Obadiah 10-15
Notes
Transcript
Big Idea:
Big Idea:
We deserve judgment for our sins, but the heart of God gave us salvation instead.
Intro:
Intro:
Hey Church Online family! Thanks for joining us today.
Christmas is right around the corner. Can you feel it in the air? Everything just feels better this time of the year. In most cases...
We begin treating each other more kindly...
We spend more time with our family and make special memories...
There’s a greater spirit of generosity in our communities...
And in less than a week, good little boys and girls will be opening presents they received from Santa...
For a few weeks of the year, we celebrate the season by committing to sharing goodness with one another. Because no one wants to end up on the naughty list, especially if you want the iPhone 13 for Christmas!
…but, “Is this… Christmas?” Is Christmas about temporarily renewing our traditional and yearly commitment to being morally good in the month of December? I don’t know… that doesn’t sound right.
Regardless, you know who didn’t care about being on Santa’s naughty list? The Edomites.
Last week, we started our new Christmas sermon series, “Is this… Christmas,” and we introduced you to Obadiah and the people of Edom. And prophet had a strong message for the neighbors (and relatives) of Israel. He told them, “Edom, because of your pride, God’s judgment is coming to you!”
Doesn’t that sound like a wonderful introductory message to a Christmas series? “Merry Christmas! God’s going to punish you! And it’s going to be much worse than getting coal in your stocking.”
But remember, this Christmas series is going to be DIFFERENT. I want to challenge us to truly think about Christmas. Thru this unorthodox Christmas series, my hope is we will walk away with a better, more accurate understanding of the reason for the season.
Back to these naughty Edomites. Last week we left off at verse 8 & 9 where Obadiah proclaims...
Will I not on that day, declares the Lord,
destroy the wise men out of Edom,
and understanding out of Mount Esau?
And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman,
so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.
In other words, GOD’S JUDGMENT IS COMING. And picking up in verse 10, we get specific reasons why...
Exegesis:
Exegesis:
Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob,
shame shall cover you,
and you shall be cut off forever.
This one verse summarizes all the specific reasons why judgment is coming. It was because Edom was violent to Israel. And while this phrase includes physical harm, it might be better to define it as a complete disregard for human life.
… but not just human life in general, but towards their “brother” - Jacob. God commands us to value all human life because we’re all made in the image of God. Every person has immense intrinsic value! But Edom did hurt just anyone, they hurt their someone close. They didn’t just violate God’s word by disregarding this intrinsic value, they take it a step further by hurting family.
The prophet describes Israel as Edom’s brother (probably hinting back to the actual relationship between the fathers of these two nations - the twins born to Isaac and Rebekah: Jacob and Esau).
I have a brother. Some of you have met him. Mikey. Growing up, we fought constantly. And I’m not talking just verbally. We physically fought. Straight up throwing haymakers. But as we got older, our relationship changed. We begun to realize how special our relationship is. There is no one on earth that has the same combination of parents we share. Our relationships is unique - we are brothers. And when I think of Mikey, I think, “I love my brother.”
We don’t always agree. We don’t see each other a lot. But there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him. He’s my brother. Our relationships is special. And Obadiah is telling Edom, “You should’ve valued the special relationship you have with Israel. Instead, you chose violence.” What’s the point? Edom, THIS IS VERY WRONG. Which is why he says...
Shame shall cover you.
You shall be cut off forever (JUDGMENT IS COMING!).
He adds in verse 11...
On the day that you stood aloof,
on the day that strangers carried off his wealth
and foreigners entered his gates
and cast lots for Jerusalem,
you were like one of them.
What day is he talking about? Theologians give a few different options, but most agree Obadiah is picturing the Babylonians destroying Jerusalem in 586 BC. The same thing Jeremiah 39 writes about...
Meanwhile, the Babylonians burned Jerusalem, including the royal palace and the houses of the people, and they tore down the walls of the city.
On this day, the Edomites just stood by and watched. They had no regard for their family being destroyed. They did nothing. Which brings up a challenging application for us...
Sometimes doing nothing is WRONG.
Notice, I said “sometimes.” I say that because in our current culture, this “principle” can be WRONGLY applied with broad stokes. It can be done to incorrectly SHAME innocent people. Nevertheless, at other times, “Doing nothing IS WRONG.” When God calls us to help our neighbors, especially the oppressed, doing nothing is WRONG. And Edom did nothing to help their Israel and that was WRONG. In fact, Obadiah says, “In this case, you’re just as guilty as Babylon - the people actually hurting Israel!”
And now Obadiah gets specific. Over the next 4 verses, he mentions 8 specific “DO NOTs.” But before we read them, I want us to keep in mind two things:
These “DO NOTS” are spoken as if they are happening in the present. As if God were saying, in-the-moment, “Don’t do that!” But the reality is, Obadiah is speaking of a day that has already happened. EDOM IS ALREADY GUILTY. Which is why JUDGMENT IS COMING! If you will, they are being read the list of crimes committed before the sentencing is given.
As we progress thru the 8 “DO NOTS,” notice the level of WRONG increases! Which reminds us of something very important: We CANNOT manage sin. We never have it under control. It’s a PROBLEM that needs to be dealt with. Sin is no joke. It’s a slippery slope. And the level of WRONG will always increase!
Alright, let’s continue...
But do not gloat over the day of your brother
in the day of his misfortune;
do not rejoice over the people of Judah
in the day of their ruin;
do not boast
in the day of distress.
The first “DO NOT” is DO NOT “GLOAT” over your brother’s misfortune. To “gloat” is to “look down on someone with a sense of superiority.” And it’s a reference to the Edom’s pride problem we discussed last week. As Jerusalem was destroyed, they watched thinking, “If you were like us, this wouldn’t be happening.”
The second “DO NOT” is DO NOT “REJOICE” over their ruin. The third “DO NOT” is “BOAST” - or in the Hebrew language means, “Do not open up your mouth wide.” Considering these two together, Edom was loudly celebrating as their neighboring relatives were destroyed. Or, as we sometimes say today, “They added insult to injury.”
The “DO NOTS” continue in verse 13...
Do not enter the gate of my people
in the day of their calamity;
do not gloat over his disaster
in the day of his calamity;
do not loot his wealth
in the day of his calamity.
Here we begin to REALLY see the downward progression of evil - the increase of WRONG.
Guess what happened after they watched Babylon destroy their neighbors?
They went into the land of Israel and benefited from Israel’s misfortune. And Obadiah declares, “You should NOT have done that!”
They walked thru the rubble and continued their gloating… they looked at the destruction and loss of life, and thought, “I’m glad I’m not like these losers.” The prophet cries, “DO NOT do that!”
Then, they looted. Tornados just wrecked the communities in Kentucky. How terrible would it be for people to sift thru the destroyed homes looking for things they could steal for their own benefit? Well, that’s what Edom did and they shouldn’t have done that! IT IS WRONG!
But notice the phase Obadiah included here… he says, “DO NOT enter the gate of… what?… MY PEOPLE.” It’s not just WRONG because it’s your relative, but they were also God’s people! The WRONG has leveled up! When you do something to God’s people, you are doing something to God.
Jesus talked about this principle… He said...
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
And the prophet Ezekiel describes Edom’s deeds, the attitude of their heart, and God’s view on it…
“For you said, ‘The lands of Israel and Judah will be ours. We will take possession of them. What do we care that the Lord is there!’ Therefore, as surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I will pay back your angry deeds with my own. I will punish you for all your acts of anger, envy, and hatred. And I will make myself known to Israel by what I do to you. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have heard every contemptuous word you spoke against the mountains of Israel. For you said, ‘They are desolate; they have been given to us as food to eat!’ In saying that, you boasted proudly against me, and I have heard it all!
Essentially, Edom - YOU HAVE DONE WRONG. But their sinful progression further increases with the last set of DO NOTS...
Do not stand at the crossroads
to cut off his fugitives;
do not hand over his survivors
in the day of distress.
This is TERRIBLE. Their WRONG has hit an all-time high. What these last last two “DO NOTS” refer to is how the Edomites treated the few Israelites who escaped the initial destruction. Some were not killed by Babylonians. Some were not taken captives. Some got out … and ran towards Edom with the hope of refuge from their relatives. But instead… Edom:
Blocked the road of escape, and even killing some.
They captured others and handed them over to the Babylonians.
Ezekiel said it this way...
“Your eternal hatred for the people of Israel led you to butcher them when they were helpless, when I had already punished them for all their sins.
Do you see how slippery the slope of sin is? Edom started off prideful watching and doing NOTHING to help. They ended up actively participating in evil by killing their family. THIS IS WRONG!
And it’s why Obadiah rightfully proclaims, “JUDGMENT IS COMING! AND YOU DESERVE it!” He says, verse 15...
For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations.
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
your deeds shall return on your own head.
So, what’s the point of this passage? And what’s the application for us? Even more, what does this have to do with Christmas?
Well, let me first tell you, there IS a biblical application for us. Notice how verse 15 says, “For the day of the LORD (the day of judgment) is near (it’s coming)…” but check this out, “…upon ALL THE NATIONS.” You know who’s included in ALL NATIONS? You guessed it! We are! Merry Christmas! [you filthy animal - Home alone reference]
Just like we discussed last week:
Edom’s pride represents our pride.
Edom’s judgment represents our judgment.
And today, Edom’s sins represent our sins!
Therefore, we deserve judgment too!
Because think about it...
Like Edom, we too do NOTHING when people are WRONGED.
Like Edom, we too WRONGFULLY look down on people with PRIDE.
Like Edom, we too REJOICE when others SUFFER (Have you ever seen something bad happen to someone you don’t like and secret cheered, “YES!”).
Like Edom, we’ve capitalized on the loss of others.
Like Edom, we continue to live in our sins and allow it to get progressively WORSE.
And like Edom, we’ve stood at the crossroads of people’s lives and done them WRONG by handing them over to destruction.
That last one you might be thinking, “I don’t know about that… when have I done that?” Let me give you an example I often tell my boys...
I believe our lives are always pushing people in one of two directions: 1) Either towards God; or 2) Towards destruction. You might be thinking that’s overly harsh, but remember, there are somethings in this life where you can’t be neutral - WHERE EVEN DOING NOTHING IS WRONG. I believe this is one of those areas, especially for Christians. And Jesus thought the same thing...
“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.
As followers of Christ, the Bible says we are ambassadors - representatives - of God’s Kingdom. One of our responsibilities is to actively and intentionally move people into God’s Kingdom. The apostle Paul said...
So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
That means how we live matters, because our thoughts, words, and actions represent God’s Kingdom. Our lives impact others. Therefore, God puts us in the crossroads of people’s lives and commissions us to point people towards His Kingdom. But many times, we don’t do that...
Maybe we don’t take our faith seriously and people see that. And when they meet us, they think, “Why should I care about Jesus? They don’t… even though they sport River Church swag.”
Maybe we act just like the world (those doesn’t follow Jesus) and people see us and think, “Why should I change when they act just like me?”
I could go on, but do you see what I’m saying? We too are guilty of pushing people towards destruction when they meet us at the crossroads of life.
Edom’s sins represent our sins. And we deserve judgment just like they did.
So, what do we do? What’s our next step?
Response:
Response:
Janelle showed me about a TikTok Christmas Parental Tip: We should wrap up empty presents and leave them by the fireplace. Then, each time our child misbehaves, we throw the box into the fire. The goal is to motivate good behavior. If you’re good, you’ll get your presents. If not, the fires of judgment!
But… “Is this… Christmas?” Is Christmas about seasonal behavior modification? Honestly, it seems like it. And it’s easy to get caught up in this perspective. I did it the other day. One of my son’s misbehaved and I said, “If you don’t fix it, you’re losing a present.” Yes, your pastor is far from perfect. I need the gospel too! I need God’s word to correct me too!
Now, don’t get me wrong. I believe good behavior is commendable. I appreciate the seasonal motivation to treat our neighbors more kindly. It’s a taste of the Kingdom of God.
But is it what Christmas is about?
Staying off Santa’s naughty list?
And is this the application of Obadiah’s prophecy to us today? “Be on your best behavior so God won’t judge you!”
I mean… it kinda syncs with our current perspective on Christmas and gift giving...
… but that perspective is WRONG. Another sub-theme of Obadiah’s passage is that all of Edom’s WRONGS DO NOT represent GOD’S HEART - WHICH IS WHY THEY’RE WRONG! Because...
God cares about the oppressed and acts on their behalf.
God doesn’t rejoice over the destruction of the wicked.
And God never pushes people towards destruction, but is always calling people (of all nations) into heavenly reconciliation.
And Christmas is not the season of motivating good behavior. It’s the season of celebrating the fact that though we DESERVE JUDGMENT FOR OUR SINS (OUR WRONGS), that was NOT GOD’S HEART FOR US.
God loves us. And Jesus came to earth that first Christmas to SAVE us from our sins. And to eventually take the judgment we deserve upon Himself, on the Cross, so we can be free to LIVE!
And the true reason we should give Christmas gifts is not because our kids are good and deserve it. It’s because it reminds us of the GIFT God - His Son, Jesus Christ - a gift we don’t deserve it!
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
[As the worship team comes up]… Let me encourage you, this Christmas, stop trying to be good. Instead, run to the God who loves you, surrender your life to the Savior, and receive His gift of eternal life.
Some of us need to do that for the first time. Maybe we’ve thought, “I need to get my life right - to be good - then I’ll become a Christian. Because, if I’m on Jesus’s good list, then He’ll give me the gift of eternal life.” That may be how Santa works. That’s not how Jesus works. The Kingdom of God is built on love and grace - You get gifts you don’t deserve because God loves you.
And some of us are already Christians but still trying to “be good.” Again, hear me out. God calls us to live RIGHT. But that doesn’t happen through behavior modification. It happens by giving full control over to the Holy Spirit.
Paul told the Ephesians...
Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
Let me say it this way (which I think is biblically acceptable): Don’t be drunk with wine, but be drunk with the Holy Spirit.
That doesn’t mean act all crazy and say it’s the Holy Spirit’s fault. The sense is, in the same way too much alcohol can take over how you act, let the Holy Spirit take over instead! When we do, we’ll start to live RIGHT, because Galatians 5 says...
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
…these are the natural result - the fruit that’s produced - when the Holy Spirit is in control.
If you remember anything from today’s Christmas sermon, remember this: Christmas is not about doing good. It’s celebrating the Savior who has come for sinners! And it’s about receiving, by faith, forgiveness and eternal life as an undeserved Gift from God. That’s what Christmas is all about!
Let’s pray...
Jesus, we know we are sinners who deserve judgment. We see ourselves in the story of Edom. We have not lived with Your heart. But this Christmas, we’re ready to change. We’re ready to surrender to the Savior, so we can live by the power of the Spirit. By faith, we want to receive Your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Please save me. Change my heart to be more like Yours. In Jesus name, amen.
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