KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Chapters: Obadiah 1
Message: The Right Choices Today For Tomorrow
Hello My Friend,
The Book of Obadiah contains one chapter, the author of the book is Obadiah and it was written to the people of Edom, descendents of Esau, Jacob’s brother. The time line for these events took place approximately between 900BC and 880BC. The purpose of the book was to warn Edom of God’s punishment for being a sinful nation and against His people. What we are to learn from the book is that God brings down all whom have been sinfully exalted. “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 1:4.
Obadiah was in the Northern Kingdom during the time that Ahab reigned and it was near impossible to find a godly person. God did not send Obadiah to prophecy in Israel, but Edom. While Israel was being judged with famines and other calamities, Edom was conspiring to take the land for themselves, of course, God who sees and knows all was not happy with what they were doing, therefore, they too will face judgment.
“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. Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised. 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? 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 1:1-4.
“thence will I bring thee down,” Edom was proud of their wealth and riches, much of it gotten deceitfully, they had a great military, and allies so they thought they were secure and that no enemy could defeat them. No one can escape judgment, we will all stand before Christ, pride is always deceiving, and will destroy us if we let it.
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.” – Proverbs 16:18-20.
God was giving this warning well before Edom 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 nation. As God continues reprimanding Edom on their behavior toward Israel, He reminds them that they are brothers and should have been there to help, not hurt them.
“For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever. In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them. 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.” – Obadiah 1:10-12.
“even thou wast as one of them.” Some of our biggest enemies are family and friends because they can hinder and even contribute to our fall with their envy toward us. Edom never got over the fact that God chose Israel over them, but let me tell you, all they had to do was turn to Him and He would have taken care of them just like He took care of their brother. We do not have to be enemies, Christ died for all, not just a select few, and He will save all who come to Him, regardless of what family they are born into. Every saved person becomes one with God and part of His family.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” – Romans 8:14-17.
The message of Obadiah gives a sense of assurance, encouragement, and hope to the people of God, if Edom would have chosen God, they too would have been saved. Even when faced with overwhelming odds, the justice of God and assurance of His faithfulness gives us courage that the principles of right and wrong never fail. While all of Israel too would face judgment, there was still hope for them.
“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. For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been. But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. 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.” – Obadiah 1:15-18..
“For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen:” We must realize that nothing escapes God, He knows everything and sees everything that is going to happen tomorrow with the choices we make today. Let me tell you, we all have the ability to change our paths, every soul that has not been redeemed has a future in hell, God made it easier for us to be redeemed once and for all through His Son, and it is up to each one of us to make that choice.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – Romans 10:9-13.
Today’s Prayer: God, You have blessed us with so much, You have given life to all who believe in and receive Your Son. We are saved only by trusting in His death, burial, and resurrection, and He not only saves us from hell, but out of every mess that we have gotten ourselves into if we come to Him. How merciful You are, how wonderful You are, to save a sinner like me. Thank You, Jesus, and thank You God for giving me the opportunity to repent of my dead works and enjoy a new found, abundant, never boring, life with You in it. I love You Lord, and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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