OBADIAH- CONCERNING EDOM
April 6, 2003 PM
Sermon Outline
OBAD 1:1-4
INTRO: The little book of Obadiah has the distinction of being the shortest of the Old Testament books! But its brevity does not diminish the potential for some very important lessons for life. Another thing which makes this little book unusual from the rest of the prophets is the fact that it is addressed to Edom! Now, the fact that Edom comes into view in a prophetic book is not so unusual. Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel all refer to Edom as do others of the Minor Prophets. And the tenor of what is said in those books is in large part similar to what is said in Obadiah. But the little book of Obadiah is directed toward the fate of Edom ... the cousins of Israel. So, we turn our attention to the prominent lessons to be learned here.
I. THE FATEFUL RESULTS OF PRIDE
A. 1:3 refers to the pride of thine heart
1. pride is a heart problem
2. and since it is a heart problem, it will affect the whole person
3. the prophet refers to an entire nation enveloped in this hear problem
B. What has happened here is that pride hath deceived thee
1. and this is one of the very real, present dangers of pride
2. 1 Cor 10:12 - pride causes us to see ourselves in a warped, inaccurate way
3. at 1:4 is though thou exalt thyself- compare with Rom 12:3
C. Some things we need to hear about pride?
1. Prov 16:5 - Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord...I
2. Prov 16:18 - Pride goeth before destruction...
3. according to 1:8 the destruction of Edom would be Gods doing - while in life we may survive with our pride, in the judgment God will most assuredly take the proud in hand!
II. PRIDE MAY TAKE WARPED PLEASURE IN THE HURTS OF OTHERS
A. 1:10 notes that it was Edoms violence against cousins which brought her fall
1. at 1:11 proud Edom was as one of the enemies of her cousins
2. notice at 1:12 - ...neither shouldest thou have rejoiced ...in the day of their destruction...
3. so caught up in the pride of her heart was Edom that the Edomites even cut off those of his that did excape... (1:14)
B. Now, is this something we would admit? Initiate action?
1. probably not ... neither did Edom
2. but here is a graphic picture of reality - which shows us the ugliness of pride
3. finding pleasure in the downfall of another ... pride just cannot bear the thought of anothers standing taller (this is one of the reasons leadership can be so difficult and, at times, very unpleasant)
III. GODS JUDGMENT WILL BE BASED ON OUR OWN BEHAVIOR
A. So, 1:15...as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee...
1. often, this will be the case even in this life
2. for example, Rom 1:27
3. as we have mentioned in previous lessons, the day of the Lord (1:15) most often refers to times of Gods judgment ... and what would happen to Edom was the justice of God ... righteous judgment
B. Rest assured that in the judgment there will be no errors, no partiality, etc.
1. 2 Cor 5:10 - this is always the manner of Gods judgments
2. Gal 6:7 - but pride does deceive us and cause us to believe we are above the judgments of God!
3. there is something very haunting about these words: thy reward shall return upon thine own head
IV. NOTHING WILL DETER GODS ULTIMATE PURPOSE
A. Notice the last words of the little book
1. 1:21 - ...and the kingdom shall be the Lords
2. throughout history it would seem that Gods ultimate purpose has been sorely tested
3. Satan did everything he could to hinder, retard, ruin Gods plan to redeem
B. But at the end of the day, the kingdom is still the Lords
1. and so it is today that the church/kingdom of the Lord survives
2. all of the ugliness, the pride, the contention, the enemies which pound it may seem to slow its growth, its progress
3. but nothing will keep the Lord from accomplishing his purpose in His church
CLOSE: Was there any wiggle room for Edom? Was there any ambivalence on the part of God? Here are some powerful and final words: for the Lord hath spoken it. So, tonight, I would propose that each us needs to examine his heart. Whats there? Is there anything that could cause you to suffer the fate of Gods judgment?
Cecil A. Hutson
06 April 2003