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Applications From Obadiah
(All Scripture quotes from NAS)
The book is a judgment against Edom for their sins against Israel. There is no offer of conditions for mercy or warning to repent. The book seems to be more to console Israel than to plead with Edom.
The nation of Edom came from Esau and the nation of Israel from his younger twin brother, Jacob. The struggle between the two had a prenatal origin, as they wrestled in the womb (Genesis 25:22). It continued when Esau sold his birthright and Jacob stole his blessing.
Fundamentally, they were brethren; Israel was not to hate them or take their land (Deuteronomy 2:5-8; 23:7). However, the reconciliation of the brothers did not survive to their ancestors; they did not act like brethren. The OT record is full of references to the rift between them. Most notably, the Edomites would not allow Israel to pass through their land during the Exodus (Numbers 20:14).
James 4:13-15 Come now, you
who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend
a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be
like tomorrow. You are just a vapor
that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and
also do this or that." But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such
boasting is evil.
Pride
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Self righteousness
("that's a good lesson for somebody else to hear")
Luke 18:9-14 And He also told this parable to some people
who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with
contempt: "Two men went up into the
temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. "The Pharisee stood and was praying this
to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers,
unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all
that I get.' "But the tax
collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes
to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the
sinner!' "I tell you, this man went
to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself
will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Delusion that our associates will save us. The strength of others in the church is not transferred to those who would continue in sin. Living in a henhouse does not make you chicken. We are judged on our own. Ananias and Sapphira were not spared by the faithfulness of their associates.
Acts 5:11-13 And great fear came over the whole church,
and over all who heard of these things.
At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place
among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico. But none of the rest dared to associate with
them; however, the people held them in high esteem.
Acts 14:3 Therefore they spent a long time there
speaking
boldly with reliance upon the Lord,
who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be
done by their hands.
Not to be confused with
arrogance or dogmatism.
1 Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God;
whoever serves is to do so as one
who is serving by the strength which God
supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and
ever. Amen.
Acts 9: 22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the
Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Lack of involvement. Doing nothing: the one-talent man.
James 4:16 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it
is sin.
Matthew 25:25 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your
talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.'
Participation in evil by
consent
2 John 10, 11 If anyone comes to you and does not bring
this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a
greeting participates in his evil deeds.
The truth of the gospel
is daily under attack. If we do not
defend the truth when error is taught, we become false teachers by our apathy.
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the
flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing
raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of
Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is
complete.
Sadistic joy in the misfortunes of others
Romans 12:9-15 Let love be without hypocrisy.
Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in
brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in
diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering
in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints,
practicing hospitality. Bless those who
persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice
with those who rejoice, and weep with those
who weep.
Lack of brotherly love.
Titus 3:1-3 Remind them to
be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every
good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every
consideration for all men. For we also once were foolish ourselves,
disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our
life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
Romans 12:17-21 Never pay back
evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be
at peace with all men. Never take your
own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I
will repay," says the Lord.
"But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give
him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good.
Reaping what was sown.
Galatians 6:7,8 Do not be
deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also
reap. For the one who sows to his own
flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit
will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Hebrews 12:25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is
speaking. For if those did not escape
when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape
who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.
Romans 11:2-6 God has not rejected His people whom He
foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage
about Elijah, how he pleads with God
against Israel? "Lord, they have
killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and
they are seeking my life." But what
is the divine response to him? "I have kept for Myself seven thousand men
who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according
to God's gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the
basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
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