#92 “Great Intercessors of the Bible”

(Obadiah – Servant of Yahweh)

“Because of the violence against your brother Jacob,

you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever.

On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth

and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem,

you were like one of them."

(Obadiah 1:10-12)

New King James Version (NKJV)

In this lesson we will look at the life of intercession of the Prophet Obadiah, whose name means, “Servant of God” although some believe it to mean, “Worshiper of God” either way it all translates the same, as we are worshipers of God and His servants as well. What is even more interesting about his name is that God chose him to deliver a message of destruction to Edom because of their refusal to come to the aid of their brothers Judah (Praise).

That fact that these two nations were related because of Jacob and Esau there was no reason whatever that Edom would refuse to help in a time of need yet they did. Not only that but they stood by and watch while foreign nations attacked Judah. Therefore God judged Edom because they allowed bitterness and indifference to cause them to disobey God’s Principle Law, “Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself.” Now the Edomits were not under the law of Moses yet they were still responsible to God, because they knew they were close relatives to Judah and for conscience sake should have known they were braking God’s law of love.

I guess one could say that most of us are guilty of this crime from time to time. In our society today many people out of fear of retaliation refuse to get involved when they hear or see a crime being committed. What we fail to realize is that this is an immoral act and we too can be judged by God as a result. “The one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it is sinning” (James 4:17) Many times I’ve heard people say, “Why does America always run to the rescue of weaker nations when they are being attacked?” Well whether we like it or not America is obeying the principle law of the Lord… “Love your brother, as you love yourself.” Also, “But whoever has this world's good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him?.” Obadiah was the right man for this task, of letting Edom know that God was going to judge them for their willful refusal to help their kinsman. Not only this but they were being judged for their pride and arrogance, they felt that they were better than Judah.

In fact they were glad that it was Judah being attacked and not they themselves, they were actually celebrating the fact of Judah’s trouble. “You should not gloat over your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much, in the day of their trouble.” (Obadiah 1:12) as if that wasn’t bad enough when the children of Israel (Judah) fled for their attackers Edom captured them and sold them into slavery. “You should not march through the gates of my people in the day of their disaster, nor gloat over them in their calamity in the day of their disaster, nor seize their wealth in the day of their disaster. You should not wait at the crossroads to cut down their fugitives, nor hand over their survivors in the day of their trouble.”(Obadiah 1:13-14)

So now you must face the “Day of the Lord” the day of God’s judgment against you! “The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head. Just as you drank on my holy hill, so all the nations will drink continually; they will drink and drink and be as if they had never been. But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy, and Jacob will possess his inheritance. Jacob will be a fire and Joseph a flame; Esau will be stubble and they will set him on fire and destroy him. There will be no survivors from Esau.” The LORD has spoken.” (Obadiah 1:15-18)

Sometimes I think we forget that there is a law of ‘Reciprocity’ you reap what you sow, but trust me my friend there is. This is what Edom was getting ready to learn the hard way. What we must remember is that God has promised to protect His children and that means all of them. When we perpetrate some offense against one of God’s children we will have to pay the cost of our deeds or actions…there’s no exception to the rule. The interesting thing about the Law of Reciprocity is this it works both ways…or perhaps I should say cuts both ways. Whether your deeds are good or bad you will be repaid for them.

"People from the Negev will occupy the mountains of Esau, and people from the foothills will possess the land of the Philistines. They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria and Benjamin will possess Gilead. This company of Israelite exiles who are in Canaan will possess the land as far as Zarephath; the exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the towns of the Negev. Deliverers will go up on[c] Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau and the kingdom will be the LORD’s.” (Obadiah 1:19-21) God final word was total destruction for Edom there would be no survivors once His judgment was completed.

My Prayer: Father, forgive us for those times when we stood idle by and watch as our brother or sisters were being attacked by the enemy and did nothing in their defense, forgive us for not intervening on their behalf , yet expected You to defend us in our time of trouble. We’re sorry and will strive to do better in the future. Help us to walk in love towards our brothers and sisters no matter what they may do or say just you continue to love us no matter what we do. Thank you Father for Your mercy and grace on our behalf we pray in Jesus’ name Amen!!!

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!

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