The Book of Obadiah
During the Christmas time, I have spent some times to study several books in the bible which I am not familar in the past. One of these is the book of Obadiah.
The book of Obadiah is a prophecy against Edom. The Edomites are the descendents of Esau, while the Israeli are the descendents of Jacob, the brother of Esau. The Israeli share its southern border with the Edomites. Yet instead of being brothers with one another, there are constant hatred between the two nations, and the Edomites was an enemy and a constant threat to the Kingdom of Israel. The Year 586BC was the fall of the Southern Kingdom Judah to Babylon. Instead of helping Judah to fight against Babylon, the Edomites did not come to help when the city of Jersulem was besiged, and rejoiced when the city was destroy. Obadiah pronounce the judgement of Edom, and the restoration of Israeli. History has shown that God has wiped out the Edomites during the the 1st century AD, and the judgement for Edom was therefore fulfulled.
Edom was proud of their high position, and they thought that their city was impregnable. Yet when God's judgement fall, nobody can escaped no matther how powerful they were.
The following are the commentary by David Pawson, which give me additional insight. Though I don't buy the argument that the restoration of Kingdom of Israeli in 1948 is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, as His Kingdom is in heaven, not on earth at present time.
'In the Epistle of Hebrews,Christians are told not to be like Esau, who sold his birthright for the red bean soup, and wept afterwards. He was full of regret and remorse, but never able to repent. While for Jacob, he wrestled with God until God made him lame. But he got the blessing, and it is from Jacob that God's people came. Instead we must be a Jacob. Esau lived for the present, for the immediate satisfaction of his physical desires, and he lost his future. They don't care about the future; they are only concerned about the satisfication of their desires in the present. The Book of Obadiah encourages us to be a Jacob - the man who was broken by God and became a prince, and whose name Israel is now the map again, after 2000 years'
Maybe ultimately in our heart we are similar to The Edomites and Esau, who only care about our present position or immediate satisfication. So many time because of our present needs, we will turn a blind eye and cold towards the brothers and sisters who are in need. We shouldn't be proud and be the one who add on the other misery. Rather, we should be like Jacob and the Israeli, though there are times where God broke up our lives, as God has destroyed the Kingdom of Israeli, He will restore us when we repent and grasp hold of Him.
Besides, when our nation turn away from Him, God will punish. This serve as a reminder to the nation where I belong to. Hope my nation can turn to Christ and filled every corner with justice and love, not money and power.
The book of Obadiah is a prophecy against Edom. The Edomites are the descendents of Esau, while the Israeli are the descendents of Jacob, the brother of Esau. The Israeli share its southern border with the Edomites. Yet instead of being brothers with one another, there are constant hatred between the two nations, and the Edomites was an enemy and a constant threat to the Kingdom of Israel. The Year 586BC was the fall of the Southern Kingdom Judah to Babylon. Instead of helping Judah to fight against Babylon, the Edomites did not come to help when the city of Jersulem was besiged, and rejoiced when the city was destroy. Obadiah pronounce the judgement of Edom, and the restoration of Israeli. History has shown that God has wiped out the Edomites during the the 1st century AD, and the judgement for Edom was therefore fulfulled.
Edom was proud of their high position, and they thought that their city was impregnable. Yet when God's judgement fall, nobody can escaped no matther how powerful they were.
The following are the commentary by David Pawson, which give me additional insight. Though I don't buy the argument that the restoration of Kingdom of Israeli in 1948 is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, as His Kingdom is in heaven, not on earth at present time.
'In the Epistle of Hebrews,Christians are told not to be like Esau, who sold his birthright for the red bean soup, and wept afterwards. He was full of regret and remorse, but never able to repent. While for Jacob, he wrestled with God until God made him lame. But he got the blessing, and it is from Jacob that God's people came. Instead we must be a Jacob. Esau lived for the present, for the immediate satisfaction of his physical desires, and he lost his future. They don't care about the future; they are only concerned about the satisfication of their desires in the present. The Book of Obadiah encourages us to be a Jacob - the man who was broken by God and became a prince, and whose name Israel is now the map again, after 2000 years'
Maybe ultimately in our heart we are similar to The Edomites and Esau, who only care about our present position or immediate satisfication. So many time because of our present needs, we will turn a blind eye and cold towards the brothers and sisters who are in need. We shouldn't be proud and be the one who add on the other misery. Rather, we should be like Jacob and the Israeli, though there are times where God broke up our lives, as God has destroyed the Kingdom of Israeli, He will restore us when we repent and grasp hold of Him.
Besides, when our nation turn away from Him, God will punish. This serve as a reminder to the nation where I belong to. Hope my nation can turn to Christ and filled every corner with justice and love, not money and power.
posted by justanotherbrotherinchrist | 11:53 pm
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