1. The Steward of God & Obadiah’s Oracle

2. 2 Introduction God’s people are subject to governing authorities. – Romans 13:1 “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. God uses the authorities to protect His children. – Romans 13:3 “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same” – Titus 3:1 “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work”

3. 3 Governing Authorities God used governing powers to punish his people in the past. – Obadiah 15 “For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head. – Psalm 9:17 “The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God” Consider also these passages: – Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance” – Proverbs 14:34 “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people”

4. 4 God’s Interest in All Nations God has an interest in every nation for they all exist because of Him. – Acts 17:26 “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings” What therefore should one do if one has foreknowledge of a nations impending downfall?

5. 5 History of Conflict Israel’s history with Edom is filled with conflict from the birth of the two nations. Gen 26:19-26 Began in the womb Vs 22-23 The first came out red and hairy – called him Esau Vs 25 The second came out and grabbed his brothers heal – called him Jacob Vs 26 Esau was wild, Jacob was mild. Vs 27-28 A conflict that would last for centuries.

6. 6 Obadiah’s Oracle God through the prophets Ezekiel (Ch 35), Joel (Ch 3:18-19), Amos (Ch 1:11-12) and Obadiah ordains their punishment. The reason for their impending destruction is rooted in their ACTIONS and ATTITUDES against Israel. Obadiah warns Edom that they would share the same fate as their brother Israel.

7. 7 “Sleeping with the Enemy” Edom’s complicity with Israel’s captives is strongly condemned. – “For violence against your brother Jacob, Shame shall cover you, And you shall be cut off forever. 11 In the day that you stood on the other side— In the day that strangers carried captive his forces, When foreigners entered his gates And cast lots for Jerusalem— Even you were as one of them. (Obadiah 10-11)

8. 8 Rejoiced in Their Distress They had stood by and ridiculed them as they were marched off into captivity. – “But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother In the day of his captivity; Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah In the day of their destruction; Nor should you have spoken proudly In the day of distress” (Obadiah 12)

9. 9 Laid Claim to Their Possessions They had afterward entered into the land of Israel and plundered their meager remaining belongings. – “You should not have entered the gate of My people In the day of their calamity. Indeed, you should not have gazed on their affliction In the day of their calamity, Nor laid hands on their substance In the day of their calamity” (Obadiah 13)

10. 10 Turned Over Refugees They assisted in the capture of the escapees of Israel and turned them over to their captives. – “You should not have stood at the crossroads To cut off those among them who escaped; Nor should you have delivered up those among them who remained In the day of distress” (Obadiah 14)

11. 11 Edom Would Not Escape Since the Edomites were related to the Israelites, their hostility was all the more reprehensible. Their seemingly secure place in the hills and cliffs of the mountains would not protect them. – ‘“Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You shall be greatly despised. 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’ 4 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’ (Obadiah 2-4)

12. 12 God Will Deal With them! No nation escaped the wrath of God. None can protect themselves enough. History has shown that God deals with nations as he sees fit. Examples of Sodom & Gomorrah, Nineveh, Babylon, Rome. While God’s methods to-day of dealing with wicked nations has changed, punishment will still be meted out.

13. 13 The Question Again… So, again the question is raised, If one has foreknowledge of impending destruction, of any (or all) nations, what is one expected to do about it? Surely this a problem that is just too great for us to deal with? After all the churches are so small and so poor especially here in Southern Africa.

14. 14 This Does NOT Mean Me! And didn’t Jesus say to his disciples: – “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world” (John 15:19) Besides, what significant change could I affect? As good stewards entrusted with the gospel, we can (and must) first of all pray. – 1 Timothy 2:1 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men”

15. 15 Yes is DOES! – 1 Timothy 2:2 “for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” Then we should get involved… – 1 Peter 2:13-16 “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

16. 16 Be An Example… In the work of the gospel. – 1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” – Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”

17. 17 Show Strength in the Lord We must armour ourselves with the truth. – Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” We must align ourselves with the truth – Ephesians 5:8-10 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord”

18. 18 Doing Nothing Failure to do so would show complicity with God’s enemies. Compromise makes for strange “bedfellows” – Obadiah 6-7 “Oh, how Esau shall be searched out! How his hidden treasures shall be sought after! 7 All the men in your confederacy Shall force you to the border; The men at peace with you Shall deceive you and prevail against you. Those who eat your bread shall lay a trap for you. No one is aware of it.

19. 19 The Cost of Fellowship Paul forbade fellowship with them. – Ephesians 5:11-12 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret” The cost is too heavy. – Matthew 10:32-33 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 “But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.