Lesson5-ObadiahChapter1Continued4
1/12
THEBOOKOFOBADIAH
Lesson5,Chapter1Continued4
TheBookofObadiahoffers3differentperspectivesonitsmainsubject,whichis
whatGodintendstodotoEdom(thenationofJordanbeingmoderndayEdom).
Ithinktomakethisprophecymorerelevantformodernfolks,itwouldalmostbe
bettertocrossouttheword“Edom”andsubstitutetheword“nations”,butwe
probablyshouldn’tbecausewe’dlosemuchmeaningandcriticalhistorical
background.Nonetheless,withoutdoubtEdomisbeingspokenofbothasan
individualnationandasarepresentativetypeofthegentilenationsoftheworld,
justastheNewTestamenttendstouseBabyloninthatsameway.
Thefirstperspectivethatisofferedwascontainedinourstudyofverses1–10
thatdealswithEdomasaseparateanddistinctnationfoundedbyJacob(Israel’s)
twinbrotherEsau.ItspeaksofboththeEdomofthepastandtheEdom(Jordan)
ofthefuture(thefuturefromviewpointofthetimeofObadiah).Theperspective
isthatGodisgoingtousethenationsoftheworldtoattackanddestroyEdom,
effectivelyremovingitasasovereignnation.
Thesecondperspectivecomesfromverses12–15,whichnotonlydealswith
Edomasanindividualnationbutalsointhecontextoftheothernationsofthe
world,anditimpliesthatwhatallofthesenationshavebeendoingagainstIsrael,
andwhattheyshouldnotdointhefuture,willbringdownuponthemwrathof
God.Yet,thereisthefaintesthopethatiftheyweretoreversecourseandstop
doingit,perhapssomeorallcouldavoidcompleteextermination.
Thethirdperspectiveiswhatwehavejustbegininverse16…thattakesona
moreexplicitnatureofitsownbeginningatverse18…whichsaysthatEdom
(andprobablythenationsoftheworld,oratleastthenationsimmediately
surroundingIsrael)willsufferannihilationbythehandofIsrael,whoisreallybut
anagentofYehoveh,GodofIsrael.
ManyableBiblecommentatorsandtheologiansattempttoharmonizethese3
perspectivesintoasingleunifiedonebecausetheyfeartheyconflictwithone
another.Sometheorizethatperhapseachoftheseperspectiveswaswrittenby
adifferentauthor(eventhoughtheyareintheminorityandIthinktheir
Lesson5-ObadiahChapter1Continued4
2/12
argumentsfalltothefloorbecauseObadiahhassuchinnerconsistencyand
conformity).Ilikenthese3perspectivestowhatIcallwalkingaroundtherock.
Thatis,ifoneweretohappenacrossalargeroom-sizedboulder,andthenbegin
towalkarounditscircumferencetoexamineitandthenexplainingwhatitlooks
like,therewillbedifferencesinappearanceofcolor,texture,andfeatures
dependingonwhereyouarestandingatthemoment.Andyet,theboulderisstill
justonemonolithicpieceofrockandnotmultiplepiecesthathavebeenfused
together.Tolosesightofthatrealitywouldbetolosesightoftruth.
Tosomewhatsummarizewhatwe’vestudiedsofar,thedivinewraththatis
goingtobevisiteduponEdom(andultimatelyonthenationsthatthewordEdom
typifies),isaneventthatistermedTheDayofYehoveh,ortheDayoftheLord.
Further,becausethisDayoftheLordismentionedinanumberofprophecies
includingthoseofEzekielandJeremiahamongothers,wereadilyseethatitisa
daythatisfuturetoObadiah,anditisstillfuturetous.AlthoughforObadiahthat
futurecanbecountedincenturies,inourdayIsuspectitcanbecountedinyears
(andnotverymany).Theotherunderstandingthatwemustneverlosesightof
isthatexceptintherarestofoccasions,GoduseshumanstobringaboutHis
wrath.InthecaseofEdom,thosehumansHewillusearetheIsraelis.
Let’spickupbyfirstre-readingverses16–21.
RE-READOBADIAH1:16–21
Thefirst3oftheseversesarespokentoJudah.Thefirstversehasalways
fascinatedBiblescholarsbecauseofthetermsdrunkanddrink.Beforewe
addressthatinmoredetail,itisbetterthatweagainvisittheBookofJeremiah
thatalsodealswithEdom,anditgivesusyetanotherperspectiveaswecontinue
ourwalkaroundtherock.OpenyourBiblestoJeremiahchapter49.
READJEREMIAH49:7–22
WhatIwantyoutonoticearethewordsofverse12:
Lesson5-ObadiahChapter1Continued4
3/12
CJB
Jeremiah49:12
12
ForthisiswhatADONAIsays:"Thosewhodonotdeserve
todrinkfromthiscupwillhavetodrinkitanyway,soshouldyougounpunished?
No,youwillnotgounpunished;youwillcertainlydrinkit.
AddedtothewordsdrunkanddrinkfromObadiahverse16arethewords“from
thiscup”ofJeremiah49:12.Let’sexamineexactlywhatthisissupposedto
indicatetous.And,Iremindyouofperhapstheprincipleunderlyingpremiseof
theHebrewRootsapproachtoteachingtheBiblethatdirectlyapplieshere:what
thosewordsandversesoughttomeantousareexactlywhattheymeanttothe
peoplethatwrotethemandheardthemallthosecenturiesago.Theissue,then,
iswhatexactlydidthosethoughtsmeantothosepeopleoftheancientpastwho
livedinsuchawildlydifferentculturethanthoseofus(especiallyinthe
developedWest)wholiveinmoderntimes?And,Ionceagainwanttogivemuch
credittoPaulRaabeforthestellarresearchhedidonthissubjectmatter,aswell
asafewotherswhohavecontributedsosignificantlytomyunderstandingofthis
importantphrase.
Whenweputtogethertheseseveraltermstoformthephrase“drinkingthecup
ofwrath”(somethingIhaveheardChristianpastorsspeakofsomanytimes)we
ofcourserealizethatwhatitis,isaverypowerfulmetaphor.Whatisametaphor?
WewerealltaughtthisinHighSchoolorevenearlier;butIcantellyouthatwhat
welearnedwasoverlysimplistic.First,metaphorisnotmerewordsubstitution.
I.A.RichardsinhisincitefulbookThePhilosophyofRhetoricsaysthis:“Whenwe
useametaphorwehavetwothoughtsofdifferentthingsactivetogetherand
supportedbyasinglewordorphrase,whosemeaningisaresultoftheir
interaction”.Iknowthatmightseemalittlelikewordsalad,buttheessenceof
whatheissayingcanbecapturedinoneofthemosticonicmetaphorsinWestern
Culture,“don’tletthecatoutofthebag”.Weallknowthatthismeansnotto
accidentallyoronpurposemakesomethingknownthatsomeonedoesn’twantto
beknown.So,wehavetwodifferentthingsthatareactive:first,acatinabag,
andsecond,ourintentofgettingitacrosstosomeonetobecarefulnottoreveal
asecretoranintendedsurprise.And,yetthesetwodifferentactionsarebrought
togetherinordertocommunicatethesamething.
Iwanttousethisparticularexamplebecauseitexplainsthematterofmetaphor
ontwolevels.First,whenthiscat-in-the-bagmetaphorwashistoricallyfirst
Lesson5-ObadiahChapter1Continued4
4/12
expressedandcameintogeneraluse,itwasaboutsomethingentirelydifferent
thanwhatwethinkofittoday.And,ifwearehonest,whenwethinkaboutitthe
cat-in-a-bagimagemakesnosenseatall.Today,whatarethecartoonsand
imageswehaveinourmindswhenthatphraseisspoken?Itisofafeline…a
kitty-cat…thatforsomereasonfindsitselfinsideofaclothbag,andforsome
otherreasonwehavetobecarefulnottoletitout.Why?Whyisthatcatinthat
baginthefirstplace,andwhat’ssobadaboutitescaping?Howdoesthat
thoughtequatetonotrevealingasecretorsomethingsaidinconfidence?It
doesn’t.Itdoesn’thavetheslightestconnectionnordoesitseemtohaveany
inherentmeaning.Thisisbecausewhenthatmetaphorwasfirstcoinedithad
nothingtodowithakitty-catbutratherwithawhip…theinfamous
cat-of-nine-tails…usedtodisciplinesailorsintheRoyalNavy.Bytraditionitwas
keptinaredbag.So,toletthecatoutofthebagmeantthatthecatofninetails
wouldbetakenfromstorage,removedfromitsstoragebag,andthenusedto
whipasailoraspunishment.Atleastthatthoughtmakessense.But,howisthat
relativetorevealingasecret?Inthemindsofthosewhousedthismetaphorthe
reasonthatasailorwasbeingwhippedwasthatafellowsailorrevealed
something(hetattled)thatgottherecipientofthewhippingintotrouble.So,to
notletthecatoutofthebagmeantforonesailortonotrevealanythingabouta
fellowsailorthatmightgethimintotrouble,thusgettingthemwhipped.Nowwe
seehowthatmetaphormakessomuchmoresenseinrelationtothemessageit
intendstodeliver.Themessageis:keepquietandkeepthesecretbecausethere
couldbeaverypainfulconsequence.
Anotherimportantprincipleabouttheuseofmetaphor(thatcanbeequally
appliedtosimile)isthisasitespeciallyconcernsreadingtheBible.Ashardasit
canperhapsbetoswallow,sometimestakingthemeaningofabiblicalphraseas
metaphorisfarsuperiortotakingitliterally.And,theeasiestwaytoknowwhen
abiblicalphraseismeantasmetaphor,orsimile,ormorebroadlysimplyasa
culturalexpression,iswhenitmakeslittlesensetouswhentakenliterally.Or
evenmore,whentakenliterallythatphraseisobviouslyfalseonitsface,oreven
utterlyincoherent.LetmegiveyouanexamplefromtheNewTestament.Inthe
BookofJames,wereadthefollowing(andI’llusetheNASversionbecauseitis
themostcommonlyheard).
Lesson5-ObadiahChapter1Continued4
5/12
NAS
James2:10Forwhoeverkeepsthewholelawandyetstumblesinonepoint,
hehasbecomeguiltyofall.
Inotherwords,iftakenliterallyitmeansthatifIbreakonlyonecommandment
thenitisthesameasifI’vebrokenalloftheothercommandments.The
implicationbeingthereisnopointtoeventryingtoobeytheentireLawofMoses
becauseitisfutile.Thishasbeenspuninanumberofwaysbutmostlytosaythat
thiswhytheLawofMoseshasbeenabolishedbyChrist.Nevermindthatsucha
meaningisn’tevenwithinthecontextofwhatisbeingsaid.Fromamore
fundamentallevelIwantusalltostopandthinkaboutthatstatement.Areweto
seriouslythinkthatifweweretobreakbutoneofGod’scommandments,no
matterwhatitis,thatHeseesusandjudgesusasifwebrokeall613ofthem?
Or,onanotherlevel,arewetotakethistomeanthatbreakingoneofHislawsin
essencedoesawaywithallotherofGod’slawsandcommands?Frankly,either
notionisabsurd.Ifwedrive45mphina35-mphspeedzoneandarecaughtand
fined,doesthismeanthatinthatoneindiscretionwehavebrokenallthe
hundredsoftrafficlawsonthebooksandwillbejudgedguiltyofviolatingthem
all?Orthatthisoneviolationresultsinalltrafficlawsonthebooksarenow
abolishedsothattherearenone?Ofcoursenot.It’snotlogicalorrational,and
soitcannotbeliterallytruebecausenothingelseintheBible,OldorNew
Testaments,makesanysuchsimilarillogicalsuggestion.Rather,takingthisto
meanthattheLawofMosesisabolishedifwebreakonelawisbutamisguided
attempttounderstandsomethingliterallythatwasactuallymeanttobetaken
metaphoricallyorperhapsasbutaculturalexpression.Takingitliterally,and
spinningittomakesenseofitwhennoliteralsenseworks,alsohelpstofulfilla
commonagendaofthegentiles-onlyConstantinianChurch.Rather,whatthis
metaphororexpressionmeanttothewriteroftheBookofJamesisthatwemust
nottakeGod’slawsandcommandsasrelative,andsosomehowbelievethatmy
sinsaresmall,butyoursarebiggerandsoIdeserveabetterjudgmentfromGod
thandoyou.Orthat,asexpressedintheseverses,thatalthoughImurdered
someoneatleastIhavenotcommittedadultery,soIhavesomerationalefor
beingabetterpersonbeforeGodasamurdererthanasanadulterer.Bottomline:
clearlythesewordsiftakenliterallymakenosenseinpractice,andsoitis
actuallyanexpression.
Lesson5-ObadiahChapter1Continued4
6/12
ThepointI’mmakingisthatthephrase“drinkingfromthecupofwrath”wasalso
basedonacommonlyunderstoodmetaphoricalmeaninginthebiblicalerathatis
farremovedfromus,andsoweneedtorediscoverfromthismetaphorical
comparisonwhatitintendedtobringtomindtothespeakerandhearer,
especiallysinceinmoderntimesweknowthatitappliestoeventsoftheEnd
Times.So,whatI’maskingyoudo(sofarasyouareable)istoerasewhatyou
havealwaysenvisionedaboutthatphraseandbeginanew.
Thewordsdrinkingandcuparemeanttoinvoketheimageofwinedrinking,and
allthatitentailsandallthatitembodiesbothgoodandbad.So,theideaisthat
“drinkingthecupofYehoveh’swrath”ismeanttomakethesubjectofhowone
experiencesdivinewrathbetterunderstoodbyusingtheinstrumentofdrinking
fromacupofwineasasymbolicrepresentation.I’llsaythisinadifferentway:
drinkingwinefromacup,anddrinkingthecupofYehoveh’swrathhave
similaritiesintheiroutcomesandinwhatthedrinkerexperiences.Buthow?In
whatwaysaretheysimilar?
Let’sdisassemblethisphrase,lookingateachword,beforeweputitback
togetheragain.TheEnglishword“cup”isinHebrewkos.It’sjustwhatyouthink
itis:avesselforholdingwineandthendrinkingfromit.Oneofthecommonuses
forthetermcupintheBibleistometaphoricallydescribeaperson’sfateor
destiny,orassomeone’sallottedportion.Thiscanbeintheformofacurseora
blessing,oritcanbringabundanceoritcanbringdisaster.Psalm116givesus
agoodexampleofthis.
CJB
Psalm116:12-14
12
HowcanIrepayADONAIforallhisgenerousdealings
withme?
13
IwillraisethecupofsalvationandcallonthenameofADONAI.
14
I
willpaymyvowstoADONAIinthepresenceofallhispeople
Inverse13thePsalmistwantstoglorifyGodforthegiftofsalvation…salvationis
theportionorperhapsdestinythatYehovehhasallottedtohim.Itcomesfrom
thecupthatisthevesselthatfigurativelyholdssalvation.
Thesecondwordtolookatiswine.InHebrewmostoftenitisyayin,afewtimes
itistirosh.Thereareafewothertermsusedtodenotenewwine,strongdrink,
etc.,butwedon’tneedtogetintothatatthemoment.Whatisinterestingisthat
Lesson5-ObadiahChapter1Continued4
7/12
wefindinseveralplacesintheBiblethetopicofmixingwine.Mixingwinemeans
toaddspicestoittochangetheflavoralittle.
Ifyouarein,orcomefrom,themoretraditionalChristianChurchenvironment,
itisnotunusualforittobetaughtthatthewinethatJesusused,orthatwasthe
resultofHismiracleataweddinginCanainwhichHeturnedwaterintowine,
wasactuallynon-alcoholicgrapejuice.That’ssimplyfalse.Winewaspartof
everyJew’sdiet,richorpoor.Theonlydifferencewasprobablyinquantityand
certainlyinquality.And,asinboththeOldandNewTestaments,itwasusedby
theTemplepriestsaswellasbytheaverageJewduringfestiveoccasions.
Wineisactuallyportrayedasagoodandpositivething.Theonlyreasonthat
sincelateinthe19
th
centurythatwineandallliquorgotabadnamewasbecause
ofitsgrowingmisuse,andtheriseoftheWomen’sTemperanceLeaguethat
eventuallyresultedintheProhibitioneraintheUSA.Foryouyoungerfolks,
Prohibitionspeakstoafewyearsfrom1920to1933whenallalcoholicbeverages
wereoutlawed.Butbiblically,wineusewasnotjustfinebutactuallyordained,
andyoungchildrendrankwinedilutedwithwater.Itwasmeanttobringjoy,dull
pain,andwassimplyaverypleasanttastingbeverage.But,theScripturesalso
speakofthedownsideofwinedrinkingsuchasdrunkenness.And,thisiscritical
forustograspbecauseitisthedrunkennessaspectthatisatthecenterof
understandingwhat“drinkingfromthecupofYehoveh’swrath”ismeaning.
Next,let’stalkabouttheworddrinkordrinking.Generallyspeaking,unlessthe
subjectclearlyisthedrinkingofwater,thetermdrinkordrinkingisspeakingof
consumingwineorsomeotherstrongeralcoholicbeverage.Whenthetermis
usedbyitselfwithoutincludingwhatitisthatthepersonisdrinking,itismost
oftenassociatedwithoneofthefollowing3things.
First,ithastodowithslaughter.ThiscouldbeaswhenIsraeldefeatsanenemy
andissaidto“drinkthebloodoftheslain”.Thesamecouldbesaidwhena
predatoryanimallikealionkillsanddevoursitsprey.Second,itisfigurative
speechforwickedbehavior.SometimesintheBiblewe’llreadofawickedperson
drinking,meaningtheyareenjoyingthefruitsoftheirwickedness.TheBookof
Jobgivesusanexampleofthis.
Lesson5-ObadiahChapter1Continued4
8/12
CJB
Job15:15-16
15
Goddoesn'ttrustevenhisholyones;no,eventheheavens
arenotinnocentinhisview.
16
Howmuchlessoneloathesomeandcorrupt,a
humanbeing,whodrinksiniquitylikewater.
There’sacoupleofplaceswherewereadofdrinkingsinlikewater.Orhowthe
violencedonebythewickedistheirmeatanddrink.
Andthird,ithastodowithhumanpain.
CJB
Proverbs26:6Tellingamessagetoafoolandsendinghimoutislikecutting
offone'sfeetanddrinkingviolence.
TheideainJobiswhensomeonesendsafoolasamessengertheyarelikelyto
receiveanendresultthatissufferingandbitterness.Thegreaterpointisthat
thissufferingisbroughtaboutbyYehoveh.
Nowwe’llmovetotheworddrunkenness.Drinkingwineisapleasantand
positiveexperienceofreceivingblessing.But,drunkennessiscondemnedinthe
harshestterms.Weallknow,andtheBiblewarns,thatasgoodasdrinkingwine
canbe,somecannotstopandtheyoverdoit.Themoreonedrinks,themore
uninhibitedonebecomes,andthemorepronetodothingsthatareclearly
irrationalanddestructive.Oncethisstageisreached,thepersondoingthe
drinkingislabeledasadrunkard.
CJB
Proverbs23:31-35
31
Don'tgazeattheredwineasitgivesitscolortothe
cup.Itmayglidedownsmoothlynow;
32
butintheend,itbiteslikeaserpent-
yes,itstrikeslikeapoisonoussnake.
33
Youreyeswillseepeculiarthings;your
mindwillutternonsense.
34
Youwillfeelasiflyingonthewavesoftheseaor
sprawledontopofthemast-
35
"Theyhitme,butIdidn'tfeelit!Theybeatmeup,
andIdidn'tevenknowit!WhenwillIwakeup?...I'llgogetanotherdrink."
Theresultsofdrinkingtoomuchcanbestupor.Thisgeneratesconfusion,
staggeringaround,makingbaddecisions,andexcessivesleep.Judgmentis
abandoned.Andyet,drinkingwineisrecommendedforthosewhoaredyingor
terriblydistressedbecauseitinducesforgetfulnessandanumbnesstoone’s
condition.Butforanotherwisenormalperson,drinkingtoomuchwinecan
Lesson5-ObadiahChapter1Continued4
9/12
literallymakeapersongocrazy.And,whiledrinkingwinecanbegoodtorelieve
pain,ontheotherhanditcanbedetrimentalbecausepainisourbody’swayof
warningusthatsomethingbadordangerousishappeningtous.
NAS
Proverbs26:9Likeathornwhichfallsintothehandofadrunkard,Soisa
proverbinthemouthoffools.
So,hereinProverbstheideaisthatapersonwhoisdrunkonwineandisstuck
withathorndoesn’tnoticethesensationofpainandthusdoesn’tknowthey’ve
beeninjured,whichiscomparabletoafoolwhotriestomisuseaProverbto
explainhis/heractionbutissimplyunawaretheyaresayingsomethingfoolishor
doingsomethingthatcanresultinharmtothemselvesorothers.
Beingdrunkcanmakeonehelpless.Theycanbesodrunkthattheydon’t
recognizedanger,andcanbecomeaneasytargetforcriminalsorcanbeeasily
overrunbyanenemy.OnefamousBiblestorythatwellhighlightsthishappensin
1KingswhenZimri,theservantofIsrael’skingElah,attackedandmurderedthe
kingwhohadbeendrinkinghimselfdrunkandsomadehimselfhelpless.
And,drinkingtoexcesscanmakeapersonbecomedisgraced…usuallybydoing
somethinggrosslyinappropriateifnotpervertedsuchthathisreputationis
ruined.Doesadaygobythatinonemediasourceoranotherwedon’treadofa
celebritywhoblamesanimmoralactonbeingdrunkorhigh,asthoughsomehow
itisnottheythathavecommittedtheactbutrathersomealcoholordrug?Orof
somehowwhodrinksanddrivesandkillssomeoneandoncetheyhavesleptitoff
theydon’tevenremembertheincident,andaskajudgeorjurytoshowmercy
sincetheydidn’tmeantodoharmsoshouldn’tbeheldaccountable?
So,inalltheseexplanationsandexampleswecanseeexactlyhowwearemeant
tounderstandthenatureofcup,drinking,wine,anddrunkenness.Theseareto
becomparedtotheexperienceawickedpersonornationsufferswhentheyare
underGod’swrath.It’stheterribleeffectsofwhatitisliketosufferGod’swrath
thatareembodiedinthesimilareffectsofdrinkingtoomuchwine.And,without
doubt,weshouldn’tbesoliteralandnarrowastobelievethatthisonlyappliesto
drinkingwine.Inmodernapplicationanystrongdrink,oranyillicitdrugthat
causesonetogetdrunkorhighcanbesubstituted.And…payattentiontothis…
Lesson5-ObadiahChapter1Continued4
10/12
theeffectsofbeinginadrunkenorhighstuporareneverisolated.Everyaspect
ofourhumanitycanbeaffected;ouremotions,ourbehavior,ourminds,and
whatwedotoourfriends,family,andoftenpeoplewedon’tevenknow.
Intheend,wefindthatintheHolyScripturesthecupofwrathcomesexclusively
fromYehovehandHepersonallydirectstheprocessofexactlywhathappensto
individualsandnationsthatfallunderthatwrath.Thewrathisalwaysaimedat
thedeserving.Yet,onearththereisinevitablycollateraldamagebecausethatis
thenatureofhumanity.Itseems,though,thatintheEndTimestherewillbea
one-timeexceptionfortherighteous,whowillnotsuffertheeffectsofGod’s
wrath.ThisgoesbythenameTheRapture,butwhatexactlythatexperienceis
goingtobeisveryhardtotellfromwhatlittleinformationisgivenaboutit.What
isinteresting(anditissomethingthatItaughtsometimeago),isthatthe
propheticworditselfiswhatsetsGod’swrathintomotiononearth.Thatis,these
propheticwordswehavereadarefarmorethanjustawarningofdoom;theyare
likepressingtheENTERkeyonacomputerkeyboard.Thegivingoftheprophecy
isalsothewayafulfillmentisexecuted.OnceGodspeaksittoaProphet,in
Heavenitisadonedeal.Onearthitisalsoadonedealthatjusthasn’thappened
yet,becauseitstimehasn’tcome.Folks,understand:allthesepropheciesabout
Edom(Jordan)andallthenationsonearthbeingannihilatedintheEndTimes
hasalreadybeensetintomotion.Itisnotstoppable,andnothingcandelayit.
Theendisdetermined.ItislikeaHurricanethatwaspredicted,butnowis
momentsfrommakinglandfallonthecoastaltowninwhichyoulive.Ifonewaits
toolongtoprepareforit,thenitiscomparabletobeingadrunkardwhocannot
seedangerbecauseofthestuportheyarein,andsoallthatisleftforthemto
experienceisthemomentoftheircalamityordestruction.Therefore,onceagain,
IpleadwithyoutoprepareforwhattheProphetssayiscomingbecausethe
merefactthattheProphetshavespokenmeansthematchhasbeenstruckand
thefusehasbeenlit.We’rejustnotexactlysurehowlongorshortthedetonator
cordis.Buttheexplosionisassured.
AsconcernstheEndTimes,God’swrathisgoingtofallonthenationsthrough
theagencyofIsrael,orindefenseofIsrael,orperhapsboth.Eitherway,while
IsraelhasexperiencedGod’swrathintimespast,thistimetheywon’t;rather,
it’sthenationsthatwill.WhatisthecauseofGod’swrathagainstthenations?
TheirhostilityorambivalencetowardsIsrael.TheEndTimeswillputanendto
Lesson5-ObadiahChapter1Continued4
11/12
thenationsoftheworldasweknowthemtodayanditwillbepermanent.Ina
strangetwistthatbothersChristiantheologiansanddenominationalleadersto
thepointthatmostrefusetofaceit,thereisnocalltorepentanceinthese
prophecies,noristhereanyamountofrepentancethatwillforestallthe
prophesiedwrath.We’verunintothisnotionbeforeconcerningIsrael,and
especiallyasconcernstheformerNorthernKingdomofIsrael.Thatis,inboth
HoseaandAmoswelearnthattheNorthernKingdomhadcrossedoversome
cosmiclineinthesandinwhichtherewasnoreturn.Noamountofrepentance
wasgoingtosavetheKingdomfromGod’searthlyagentofHiswrath,Assyria.
Essentially,then,thepurposeoftheprophecyasapronouncementofdoomwas
tobothtellEphraim/Israelwhytheyweregoingtobedestroyedanditgavethe
relativefewwhostilllistenedandheededYehovehtheopportunitytoprepare.
Thepreparation,historyshows,wasmainlyintheformoftrustingGodby
voluntarilypackingupandmovingeithertoJudahortosomeothernearby
nationtoavoidtheattackandforcedexilebyAssyria.OK.Let’sgetbacktoverse
16ofObadiah.
Verse16openswiththeHebrewwordki,whichtranslatedtoEnglishis“for”.It
isusedtoconnectthistoverse15.Thatis,kimeansthatverse16happens
becauseofwhatverse15says.Andverse15saysthatbecauseofwhatEdomdid
toIsrael,thesamewillhappentoEdom.Now:whoisthe“you”whohavedrunk
onMy(God’s)holymountain?ThisiswhyImentionedattheoutsetoftoday’s
lessonthatverses16–18areGodaddressingJudah.Therefore,thisissaying
thatitisJudahthathasdrunkonGod’sholymountain.Recallingwhatwejust
learnedaboutthetermsdrunkanddrinking,thenweunderstandthatthisis
speakingaboutthenegativeeffectsofbeingdrunken,meaningthatintimespast
IsraeldrankfromGod’scupofwrath.Therefore,nowthenationswilldrinkfrom
thissamecupofwrath,thushavingthesameexperiencethatIsraelhadhad.If
wetorewordthisversejustabittogetacrossitsmeaning,itwouldsay
somethinglike“JustasyoupeopleofJudahhavedrunkmycupofwrath,soin
theEndTimesallthenationswilldrinkfromthatsamecupaswell”.
God’sholymountainalwaysreferstoJerusalemandtheTempleMount.The
nameofthemountainisMt.Moriah.Thatsaid,weshouldnotthinkthatinthis
useitisreferringonlytoJerusalem.It’sjustthatJerusalemwasthecapitalof
Lesson5-ObadiahChapter1Continued4
12/12
JudahandthusrepresentativeofallJudah.EverywhereinJudahhadsuffered
essentiallythesame.
Verse16goesontosaythatthenationswilldrinkcontinuously.Infact,the
nationswillgulpitdown.Ofcourse,thiscontinuingmetaphorofdrinkingand
gulpingisusingwinedrinkingasitssymbol.Althoughtherearesomedeeper
grammaticalnuances,intheendwhatthisisexplainingisthatthenationswill
drinkfromthiscupcontinuouslyandzestfully.Theywon’tslip,they’llslurpit
down.Meaning,theythinkwhatthey’redoingisagoodandpleasurablethingfor
them,butlikeadrunkwhodrinksmoreandmore,fasterandfaster,enjoying
everygulp,thenationshavelosttheirgriponsoberrealityandthatiswhatis
leadingthemtodestruction.
Thefirstsentenceofverse16endswith:“andtheywillbeasiftheyhadnever
been’.Whatthisistellingisthatthedestructionoftheworld’snationswillbeso
completethatitwillbelikebeforetheyeverexisted.Wehaveanexpressionthat
speaksof“bombinganenemybackintotheStoneAge”,whichbringsacrossthe
samekindofidea.Thenationswillloseanysignificanceandhavenomeansto
operateasanationanylonger.Thissamethoughtisexpressedinotherplacesin
theBible.
CJB
Isaiah17:14
14
Aseveningfalls,youcanseeterror;beforesunrise,they
haveceasedtobe.Thisisthelotofthosewhoplunderus,thefateofthosewho
preyonus.
CJB
Jeremiah46:28
28
Don'tbeafraid,Ya'akovmyservant,"saysADONAI,"forI
amwithyou.IwillfinishoffallthenationswhereIhavescatteredyou.However,
youIwillnotfinishoff,Iwilldisciplineyouasyoudeserve,butnotcompletely
destroyyou."
Myfriends,wearethenations.Thereisnosignoftherebeingexceptions.I
realizethisisanythingbutahappy,optimisticthought.But,bettertruththan
falsehope.We’llstopherefortoday.