King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Sunday June 30, 2024
Chapters: Obadiah 1, Psalms Chapters 82-83
Message: God’s Call to Repentance
Hello My Friend,
Did you know that while Jesus knows He will return to earth, even He does not know when that will be? This is what makes the trinity of God so great, while God, the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all one person, yet each one is individual and necessary in order to serve a purpose, just like we are, [Matthew 24:35-37 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.]
If you recall, the days of Noah were pretty bad, in fact, they were so bad that only eight people had one iota of faithfulness to Him. Most of them did not believe in Him and those who did had no idea how to worship Him so they never fully trusted Him. In fact, it grieved God to see how evil mankind had gotten, [Genesis 6:5-8 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.]
Thankfully, it only takes the faith of one person to move God’s heart, which is why we are still here. There will come a day when Jesus will return and the entire earth will be destroyed and not with a flood, but with fire. Jesus, is awaiting the last soul to receive Him and when that happens that is when God will give the order, [2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.]
The Book of Obadiah is the smallest book of the Old Testament, having one chapter and only twenty-one verses, but it sends a powerful message. The author of the book is Obadiah and it was written to Edom, descendants of Esau and brother of Jacob. The timeline for these events took place approximately 900 BC and 880 BC. The purpose of the book was to warn Edom of God’s punishment for going against Israel. What we are to learn from the book is that God brings down every nation that has sinfully exalts themselves, [Obadiah 1:4 Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.]
Obadiah, was in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the time that Ahab reigned and it was near impossible to find a person who followed God there. While it was being judged with famines and other calamities, Edom, was conspiring to take the land for themselves. This was God’s message given to Obadiah concerning Edom.
[Obadiah 1:1-4 The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. 2 Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised. 3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? 4 Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.]
[and an ambassador is sent among the heathen,] Do you know that all of Christ’s saints are His ambassadors sent out among the heathen to tell them how they can escape the judgment of death and hell, [2 Corinthians 5:20-21 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.]
God, was giving this warning to Edom well before they actually did many of the things they did. You see, God always knows what is going on, just like He foretold the destructive path of Israel, He knows the destructive path of every other nation. As much as God grieves over Israel and how most of them have turned on Him that does not mean that He will not defend them at all cost, and attack them while they are weak, that is of course, unless it is under His terms. God, tells them why He is judging them.
[Obadiah 1:5-8 If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes? 6 How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up! 7 All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him. 8 Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?]
[would they not have stolen till they had enough?] When thieves break into a house they take whatever they see in sight that is of value, they come for specific things, leaving the rest behind. In similar contrast, during a harvest whenever the reapers reap the crops they will leave some behind. Do you know that both of these illustrations symbolizes what will take place when Christ returns? One; Jesus, will come here as a thief in the night and He is only gathering His people, the rest will be left behind, [Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.]
And two; Out of all the people that have come and gone and will come until Christ returns only a remnant will be reaped from the judgment, [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.]
[even destroy…understanding out of the mount of Esau?] God, is warning Edom that not only will He utterly destroy those who thought themselves to be wise, He has taken away their ability to reason as well. This is what God does to all the “wise”, they are so smart that they have become fools because they overthink things, they go too far in their attempts to know how God does things. So, He gives them up to their reprobate minds, [Romans 1:22-23,28 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;]
You see, Esau, fully knowing who God is, never accepted Him, then he passed that on to his descendants and now they despised Israel, who was supposed to be family. As Israel was being judged, they laughed and mocked them, and even conspired to get their land, and this is what God confronts them about.
[Obadiah 1:12-15 But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress. 13 Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity; 14 Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress. 15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.]
[Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway,] Saved, born again Christians have a responsibility to preach the Gospel to the lost, meaning the sinless death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In fact, Jesus commands us to tell all the world about Him, [Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.]
That baptism that Jesus is talking about is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, salvation is a free gift given to every believer of the Gospel through their faith in Christ alone, once they accept Him as their Saviour they are spiritually baptized with the Holy Spirit, [1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.]
[thy reward shall return upon thine own head.] Wow, I never put all this together before, but this is all a call to repentance. While God never denies anyone salvation who comes to Him sincerely, He does have a message for those who reject Him and mock those who do receive Him, [Psalms 82:1-6 A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. 2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. 3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. 5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.]
[he judgeth among the gods.] This is not referring to the man made gods here, this is referring to rulers of nations. Whether they like to believe it or not, all nations are under God’s control. He knows exactly what is going on, and regardless of how it all looks, God is watching over His people who are in the midst of them. As God continues reprimanding Edom on their behavior toward Israel, He foretells its destruction and also has a message of hope for Israel.
[Obadiah 1:17-19,21 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. 18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it. 19 And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. 21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.]
[But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance,] Much of this refers to the Jews returning from Babylon after being in captivity for seventy years. There is also a prophetic message here of a king who will judge from Mount Zion, and that is none other than Christ Himself. He will reign with perfect and just judgment, and those who receive Him will be delivered, and actually reign with Him. However, those who do not will be like rubble, and even death will not even save them, [Revelation 9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.]
[shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau;] Did you know that God despises Edom or Esau? He despises anyone who is willing to sell their soul for what the world has, [Romans 9:13-16 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.]
You see, God, may be merciful and gracious, but He is also a jealous God. One can believe what they want and has every right to choose or deny Christ, but if they choose Him then He expects them to be faithful to Him, [Deuteronomy 4:23-24 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee. 24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.]
Edom, had the same opportunities that Israel had, in fact, God had given them the land that they were on. However, they were proud of their wealth, riches, and strength as a nation and had allies all over the world so they thought they were secure and that no one could defeat them. On top of that they mocked Israel and even took advantage of them when they were weak. God, on the other hand was about to prove them otherwise. Psalm 83, was written during the time Jehoshaphat’s army marched out against the confederacy of nations, which threatened the very existence of the country of Israel. It was an altar call for God to send judgment upon them.
[Psalms 83:1-6,9-10 A Song or Psalm of Asaph. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. 2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. 4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. 5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: 6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; 9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: 10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.]
[Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation;] The names all the nations that conspired against Israel are listed here, along with Edom. The Ishmaelites were descendants of Ismael, Abraham’s first son from Hagar. Hagar, went on to marry a man of whom she had children with known as the Hagarenes. Moab and Ammon were descendants of Lot, the Amalek’s and Philistines were enemies of Israel, of who God used quite often to send judgment. God’s, intention in judging these nations was not to destroy them completely, rather get them to repent as the Psalm concludes.
[Psalms 83:14-18 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; 15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. 17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: 18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.]
[that they may seek thy name, O LORD.] In this evil world, that gets more evil by the day, people need to hear that there is hope, that all this pain and suffering does have an end for those who seek Christ and call upon His name. In order to do that they must first admit that they are a sinner and regardless of how much we have sinned, there is still hope for us beyond the grave, [1 Peter 3:15-16 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Obadiah 1:15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.]
Today’s Prayer: God, You have blessed us with so much, You have given eternal life to all who believe in and receive Your Son. And not only that, You make us one of Your very own upon our faith instantly. How merciful and wonderful You are, to save us sinners who call on Christ to save us. He not only saves us from hell, but out of every mess that we have gotten ourselves into when we come to Him. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your mercy, grace, and hedge of protection everywhere I go. Help me let go of pride, to come to You with every decision I make, and give me the wisdom to discern right from wrong in every matter. Keep me looking to Jesus as I endure this life with You and let me never lose hope that all I know and love will find Your Son and receive Him. I love You, and ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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