Today you should read: Obadiah 1:1-14
Today we start a new book in our current reading of the Minor Prophets. Let me give you a little background on Obadiah before you get started.
Obadiah is a book telling about the judgment of Edom and the restoration of God’s people – Israel. It’s the shortest book in the Old Testament. Edom is a mountainous land south of Judea and the Dead Sea. Edom was inhabited by the descendants of Esau – Isaac’s oldest son. This prophecy was written sometime between 800 and 500 B.C. Obadiah was a contemporary of the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 18:1-16 – you should read this!).
Elijah went to appear before Ahab. Meanwhile, the famine had become very severe in Samaria. So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Obadiah was a devoted follower of the LORD. Once when Jezebel had tried to kill all the LORD’s prophets, Obadiah had hidden 100 of them in two caves. He put fifty prophets in each cave and supplied them with food and water.) 1 Kings 18:2-4
Enough history – now to chapter 1:1-14 – go ahead – read it.
Some very applicable highlights…
Verse 3: You have been deceived by your own pride…
This is not the first time this has happened. Actually it happens all the time. The first time is recorded in Isaiah 14:12-14.
“How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’”
Who is this narrative about Bible students? Lucifer – Satan himself … but it could have been said about me or you. Whenever we’re deceived by sin – pride is to blame. We think God owes us or that we’re smarter than God Himself.
How is this true of you? What’s your greatest risk in this area?
Verse 1: We have heard a message from the LORD…
Does God speak to His children? Yes!
After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. John 10:4
When’s the last time you heard the voice of your Shepherd? God wants to give direction to your life (Proverbs 3:5-6). To hear Him, you must get quiet and listen. Every day I pray two things… God give me ears to hear your voice and courage to obey what you tell me!
Are you listening for your Shepherd’s Voice? Or… are you too busy – have everything under control – really don’t need His direction. It’s one or the other.
Verse 1: An ambassador was sent to the nations to say, “Get ready, everyone!
Even though this was more than 500 years before Jesus came to earth to save His people from their sins, it sounds a lot like the Gospel. This sounds like what we’re commanded to do – go as an ambassador (a representative of God) and tell people to get ready. Get ready for judgment – get ready to meet God.
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:19-21
What kind of representative are you? How seriously do you take your job? How successful are you at it?
The book of Obadiah – even though it was written a long time ago – still has a message for us today. What did God say to you through it and what are you going to do about it TODAY?
Posted by: Tim Parsons
JumpstartCPC.com 