likelythiswisdomwasofapurely
humanistic,seculartypethatallowedforeconomicexpansionalongwith
creatingastrongmilitary,manifestedbythepoliticaldecisionstheleadersmade.
But,accordingtotheprophecy,therewillbeareversaloffortune.Thosewise
menwilldieandleaveEdomwithotherleaderswhowillnotbeadeptatleading
thenation.Thiswillleadtoitsweaknessanditsdownfall.And,ofcourse,thisis
whathashappenedthroughouthistorytonearlyeverynationthathasever
existed,anditcontinuestohappenthatwayinmoderntimes.
ThementionofMt.EsauismorethanaparalleltermwithEdom.Remember:
whatwearelookingatisHebrewpoetrysothissortofthought-patternstructure
isregularlyused.But,italsoservestoremindusthatEdom’sfounderisEsau.
Esauisnotjustafoundingfather,thewaytheUSAmightlookatGeorge
Washington.Heisfarmorethanahistoricfigureorfact.Biblicallyspeaking,Esau
representsallofhumanitythatisnotincovenantwithGod;whilehisbrother
Jacob,calledIsrael,representsallthosewhoare.Thisiswhywemustpayclose
Lesson3-ObadiahChapter1Continued2
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attentiontowhathappenstoEdombecausethesameisgoingtohappenforall
thosenationswhoseleadersandpeoplearenotincovenantwiththeGodof
Israel…soareautomaticallyopposedtoIsrael.
GodgaveasimilarmessagetoothersofHisProphetslikeJeremiahandEzekiel.
InJeremiahwereadthis:
CJB
Jeremiah49:7-8
7
ConcerningEdom,thisiswhatADONAI-Tzva'otsays:"Is
therenowisdomleftinTeman?Haveherwisemenforgottenhowtocounsel?
Hastheirwisdomvanished?
8
Flee!Turnback!Hideyourselveswell,youwholive
inD'dan;forIambringingcalamityon'Esav,whenthetimeformetopunishhim
comes.
AndinEzekiel:
CJB
Ezekiel25:12-13
12
"AdonaiELOHIMsays:'BecauseEdomhastakensevere
vengeanceagainstthehouseofY'hudah,incurringmuchguiltbyitsactsof
vengeanceagainstthem,
13
therefore,'AdonaiELOHIMsays,'Iwillstretchmy
handoutoverEdomandeliminatebothitshumansanditsanimals.Iwillmake
itaruin;fromTemantoD'dantheywilldiebythesword.
Inverse9ofObadiah,we’retoldthatEdom’swarriors…ormoreliterally,their
mightymen,whichindicatestheirbestsoldiersorevenwarheroesmorethan
simplyrun-of-the-millsoldiers…willbecometerrifiedand,therefore,become
ineffective.Thatis,eithertheyrunfromtheenemyorthrowdowntheirweapons
andsurrender,whenbeforethiseventtheywereamongthebravestandfiercest
ofalltheirwarriors.Inmyopinion,whatmostlikelycausesthisseemingswing
frombraverytocowardnessisactuallymoreasensewithinEdom’sbattlefield
militaryleadersthattheirnation’sleadershipisnotworthfightingfor.Theyare
notwillingtolaydowntheirlives(oraskthosesoldiersunderthemtolaydown
theirlives)foranincompetentand/ormorallycorruptleadershipwhoseesthe
soldiersasbutcannonfodderfortheirpoliticalambitionsandpersonalwealth
aspirations.Thisis,again,somethingthathashappenedallthroughouthistory
andishappeninginmoderntimesaswell.Whenthesoldiersofanation’smilitary
feeltheyhavenothingworthytofightfor,theyareveryreluctanttolaydown
theirlivesjustbecausetheyaretoldtodoso.So,atbest,theybecomea
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reluctantandineffectivefightingforce.Atworsttheysimplyrefusetofight.
Therefore,theabsenceofeffectivemilitaryprotectionresultsintheenemy
slaughteringthenation’sgoverningleaders,andinthisway“wisdom”is
removedfromEdomanditsdemisebecomescomplete.ThisiswhatIthinkthese
propheticwordsaregettingat.
ThementionofTemanisinterestingiffornootherreasonthereisnoacademic
agreementonwhatorwherethisis.Somethinkitisacityinsouthernor
southeasternEdom.OthersthinkitistheentiresoutherlyregionofEdom.Others
thinkitisupnorthinEdomandassociatedwiththeknowncityofBozrah.Bethat
asitmay,intheendwhatwecanbecertainofisthatthetermTeman,and
especiallywhenitpairswiththetermBozrah,isbutanotherwordtoindicateall
ofEdom.SuchuseofmultipletermsforthesameplaceiscommoninHebrew
poetry.
Verse10explicitlyexplainsjustwhyGodisgoingtointerveneinhumanaffairs
andcausethisslaughterofEdom’sleadershipandthedisbandingofEdomasa
nation.ItisbecauseoftheviolenceandharmEdomhasdoneagainstIsrael.
VerylikelythisismuchlessaboutanydirectarmedattackofEdomuponIsrael.
Itisquiteinterestingthat,asIwritethislessonintheearlyspringof2024,Israel
isinawarforitsexistenceagainstanIslamicfactioncalledHamas.InHebrew
thewordforviolenceishamas,andthatisthewordusedinthisverse.Hamasin
Arabiccarrieswithitthesenseofzealousnessasinbattle.Whatisalsorather
fascinatingisthattheHebrewandAramaicsenseofthewordhamasincludes
murderandrapeandtheacquisitionofthepropertyandlandofanotherthrough
anunjustmeans.TheOctober7,2023sneakattackuponIsraelbytheIslamic
factionHamasincludedbarbarousandmurderousatrocities,alongwithsexual
violenceagainstlittlegirlsandwomen.AndtheirgoalistobootIsraelfromtheir
landandtakeitinordertomakeitanIslamicPalestinianState.Canthismention
ofhamasinprophecybepurecoincidence?Canitalsobecoincidencethatwe
findexplicitbiblicalprophecysayingthatEdom(Jordan)isgoingtobearthe
bruntofGod’swrathbecauseofhamasagainstIsrael?Oroughtwetotakeitas
yetanotherexampleofprophecyunfoldingbeforeourveryeyeseventhoughthe
bulkofChristianityorJudaismcannotseeit?
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WhatisalsointerestingisthattheIslamicfactioncalledHamasisnotaJordanian
inspiredorganization;itisIranian.Andyet,Jordanfullysupportsandaids
Hamas’spurposes,intentions,andactionsagainstIsrael.Whatwecoincidentally
findinhistoricalrealityisthatEdomitselfisnotreallyassociatedwithmuchin
thewayofdirectmilitaryconfrontationwithIsraelbutrathertheyareknown
morefortheirco-operationandsupportforthemilitaryactionsagainstIsrael
thatcomefromothernations.Perhapsthemostinfamousofallwaswhen
BabyloninvadedIsraelandledthepeopleintoexileearlyinthe6
th
centuryB.C.,
andEdomaidedandsupportedthataction.Inthenextfewversesthatscenario
isactuallydiscussedintermsofwhatEdomshouldnothavedone.
WhatgreatlyexacerbatesthematteristhatEsauisaliteralbrothertoIsrael(to
Jacob).It’sonethingforEdomtoaidandabetanunjustattackonsomenation
atlarge.Buttodoitonabrothernationisbeyondthepale…atleastitisinGod’s
eyes.TodoittothenationthatGodhasmadecovenantwithistheworstofthe
worst.Godhasmadecovenantwithexactlyonepeopleandonenationisall
humanhistory:Israel.So,whensomeonedeterminestostandagainstIsrael,
thosepersonsornationshaveputthemselvesagainstGodbecauseGodisthe
guarantorofthatcovenant.Thisisnotsomeancientmythorprotocolthathas
sincebecomeretired.Itisthecriticalfactorineverythingthatisprophesiedto
happenintheEndTimesandbeyond.Yet,becausetheConstantinianChurchhas
soblatantlyandblasphemouslymadeitabedrockprinciplethatthegentile
churchhasreplacedIsraelasGod’scovenantpeople,theneverydayChristians
simplycannotfathomwhatishappeningasregardsIsrael,today,intermsof
propheticbiblicalfulfillments.Ifyouarehearingthismessage,thenanyexcuse
youmighthavehadregardingsidingwithIsrael’senemiesthatyouareinnocent
becauseyoudidn’tknow,hasjustevaporated.Thosewithears,hear.
TheresultingconsequenceforEdomshallbeshame.Shameisnotanemotion,
likethetermashamedmeans.Shameisanegativesocialstatusonedoesnot
wanttohaveinaShameandHonorbasedsociety.Thistypeofsocietyisthe
basisofallIslamicorientedsocieties,sothewholeoftheMiddleEastoperateson
shameandhonor.Shameistheoppositeofhonor.Allpeopleoperatingina
ShameandHonorsystemnecessarilymustbeinastateofhonortofunction
normallywithintheirsociety.Toexistinastateofshameisintolerable,andso
anymeanstoshuckitoffandreturntoastateofhonorwillbeusedevenifit
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resultsinthatperson’sdeath.Thus,theprophecyisthatallthepeopleof
Edom…moderndayJordan…willberelegatedtoasocialstatusofshame.Atruly
terriblethingforthemthathasnearlynopossibleremedy.
LetmeexplainsomethingtoyouabouttheintensehatredthatexistsforIsrael
sinceitsmodernrebirthasanationin1948totrytomakeallthismorerealfor
us.IslamhasacorebeliefthatanypieceoflandthataMuslimstepsfootuponis
nowMuslimland.SincemanyMuslimslivedforcenturiesasnomadspassing
throughthegeneralareaofmodernIsrael…thenforthemthatlandisinherently
Muslim.ThattheoffspringofJacob…Israel…nowdwellsthereasanationcauses
agreatshameuponallMuslims.Evenworse,theseveralwarsofAraband
PersiannationsagainstIsrael…allofthemresultinginlosing…heapsevenfurther
shameuponMuslims(fromtheirpointofview).Thisiswhythereexistssuch
seeminglyirrationalhatredagainstIsraelanditiswhynocompromisebetween
IslamandIsraelinwhichIsraelcontinuesasaJewishstateispossible.Oneneed
onlyhearthechantfrommobstheworldoverof“FromtheRivertotheSea,
Palestineshallbefree”tograsptheMuslimworldview.TheRiverinthechantis
theJordan.TheSeaistheMediterranean.Inotherwords,allofIsrael.So,even
inthechantwe’veallheardonTVandonsocialmediaofmobsdemonstrating
againstIsrael,theirgoalisexplicitlybeingstatedforalltheworldtohear.The
sphereofIslamcannotescapetheirshameandreturntoaplaceofhonoruntil
Israelnolongerexists.Itistheonlyremedyaccordingtotheprotocolsofa
ShameandHonorsociety,andaccordingtothedoctrinesofIslam.Thereisno
option“B”,andthereisnopossiblepoliticalcompromise.
Thefinalwordsofverse10saythatEdomwillbecut-offforever.Thishasnever
yethappenedinhistory,sothismeansthattheincidencesinthepastofEdom
supportingIsrael’senemies(aswiththeBabylonianinvasion)havenotbeen
terminal,liketheonethatwillhappenintheEndTimes.Thefinalincidenceof
Edom(Jordan)comingagainstIsraelwillresultinthemnolongerexisting,and
withnohopeofeverbeingre-established.Here’sthething:rememberthatthe
termEdomisboththenameofaspecificnationanditspeople,aswellasa
representativetypeofallgentilenationsingeneral.SincethisisanEndTimes
prophecy,itmeansthatGod’swrathagainstthesenationsmeansthosenations
ascurrentlyconstitutedwillceasetoexist.So,theeffectbeingspokenofhere
Lesson3-ObadiahChapter1Continued2
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willextendfarbeyondthenationofJordan…possiblytotheshoresofevery
nationofeverypersonhearingme.
Verse11isabitodd.Itseemsalittledisjointedandwe’llseeifthereisawayto
approachitthatmakesitalittlemoreconnected.First,though,weneedtonotice
thatgrammaticallyspeaking,thisversespeaksofapasteventasopposedto
somethingfutureintheEndTimes.And,itiswhymanyBiblescholarsthinkthis
prophecywaswrittenaftertheBabylonianconquestofJudahintheearly6
th
centuryB.C.Afewscholarshavesuggestedthatforthesakeofunderstanding
thisbetter(and,again,thisisHebrewpoetrysoeverywordorsentenceisn’t
presentedinitsmostreadable,straightforwardway)wecandoarearrangement
oftheverses’componentpartstomakeitclearer.Letmesayitplainlythatno
oneissuggestingthereisaproblemwiththetextitself.It’smerelytryingto
understandtheverse’sintent,aswetrytoseethroughtheancientliterarystyle.
So,here’swhatitsaysintheorderitisgiven:
CJB
Obadiah1:11Onthatdayyoustoodaside,whilestrangerscarriedoffhis
treasure,andforeignersenteredhisgatestocastlotsforYerushalayim-you
werenodifferentfromthem.
AwaythatworksbetterformodernEnglish-speakingWesternersisthis:
Onthatdayyoustoodaside,whileforeignersenteredhisgates;ontheDay
whenstrangerscarriedoffhistreasure,andcastlotsforJerusalem.
Thisworksmuchbetteriffornootherreasonsthanitputstheactionsinaproper
order.Obviouslytheforeigninvadershavetoenterthecitygatesbeforetheycan
carryoffthepropertylocatedinsidethecitywalls.
So,GodcondemnsEdomforstandingasideandallowingtheinvadingarmyinto
Jerusalem,ratherthandefendingthecityalongsidetheirbrother,Israel.They
actasahostilewitnesstowhatishappeningortheyarecompletelyunconcerned
aboutit.Itisofnotethattheprophecystressestheideaofforeigners,or
strangers,attackingJerusalem.Whenwethinkoffamilyrelationships,
foreignersandstrangersarethosewhoareoutsideofthefamilydynamic.Of
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utmostimportanceisthattheseattackingnationsarepeopleoutsideofthose
whoareGod’scovenantpeople.InhiscommentaryonObadiah,PaulRaabesays
thecontextofthewordforeignersorstrangersisverymuchakintotheEnglish
wordbarbarians.So,thisisaprettynastyepithetagainsttheBabylonian
invadersandtheirpalstheEdomites.Suchadivineviewpointincludestheidea
thatEdomisnodifferentthanBabyloneventhoughEdomwouldarguethatthey
aredifferent.Icannotstresssufficientlyabiblicalprinciplethatisfound
throughouttheOldTestament:sidingwithIsrael’senemymakesyouIsrael’s
enemy.AndsidingwithIsrael’senemyalsomakesyousidingagainsttheGodof
Israel.
ThereisamovementtodayparticularlywithintheWest(includingAmerica)that
saysthatisnotanti-SemitictosidewithPalestineagainstIsrael.Ratherthisis
onlyapersonalorpoliticalstance,andnotareligiousstance.Thisisbuta
modernspinofdeceptionthatattemptstoslicethatonionfartoothin.Thoseof
thismovementmighttrytocreatethatdistinctiontoofferadifference,but
Yehovehclearlydoesnot.Anotherscenariothatisespeciallyprevalentinsome
branchesofEvangelicalbranchesofChristianityisanaivedeterminationtotake
aneven-handedapproach.Thatis,tosupportandcareaboutIsraelasmuchas
theysupportandcareaboutIsrael’senemies.Infact,itismyopinionthatwhat
wegenerallyseetodayintheChurchhoverssomewherebetweenfullsupportfor
HamasandthepeopleofGaza,andtryingtoprovideequalsupportforbothsides.
Therefore,nottakingfirmsidesissaidtobetheloving,Godlyapproachfora
Believer.WeseenosuchchoiceisavailableintheOldTestament,andintheNew
Testamentwereadthefollowingaboutthenatureofattemptedneutralityor
even-handednessonmoralissuesofallkinds.
CJB
Revelation3:15-16
15
"Iknowwhatyouaredoing:youareneithercoldnor
hot.HowIwishyouwereeitheroneortheother!
16
So,becauseyouare
lukewarm,neithercoldnorhot,Iwillvomityououtofmymouth!
TakingsidesisthedutyofGodworshippers.Beingneitherhotnorcold…
neutrality…choosingneithergoodnorevil…actinglikeSwitzerland…isnotan
optionforBelievers.WearetostandwithGod’scovenantpeopleandnation
withoutreservation.Thisdoesn’tmeanwehavetoagreewiththeirevery
politicaldecision.But,asinthecaseofthiscurrentGaza-Israelwar,itcertainly
Lesson3-ObadiahChapter1Continued2
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wasn’tstartedbyIsrael.Theywereattackedandnowarefightingback.Butthe
world,andmanywithintheChristiansphere,isthrowingitssupportagainst
IsraelandforthePalestinians.Thiswillhavelonglastingconsequencesofthe
mostnegativekindforthosefoolishenoughtothinktheycanhaveitbothways.
TheideaofcastinglotsforJerusalemisprobablynotliteralbutratheritissaidto
makeapoint.Castinglotswasacommonwayinancienttimestohelpmakea
decision,anditwasusedtodecidehowtodivideupsomethingofvalue.The
problemhereisthatJerusalemequalsMt.Zion,andMt.Zionequalstheplace
thatGodcallsHisown.ItiswhereHerulesfrominafigurativesense,andwill
rulefrominaliteralsenseintheMillennialKingdom.So,foranenemytothink
theycandivideupandtakethatwhichbelongstoGodisfolly.Itdoesn’tmean
thattheymightnottry,andthattheymightnotsucceedforatime,butinthe
endsuchanactissuicidal.
Nowasweapproachverses12–14wearepreparedforwhatGodsaysEdom
oughtnothavedone.ItspeaksofEdom’sopenhostilitytowardsIsrael(primarily
Judah)andwhatitwastheydidtodemonstratethathostilitythatwillleadto
theirextinction.
CJB
Obadiah1:12-14
12
Youshouldn'thavegloatedoveryourkinsmanontheir
dayofdisasterorrejoicedoverthepeopleofY'hudahontheirdayofdestruction.
Youshouldn'thavespokenarrogantlyonadayoftrouble
13
orenteredthegate
ofmypeopleontheirdayofcalamity-no,youshouldn'thavegloatedovertheir
sufferingontheirdayofcalamityorlaidhandsontheirtreasureontheirdayof
calamity.
14
Youshouldn'thavestoodatthecrossroadstocutdowntheir
fugitivesorhandedovertheirsurvivorsonadayoftrouble."
Theseare8quitespecificcommandsofwhatEdomshouldnothavedoneinthe
past,andbyextrapolation,betternotdointheEndTimes(although,wealready
knowthattheywilldoallthesethingsagain).BecauseEdomismodernday
Jordan,wecanseewhatJordanhasdoneandisdoingregardingIsrael.Whilenot
all8actionsarehappeningbyJordan,somearesuchasgloatingoverIsraelon
thedayoftheircalamity.
Lesson3-ObadiahChapter1Continued2
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Iwanttospeaktosomethingnowthatisquiteunsettlingformetodo,because
itisnotmypracticenorgoaltoeverbepolitical.Ontheotherhand,politicshas
invadedwhatoncewastheexclusiveterritoryoffaithcommunities,andsowhat
Imustspeakaboutissocurrentthatitisnotpossibletospeakofitintermsthat
avoidindictingwhichsideofthepoliticalislethecurrentgovernmentoftheWest,
andofAmerica,represent.Iwilldothisbecausetheseriousnessofthematter
concernsBelieversandGodworshippersofallkinds,andissovastinitsimpact
becauseitispreciselywhattheprophecyofObadiahisrevealingtous.Weneed
totakeittoheartandactuponitwherewecan.
AmericaandtheWestinitiallywerebehindIsraelafterthepeopleofGaza,ledby
Hamas,attacked,killed,raped,andkidnappedhundredsofIsraelicitizens,some
ofwhom…nowalmost6monthslater…arestillbeingheld.Theseincludethe
elderly,thedisabled,smallchildrenevenbabies.Now,however,Americanand
Europeanleadersofthecurrentgoverningadministrationshavebecomefar
moreconcernedwiththewelfareofthepeoplethatperpetratedthisatrocitythan
forthosewhosufferedit.ThepeoplethatdancedinthestreetswhentheIsraeli
hostageswerebroughttoGaza,whensomeofthemurderedIsraeliswerepulled
nakedthroughthestreetsbehindvehiclesandspitupon,andwhenHamas’sown
videostheytookofthebloodshedwereproudlyputoutontheInternetforallto
see,arenowbeingdepictedasvictims.Israel,whichisfightingforitsrightto
existandthroughgreatsacrificeismakingexcellentinroadstodestroyingthe
armyofGazaanditsleadership,arebeingtoldbyAmerica’sPresidentandhis
StateDepartment,andbyvirtuallyalltheleadersoftheEuropeannations,that
theymuststanddown.Theenemycontinuestoholdontothehostages,
continuestofirerocketsindiscriminatelyintoIsrael,andcontinuestomaintain
itsstancethattheywillneverbesatisfieduntiltheirgoalofwipingIsraeloffthe
faceoftheearthisaccomplished.Theyrefusetobackdownorsurrender,upon
whichtimethefightingwouldstopandtheirdecimatedcitiesandtownscould
beginthelongtaskofrebuilding.But,Israelisnowviewedasbeinginthewrong,
andisbeingthreatenedbytheleadershipofwhattothispointhasbeenits
greatestally,theUSA.TheUNjustpassedaresolutiondemandingthatIsrael
stopfightingandratherthanvetoit(astheycouldhave),theUSAonlyabstained
fromvoting,whichisessentiallyayesvote.TheWorldCourtintheHagueis
hearingaseriesofactionsbroughtbyvariousnationswantingIsrael’sleadership
Lesson3-ObadiahChapter1Continued2
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arrestedandputontrialforthecrimeofdefendingthemselvesandtryingtorout
outagreatevilthatisHamas.
TheUNorganizationcalledUNRWAwascaughtred-handedhelpingHamas
attackIsrael,andanumberofnationsstoppedsupportingit.Nowinthenameof
fairnessandeven-handedness,mostnationshaveturnedthemoney-spoutback
onsothatmillionsandmillionsofdollarsdirectedtoUNRWAthataresupposed
toaidGazancitizenswillinrealityfallintothehandsofHamas.IntheUSA,at
collegecampusesthroughoutthenation,thousandsandthousandsofstudents
andteachershavemarchedinsupportofGazaandHamas,andincondemnation
ofIsrael,evenofJewsingeneral.ThesameisbeingrepeatedalloverEurope.
Butworse,manyofAmerica’straditionalChurchesregularlysendupprayersfor
thePalestinians,sendmoneyforaidtothem,joinincondemningIsraelfor
battlingsofiercelyagainstHamas,andblameIsraelfortheconflagrationsaying
thatifIsraelhadjustgiventheenemywhattheywantedinthefirstplacenone
ofthiswouldhavehappened.ThemantraisthatitisonlyrightthatIsraelshould
giveupmorelandandbesupportiveofanindependentPalestinianStatewitha
corridorbuiltthroughtheheartofIsraelthatjoinsGazatotheWestBank.Now;
howdoesallthissquarewithwhatwehavereadtodayinObadiah?Orinothers
oftheProphets?IfyouarepartoftheConstantinianChurch(meaningevery
branchoftheChurchsincethe4
th
century),yousayitdoesn’tmatterbecause
whattheOldTestamentsaysnolongermatters.Ifyouareoneofthecountless
millionsintheConstantinianChurch,you’llhearpreachedthatsinceJesusislove
sowearetolovethePalestiniansequallywiththeIsraeliJews.TothatIsaythis
issimplynotso.Suchastanceisnotbiblical.Itonlyexpressesa
misunderstandingofthe“loveyourenemies”instruction,aswellasthemodern
attitudeofreplacingGod’sdefinitionsoflove,mercy,andjusticewithourown
intellectandemotions.
TheotherthingthatImustsayisthis:clearlythetidehasturned.Onesideof
America’spoliticalaisleandtheWestingeneralarenowstaunchlyandproudly
anti-Israel,anti-Jew.Idon’thavetosaywhichsideitisbecauseitisonournews
mediaeveryhourofeveryday,andthewordsarepresentinourpoliticians’
speeches.SomeofthestepstakentoharmIsraelprobablycan’tbeundoneeven
ifanewregimewhomightfeelmorepositivetowardsIsraelwastobeputinto
Lesson3-ObadiahChapter1Continued2
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power.Thus,Iamcompelledtoalertyou:ifGod’sWordistrue(anditis)then
whatotherconclusionispossibleexceptthatourfuturethatinanyway
resemblesahistoryof,orahopefor,blessingandbountyisgreatlyindoubt.
HistoryprovesthatnationsthatgoagainstGod’srecordedwillandmoralitycode,
andsetsitselfagainstGod’speople,willnotthriveorsurviveinthelongrun.
Calamitieswithinthosenationsinvariablyincreaseinproportiontotheirmorality
decreasingandtheiroppressionoftheJewishpeopleincreasing.Abundance
giveswaytoscarcity.Stabilityandpeacegivewaytoaimlessness,violenceand
turmoil.Wisdomandcommonsensefleeandarereplacedwithconvoluted
humanisticidealsbroughtforthfromourintellectualelites,andfromirrational
governingphilosophiesofourpoliticiansthathaveneverprovedworkable,only
destructive.Andyet,inthefaceofarapidlycrumblingsocietythesenotions,
ideals,andphilosophiesareembracedtothedeath.
Folks,thescripturalbottomlineisthatIsrael’songoingexistenceisassuredby
God;theongoingexistenceofeveryothernationisnot.Infact,ournation’s
destruction…andthedestructionofmostnations…isassured.Icautionallwho
callonChristforsalvation:youcannotgoagainstGod’schosenpeople,Israel,
andthinkthatyouareingoodstandingwiththeAlmighty.Youcannotstandwith
Israel’senemiesandbeblessed.Youcannotattemptstraddlethefencethat
existsbetweengoodandevil.YoucannotblurthedistinctionbetweenGod’s
covenantpeopleandthosewhoarenot.DearfriendsoftheConstantinian
Church…andthatiswhoyouareeventhoughmostofyouhavenoknowledgeof
thisreality…GodmadeallofHiscovenantsincludingtheNewCovenantwith
Israel…notwithanyoneelse.Allofushaveonewayandonlyonewaytobecome
partofthosecovenants,andthatistobejoinedtoGod’scovenantpeople.
TrustinginMessiahYeshuaisthemeansthatallowsustobegraftedintothe
covenantpeopleofIsraelbybowingtoGod’scovenantswithIsraelandaccepting
andobeyingthetermsandprovisionsofthosecovenants…allofthem.Andifwe
claimwehavedoneso,thenitisneitherscripturalnorrationaltoalsosupport
Israel’senemies.Ahousedividedagainstitselfcannotstand.
I’mabornoptimist.So,itpainsmetosaythatinmyopiniontheentireworldcan
nowexpectonlyincreasingturmoil,lawlessness,chaos,andcatastrophesasGod
pullsbackfromus…andjustlyso.I’llneverforgetgoingon20yearsago,on
August15,2005,afterunbearablepressurehadbeenapplieduponIsraelby
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AmericaandEuropetoemptyGazaofthousandsofJewswhohadlivedtherefor
decades,andsowereforcedtoturnitovertothePalestinians,thatonly8days
lateroneoftheworstcalamitiesevertohitAmerica…Hurricane
Katrina…happened.AfewbravePastorshadthecouragetosuggestoutloudthat
theconnectionbetweenthosetwoeventswasremarkableandshouldn’tbe
regardedascoincidence.However,ourgovernmentandtheCatholicPopeand
mostofProtestantChristianitydenouncedthosePastorsforwhattheysaid
mostlybecausetheybelievethatGod’swrathisathingofthepast.Ihavelittle
doubtthatsoon,whensomethingterribleandunprecedentedagainhappens,
therewillbesomefaithleaderswhorightlyseetheconnectionandsayso,but
mostwilldenyitbecausetheyareblindtoit.Obadiahpredictsexactlythis
scenarioasweapproachtheEndTimes.
Atthispoint,Ithinkmankindhascrossedoversomecosmiclineinthesandand
standfirmlyonthewrongsideofit.Ihaveseriousdoubtsthatwe’llbeabletodo
enoughrepentingtobringGod’sblessingsbackuponmynationoryours…butI
hopeI’mwrong.So,asIhavebeenurgingforsometimenow:nomatterwhere
onthisplanetyoulive,ifyoubelieveGodyouknowturmoilandcatastropheare
comingourway…wejustdon’tknowthedayorthehour…so,prepare.Aboveall
prepareyourspirituallife.Butalsoprepareyourpantryandyourfinances.Godis
gracioustotellusinadvanceofwhatiscoming,evenifdatesandtimesaren’t
provided,givingustheopportunitytopreparebutonlyforthosewholistenand
believe.HealsotellsuswhattriggersHiswrathandwhatsignstolookfor.
Obadiahtellsuswhatthosesignsareandwhatthattriggeris,andIbelievethose
signsarenowpresentandthetriggeringactionhasoccurred.
We’llcontinuewithObadiahnexttime.