Obadiah - Frank Brancato 6/25/06

While Christians today are not under the Old Testament, as a

system of justification, the Old Testament, is still of Great

Value to you. And I today, for as we find from

the words of the great Apostle Paul so long ago, as he was

divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit and wrote the Roman

letter. He said in Romans chapter 15 and

Romans 15 · chapter mention

verse 4 for whatsoever, things were written aforetime were

written for our learning. That we through patience and

comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

And you remember as the Apostle Paul, the very same author

inspired by the very same, holy spirit of God, wrote to the

young evangelist Timothy and second Timothy 3 and verses 16

and 17. When he said that all scripture

is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine

for reproof for correction for instruction, in righteousness.

That the man of God, God may be perfect or complete thoroughly

furnished unto all. Good works what Paul said there.

So long ago is this, that all things that are found in the 66

books of the entire Bible are God breathed that all scripture

comes from the very inspiration of God.

And when you and I picked up this grand old book today and we

read, what's found in God's word?

It is as if God through the Holy Spirit was Is speaking to us

directly the things that are found in God's word, are all

those things that are god-breathed and Paul said to

Timothy that its profitable for Doctrine for reproof for

correction for instruction in righteousness.

That the man of God may be complete thoroughly furnished

unto all good works. This is especially true with

regard to the Minor Prophets, The Minor Prophets are the 12

books of the last 12 books. The Old Testament scriptures and

they begin with Hosea and end with the Book of Malachi.

I am convinced though today that those that are willing to study

these books, will as one man said one time and I'll just pass

it on. They will be able to have their

lives enriched as they increase number one, their knowledge of

God's holiness his righteousness, his judgment and

his Mercy, we will And our lives enriched as we increase our

understanding of God's dealings in the nation of man.

And finally in certainly not least, we will find our lives

enriched as we increase our appreciation for the Bible as a

literary Masterpiece. But the question is, who were

the prophets? First of all, let me just say

this under the old Covenant, under the law of Moses, they had

different kinds of instructors of instructors, And we'll just

begin with Moses. Since we've just mentioned his

name, Moses was the lawgiver. But also the Bible says and

teaches us and we can study from God's word that under the law of

Moses or under the old Covenant. There were priests and the

priests were administrators of the law.

Then, there were wise, men, and wise.

Men were those who gave Council then.

There were psalmist. And the psalmist were the poets

or Week singers of Israel. And finally, there were the

prophets and the prophets were communicators of the word of

God. Simply put, I'll just say this

that a prophet was the spokesman for another.

Do you remember not long ago probably about a month ago?

Now we spoke on a subject or I preached a sermon in your

hearing about the excuses that Moses made when God said, I've

heard the Cry of my people, their cry has come unto me.

And I am going to deliver them from Egyptian bondage but he

said this is how I'm going to do it.

I'm going to send you, Moses and you are going to speak to the

people. And one of the excuses that

Moses make so long ago was this. I can't do it.

I'm not the right man for the job.

Surely I could not stand before man and communicate your will to

them because I'm not an eloquent man.

I am slow of speech. I am slow.

Whoa of tongue. But you know, God knew all that

God knew his shortcomings. God knew what he was out, what

he was able to do and new his capabilities.

So he said this, he said there's going to be a spokesman for you

and his name is your brother. Aaron in Exodus chapter 4 and

Exodus 4 · chapter mention

verses 15 and 16 it says and thou shalt speak unto him and

put words in his mouth and I will be with thy mouth and With

his mouth and will teach you what you shall do and he shall

be thy spokesman unto the people and he shall be even he shall be

to thee instead of a mouth and thou shalt be to him.

Instead of God, the word Prophet as defined.

I understand literally means to boil up like a fountain and

these profits while they were under the influence of the holy

spirit of God, they were the spokesman for God.

I'm in second Peter chapter 1 and verse 21.

2 Peter 1 · chapter mention

You remember that Peter said for the prophecy came not in Old

Time by the will of man but by holy men of God spake as they

were moved by the Holy Ghost. You know I love this.

I'm going to pass it on something.

I read somebody said one time, maybe you've heard it.

But a fellow said one time, there's two kinds of preachers.

I think this is true. There really is and the two

kinds of preachers are these. There's the good preacher and

there's the poor preacher and then he said, this is how you

can tell between a good preacher and a poor creature, it's not

one who is eloquent speech and one who's a great orator makes

him a good preacher and one who doesn't have great speaking

ability. Makes him a poor preacher.

No, he said that what makes a good Sure is one who has

something to say. While the poor preacher simply

has to say something and that's the difference, but then he said

this, there's a third and even higher class of preacher.

And that's the man who has something to say, and it burns

down deep within him. And he can't stay put and he

can't be still. And he has to say it thus were

the prophets of God. Jeremiah A whale represents this

latter class as he explains his feelings, you remember his

complaint in Jeremiah chapter 20 beginning in verse 7, listen to

Jeremiah 20 · chapter mention

these words he said O Lord thou Hast deceive me and I was

deceived Thou Art stronger than I and Hast prevailed.

I am in derision daily. Everyone Market me for, since I

spake, I cried out, I cried violence and I cried spoil.

Because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me and a

derision daily. Then I said, I will not make

mention anymore in his name, but notice what happened to Jeremiah

the very next words are these. But his word was in my heart as

burning fire, shut up in my bones and I was weary with

forbearing and I could not stay thus were the prophets.

Of God. Well, how are the prophets

classified in the Bible? There are classified into

different classifications and they are these, there were the

oral prophets and then there were the literary prophets.

Well, it's quite obvious who would be the oral prophets and

who would be the literary prophets, or what was the

difference? Here's the difference.

The oral prophets were still the spokesman for God and they went

out as for Taylor's and forth. Tellers to convey the Words of

God, that God wanted them to do so.

But the oral prophets were the ones that did not bear any

writings in their name. Simply put, they are these.

I'll just give you a couple of examples, though.

We could cite a whole lot of them today.

The Prophet Elijah was one who fell under the category of his

of an oral Prophet. The Prophet Elijah, Nathan Gad,

and many, many others. They were ones with that were

the spokesman for Oh God, it, boiled up like a fountain within

them and they conveyed the word of God.

But they did not have any writings bearing, their names

simply put. Now we understand what a

literary. Profit is a literary, prophets.

Are those that had writings that bore their names and of those

literary prophets. They are categorized into

different categories. The Major Prophets, and the

Minor Prophets, but let's understand something.

Today, when I say Major Prophets and I say Minor Prophets, it

doesn't mean that the major prophets were more important

than the Minor Prophets. And it does not mean that the

Minor Prophets were inferior in any way by way of importance, by

way of the man, as the prophet, or even the message that was

being conveyed. It does not mean that they were

inferior to the Major Prophets. It simply is referring to the

length of their writing. The major prophets, were these

Isaiah, Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel and Daniel were the

major prophets and in the Minor Prophets.

As we mentioned, a moment ago, it begets, the last 12 books of

the 39 books of the Old Testament scripture beginning

with Hosea and they were Hosea, Joel, Amos Obadiah Jonah.

Micah Nahum habakkuk Zephaniah haggai, Zechariah and Malachi

the last 12 books. Acts of the Old Testament,

scriptures made up the Minor Prophets.

Now today, let's begin with the prophet Obadiah.

I am convinced that this was written in the 9th century,

during the early Assyrian period in about 845 BC.

I also understand that it is it is really probably unlikely to

pin down for sure between these two dates but some say that in

586 BC that this letter was written, or this book was

written solely. Long ago, but I contend that it

was the earlier date. And I think context wise

supports that, that would make this writing the earliest of

all, of the prophets of the Minor Prophets in 845 BC.

Historically, speaking, you remember that?

This was during the period of the divided Kingdom in Israel's

history to the north, and to the east.

The Empire of Assyria was beginning to make its presence

known in Israel. Let me Just say this.

Who was Obadiah? And I am convinced that it's not

possible to know, for sure, who the prophet Obadiah was, though.

There are many names or many times, when the word or name

Obadiah is mentioned, was it talking about Ahab servant?

So on was it talking about another occasion in second,

chronicles, 17, and 7, we don't know.

But one man said this about Obadiah, it's not necessary that

we understand who, the man was what's necessary, is we

understand what his message was. Us.

And that's what we have. We find very little in God's

word. In fact, we find nothing in

God's word about this particular Obadiah that wrote this book, so

long ago. Let me just give you the message

really quickly. The message of this prophecy was

simply this the fall of Edom, and there's a reason for the

fall of Edom. It's going to be because of its

sinful pride. And let me just say this

whatever was wrong. Back in 8, 45 BC with regards to

Pride is going to be wrong it with you.

And I today as we live in this Christian Life it has always

been wrong. In fact, you remember when Satan

and a third of the hosts of Heaven were cast out because of

their sinful pride pride. The Bible says, goes before

destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

So why was Edom going to be brought down and destroyed?

Why was judgment going to come on the people or the Edomites

that dwelt in that land simply put because of their sinful

Pride, number one and number two because of their cruelty to

Israel. They're cousins you know those

are two things and two themes that ring true today, you can't

have any pride and be acceptable in the eyes of God.

And you certainly cannot be cruel to your fellow man.

Those were things that Jesus taught in the Christian

dispensation before the church was established, Jesus preached

about those things, all those things came into effect in Acts.

The second chapter when the church was established and those

things are wrong today as they were wrong.

So long ago, here's more of the message, Zion would be exalted.

When Mount Isa or Mount seir, which was the Edomite

counterpart design would be cast down.

And when that happens, that's going to happen.

When the rescued of Israel will be in, Zion listen for in it.

The redeemed shall be found. Does that sound like something

else that we know about? In Zion is where the redeemed

would be. Found there's a picture of

something there that Obadiah wrote so long ago and 8:45 BC

will get back to that in Greater detail in just a little while.

But the history of Edom, the people of Edom descended from

Esau Jacob's twin, brother, their sibling rivalry between

Edom. And Israel, though was found,

first in the Twins and Esau and Jacob in their mother's womb,

you Remember the 25th chapter of the Book of Genesis?

We find that the twins struggled in their mother's womb.

You remember also before that though, that Isaac and treated

the Lord for Rebecca because Rebecca was bearing and the

Bible says that she conceived. But the two twins, these two

boys that were in her womb were struggling against each other

struggling together mightily so much.

So that she asks God the question she says, why is this

so Why do these struggle within me?

And God said, this two nations are in thy womb and to manner of

people shall be separated from thy bowels and the one people

shall be stronger than the other people and the Elder Shall Serve

the younger. And the Bible says that when

that when they were in their womb, they struggled, but one

day they were delivered in. The first came out red all over

like, a hairy garment and they called his name.

Esau and after that his brother came out holding on to Esau's

heel and they called him. Jacob.

And the Bible says that the boys grew and Esau was a cunning

Hunter, a man of the field and Jacob was a plain man dwelling

in tents and Isaac loved Esau because of he did eat his

venison but Rebecca loved Jacob you know, this sibling rivalry

continued one day when Jacob had sawed pottage the King James.

Version, I didn't reference other translations but the King

James version says sod pottage. Now what does that?

That's just a fancy way of saying, he boiled some stuff in

a pot. I think this very I think we

need to look at the language of the things that transpired that

day to have a really good understanding of just exactly

the mindset of Esau with what he was willing to give up all of a

sudden Here Comes Esau from the field and he was faint and he

was faint so much so that he thought he was going to die.

Died and he sees Jacob with this, sod pottage and he comes

to him and says this, get this give me that same red pottage.

You know, there was nothing spectacular, there was nothing

special about what he was cooking that day.

It was the same red pottage that he had seen so many times

before. But Esau was desperate and he

comes to Jacob and he thinks he's going to die.

He says I faint give me some of that.

Same red pottage and Jacob. Thought, you know what?

I'm going to do, I'm going to capitalize on the situation.

I'm going to capitalize on his weakness and he said this, give

me your Birthright. Tell me your Birthright in

exchange for some of this pottage and Esau said this, I'm

dying. Anyway, I'm going to lose my

life, I'm faint to the point of death than a birthrights.

Really not going to do me any good anyway.

Deal done, give me the potage and he begins to eat it and so

on and so forth. And the Bible says from that day

forward. Esau did despised his Birthright

but the sibling rivalry continued didn't It you remember

one time when Isaac, the Bible says, Isaac was old and his eyes

were faint in that he could not see, you know, I've tried to

picture how come he didn't understand or how come, he

didn't know. It was Jacob as an imposter

really on that occasion. How did he not know that it

wasn't Esau or at that? How did he not know that?

But the Bible says that, that Isaac says to Esau, he said, I

want you to go out and kill. Me some meat and bring back some

of that venison. Bring me back some of that

savory meat that I love so much, and I'm going to eat and be

filled with it. And then when I'm done, I'm

going to give you the blessing of the firstborn and off.

Esau goes, I don't know how long he was gone, but he was gone

long enough, but overhearing, what was happening?

There was Rebecca. You remember the Bible says that

Rebecca loved Jacob and Rebecca comes to Jacob.

And he says And she says this, your brother Esau is about to

receive his Blessing, the blessing of the firstborn.

He's out there trying to bring some meat in, he's going to

bring venison or savory meat to your father, and have the

blessing go quickly now. And get two goats from the flock

and you bring them in and I will prepare Savory meat for thy

father. And Jacob said, I'll never get

away with it. Esau is a hairy man and I am a

smooth man. He will reach back and touch

behind my neck and find that I am smooth on my neck and,

therefore, he'll know, it's me. He said, and if I try to deceive

him, he's gonna know it's me. And not only, am I not going to

receive the blessing? I'm going to receive a cursing

from him, and Rebecca said, let his curse be on me do, as you're

told, and he does. And the Bible says, they took

those skins with the Furs and she put those On his hands.

And she put it on the back of his neck.

And here, he comes with the Savory meat to bring to Isaac.

And he says here, father, it is as I paraphrase.

Here's the venison that you wanted.

Here's the Savory meat and he's going to eat that.

And he says, and then you can give me my blessing.

And Isaac said, how can it be? So you sound like Jacob, but you

feel like Esau when he reached out and touched the hands of

Jacob and found those So first skins, he said you feel like,

like, Esau, you sound like Jacob, who isn't?

He says I'm he saw and he ate it and he gave the blessing to

Jacob and we know the story. Esau wanted to kill Jacob and

Rebecca told him that to flee, and get away from that.

And so on, here's really the point though, as they reconciled

later on in about Genesis, the 32nd and 33rd chapter, we find

that they did reconcile. But their descendants still

struggled together. And so we find also that those

descendants continued as we find in The Exodus.

When Edom refused Israel Passage through their land.

Notice the numbers, the 20th, chapter beginning in verse

number 14 and Moses sent Messengers from Kadesh under the

king of Edom, thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all

the travail that hath. Befallen us how our fathers went

down into Egypt and we have dwelt in Egypt for a long time

and the Egyptians vexed us and our fathers.

And when We Cried unto the Lord, he heard our voice and send an

angel and hath brought us forth out of Egypt and behold.

We are in K Desh a city in the uttermost of vibe order.

Let us pass. I pray thee.

Through thy country, we will not pass through the fields, or

Through The Vineyards. Neither will we drink of the

water of the wells. We will go by the Kings Highway.

We will not turn to the right hand, nor to the left until we

have passed thy borders. And Edom said unto him.

Thou shalt not pass by me. Lest I come out against thee

with The Sword and the children of Israel said unto him, we will

go by the highway and if If I and my cattle drink of the

water, then I will pay for it. I will only without doing

anything else. Go through on my feet and he

said, Thou shalt not go through and eat them.

Came out against him with much people and with the strong hand

the descendants of those at odds with one another Edom.

Do you remember? Historically speaking was

finally subjected by David in second.

Chapter 8 and verses 13 and 14 where it says this and David got

him a name when he returned from smiting of the syrians, in the

valley of salt being 18,000 men, and he put Garrison's in Edom

throughout all Edom, put he Garrison's and all they of Edom

became David servants and the Lord preserve David.

Whithersoever, he went, but then in second Kings chapter, 18

verses 20 through 22. To that in the days of joram, or

jehoram Edom, revolted and located, south of the Dead Sea,

and built their cities in the cliffs and they thought

themselves impregnable and that no one was mighty enough to

overthrow them and that was a problem.

That rang true all the way until 8:45 BC, when Obadiah the

prophet spoke as he did. So long ago, they thought, you

know what we're going to do, we're going to revolt And we're

going to go make our cities in the cliffs.

We're going to be hidden here. They'll never come and get us

will see them coming and we're going to be protected here and

no power and no might of man could ever overthrow us for.

We are Mighty in this way but you know by 100 BC they were

finally conquered. Many of them were forced to be

to be circumcised and accept the law becoming nominal Jewish

proselytes and By 100 AD historically speaking, eat them

as a race and nation was lost to history.

Let me just very briefly, give you the outline of the book.

First of all, there's the coming Judgment of Edom in verses 1

through 9 that Edom do deceive by pride of her location will be

brought down and that, that destruction will be absolutely

complete. That Edom will be betrayed by

its allies to, you know. People do sometimes when they

think they've got friends. Let me just tell you this, in

the world. In the flesh, we have people

that we think are our lives. We think sometimes that we're

going to be strong or for example, we have something that

we have to stand up for a cause that we have to stand up for.

Now, I'm not talking about members of the body of Christ

who stand for truth and right and listen, we stand together

and we always will stand together and may we never be

apart with regard to right and wrong.

With what you and I must stand for as the body of Christ as

Christians. But I'll tell you something else

though, you know what happens when you're in the world and all

of a sudden you have to stand for a cause and you have allies

and you got people backing you up.

Have you ever been placed in a position in your life?

When all of a sudden because, you know, their strength in

numbers and you stand there, you stand there, strong and you turn

around and your allies have left.

You Have you ever had that happen?

It turn around and you're all alone.

The allies of Edom, they thought that because of the strength of

their allies and because of the strength and power of their

location, there was no way that they could be brought down.

And yet, those were prideful things that condemn them.

Their allies left them and not even all the wisdom and all the

might In the Flesh. Could save them.

Now, then Obadiah gives the reason for violence and

unbrotherly conduct toward Jacob.

He gives a rebuke of such and then he says this in verses 15

and 16 where he speaks of the day of the Lord, the day of the

Lord is the day that God manifests himself to overthrow

his and Enemies. And I'll tell you this though,

when we have conduct toward each other, that is not like it ought

to be We're going to answer for that.

Sometimes people say, and I'm not trying to be repetitive.

You've heard me preach this. I'll say his really quickly

about judging others. We can judge.

Yes, we do, we judge righteous judgment.

We use the word of God. We consider thyself, ourself.

Absolutely lest we be tempted and we have to have the right

heart Spirit motivation intention and all of that.

When we stand in judgment over another, without those things,

we're going to hear the very same thing.

Back on the day of judgment, the things that these people had

done. We're going to hear it back in

their literal destruction because of what they had done.

And in the day of the Lord, that's the day that God,

overthrows his enemies, he did. So and the day of the Lord for

you and I is the Judgment Day and that's the day that God will

overthrow his enemies as well. And we're going to hear Here,

how we had judgment over another on that day.

I don't know about you, but I kind of think I need all the

help. I can get, I don't want to hurt

myself on the day of judgment because I've judged wrongfully

in this life and let me just say one more thing and I'll move on

You can stand for what's right? You can go to your brother and

you can rebuke him and you can do so strongly, but you can do.

So with the right heart, you can do.

So with the right intention and the right motive that you want

your brother to repent, because you know what's coming down the

line. If they don't, I'll tell you

something, there's nothing in the world wrong with that.

In fact, you know what Jesus said said, he said get the beam

out of your eye. So you see clearly to help your

brother, not just leave him alone and he leaves you alone.

No, we don't leave Other alone, we just cast out our own

problems. So we can see clearly to do what

help our brother live the Christian Life.

Third thing, we find in this chapter in this book is the

exultation of Israel over Jordan.

Overeaten, deliverance and Holiness will be found in Mount

Zion, not Mount, Esau or Mount seir.

Which was the prominent mountain in Edom?

The house of Jacob. Shall consume the house of Esau

the children of Israel. Shall possess Edom and

surrounding Nations. And the ultimate rule will be

that of the laws. You know, the Fulfillment of

this prophecy was twofold. It was immediate with the

literal fulfillment of it. Beginning when edom's

destruction began with the Babylonian Invasion under

Nebuchadnezzar and about 600 BC and we spoke of just a moment

ago historically by what happened by 100 BC and as they

were finally destroyed and by 100 AD, there were the people as

a race and Nation were lost to history.

But there's also the ultimate fulfillment.

Most likely coming with the Messiah with Jesus Christ for

with his coming and establishment of the spiritual

Kingdom. Beginning at Jerusalem and that

deliverance and Holiness did come from Mount.

Zion in Jerusalem, in Luke 24. You remember after Jesus was

crucified and after he was buried, he rose from the dead on

the third day. And he was about to spend about

40 days with those disciples. And what did he say?

He said in Luke the 24th chapter he said, and that repentance and

remission of sins would be preached in his name among Among

all nations beginning where beginning at Jerusalem, then it

says that the ultimate rule will be that of the Lords.

Jesus said those words and the twenty-eighth chapter of the

Book of Matthew and beginning in verse 18, what did Jesus say?

He said all power or all authority is given unto me in

heaven and in Earth and because of that power because of that

Authority, he was able to say to go either.

For and teach All Nations, baptizing them in the name of

the father, and of the son and of the Holy Ghost and then

teaching them to observe all things whatsoever.

I have commanded you and lo, I Am With You Always even to the

end of the world and first Peter 3 and 22.

Who is gone into heaven? And is on the right hand of God,

angels and authorities and Powers, being made subject unto

him. But finally along this line, the

house of Jacob. The true.

Spiritual Israel did possess Edom as the Gentiles among them

became Christians. We're faithful Gentiles are

spoken of as being grafted into the stock of Israel time will

not permit us. Us to go there, Romans 11 and

verses 13 through 18, to support this interpretation.

You remember that in the Old Testament prophecy Mount Zion is

used as a symbol of spiritual Jerusalem.

And that being today, the church.

And as Obadiah pointed out, the literal place of safety and

refuge would be found on literal Mount Zion understand this, the

only place that the child of God or You want in the whole world

is going to have refuge and security and safety is found in

Mount. Zion in the church, there is

nothing outside of the body of Christ.

That is a place of Refuge. Obadiah pictures to mountains.

One is the counterpart of the other one is in Edom is going to

be destroyed, but all of those that are not going to be

destroyed, will not be destroyed because they found refuge in

solace in Mount. Zion the only place that you can

find that kind of safety, I'll touch on that one more time at

the very end of our talk. And I'm almost through stay with

me. Let me just talk to you now

about some lessons learned Learned from the book of

Obadiah. As we mentioned before that,

Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a

fall Proverbs 16 and 18. You know, one of the things

that's wrong with pride is it leads to vanity and it leads to

a sense of independence from God if I live my life in a prideful

state or prideful condition if I Elevate myself too highly and

I'm filled with all of my Wonderful Pride, that is in me.

I'm really saying by my actions. I am demonstrating.

I don't need God. I can exist in my independent

state with all of my pride because of how great that I am

because of where I live, because of what I have because of the

friends that I hang out with and so on and so forth.

If I do that, then what I'm doing is I'm demonstrating to

God that I don't need him in my life and that's not true.

Just as Edom took pride in their geographical location, allies

wisdom and might such arrogance. God will always punished and

Isaiah 13 beginning in verse nine.

Listen to this, behold the day of the Lord cometh cruel both

with wrath and fierce angle anger to lay the land desolate.

And he shall destroy the Sinners there of out of it, for the

stars of Heaven. And the constellations thereof

shall not give They're like the sun shall be darkened in his

going forth and the moon shall not cause her like to shine.

And I will punish the world for their evil and the wicked for

their iniquity and I will cause the arrogancy of The Proud to

cease and will lay low, the haughtiness of the terrible may,

we always all the days of our life be on guard against such

Pride. Second lesson, Don't mistreat

your brethren. That's something else we learned

to. Don't mistreat your brethren.

Everyone here has a family of some sort, some sighs, maybe

you've had a sibling, maybe you've been married, you know

what happens sometimes. Sometimes the people that were

related to that, we're supposed to be the closest to where the

worst to. I don't know why.

That's the way that it is. But it is we have all done that

a time or two will be on our best behavior in the eyes of the

world. But then when we get to the

confines of our own family, the people that were supposed to

love and cherish and protect. Sometimes where the very worst

to let? That never be said, among the

people of God to themselves. Don't ever let.

That we said that we treat the people of God we that are, are

the people of God, treating each other wrongfully.

That was another thing that these people did that was wrong

that condemn them and brought down their destruction.

In verse 10 of the book of Obadiah.

It says for thy violence against thy brother.

Jacob, shame shall cover thee and thou Be cut off forever.

And so we learned that how we treat our Brethren, affects our

relationship with the Lord. Paul said in First Corinthians

1 Corinthians 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8 and verse 12, but when you sin so against the Brethren

and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

And so may, we always be careful of how we treat.

One another, thirdly get this one.

Don't rejoice in the Calamity of another.

Don't rejoice when something happens to another, that's bad.

Let's be real honest though, right now.

And the ever done like I have at least once or twice, I would

imagine Imagine there's quite a few more I just can't remember,

but say you have an enemy. and he missed treats you and he says

things to you and he does evil against you and so on, you're

trying to have the Christian attitude, you don't retaliate

because we don't Then all of a sudden, something happens.

Bad in his life. You know what?

You kind of say inside? That's the way, all right.

Oh, that's great. He sure had that coming and then

we Rejoice because something bad happened to someone else.

That's another lesson that we find that we need not to do.

Don't rejoice when your enemy Falls.

Proverbs 24, 17 and 18 says, Rejoice, not when thine enemy

falleth and let not thine heart. Be glad when he stumbleth less

the Lord see it and it displeased him.

Excuse me, and he turn away his wrath from him.

You know, this Edom did when Judah was plundered and verse

12, but Thou shalt it's not have looked on the day of thy brother

in the day that he became a stranger.

Thou has rejoiced over it over the children of Judah.

In the day of their destruction, neither shouldst.

Thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress rejoicing.

In the Calamity of another is a sin.

And, you know what else? His too.

You can't rejoice in their bad things, that happened to him.

But you know what else you're not supposed to do.

You're not supposed to see that they're in need and passed by on

the other side doing nothing to help them.

Remember when Jesus talked about that he said that there was a

man and he was traveling on about a 15-mile road that

descended some 3,000 feet, it was rough and it was Rocky and

it descended, some 3,000 feet beginning with that Jerusalem,

down to Jericho, he said this man falls among Thieves and

somebody comes and takes what he has and they almost beat him to

death and they leave him for dead.

You know what I think about there are folks here that are

from the same area. I was in the Oxnard area and

you'll remember when I'm talking about, but in the colonial

Colonial area, you didn't go down there at night.

That's a good way to get in trouble.

You didn't drive down those streets.

You didn't walk down those streets.

It was a rough place to be. Well, this fella, I understand

is traveling on a road that's just as rough and he falls among

Thieves. Here's my point two men passed

by One of them. Surely he's going to stop.

You know why? He's a priest.

He's a worshiper of God. He's a worshipper in the temple.

Surely. He's going to stop and help this

man. But he passes off.

Passes on by, then Jesus said, there's a levite, all, he's

going to stop. You know why?

Because he's a man that rolls up his sleeves, he's a worker in

the temple, he's a helper. He's a man that's going to stop.

Surely you know what the Bible says that he does?

Jesus says he looks on the man and deliberately passes on the

other side. It's wrong to do that.

We don't rejoice when they're have lll, come their way, but we

certainly don't pass on the other side doing nothing when we

can help them. But not only did Edom passed by

on the other side refusing to help but she also joined in the

attackers to loot them. Surely, you've seen on TV down

in l.a. something bad happens. In that awful, people have their

houses and they have their businesses and they have things

of value in those buildings and something happens, that comes

their way and earthquake flood a fire some sort of tragedy in

their life, whatever it is. And not only do you pass on the

other side and do nothing to help.

Not only do you rejoice in their Calamity but how about the

people that actually go inside their buildings and steal?

What they have, that's what Edom did they joined in with the

attackers and looted them? We're getting a pretty good

picture of why they were to fall.

Let's never rejoice when our enemy Falls.

Let's be there to help those that are in need and surely, I

don't have to say this to God's people but surely we would not

join in with the attackers and take what they have.

But finally, and then I will be through in the division, the

time of divine judgment. God provides a means and place

for escape for those who turn to him and verse 17.

Obadiah says that upon Mount Zion shall be Deliverance.

Today, spiritual Mount Zion is the place that we can turn and

let me just tell you this. I understand that you and I are

in the flesh. I know that. but the place of

Refuge is the church, and let me just tell you this too, I know

that sometimes because we're in the flesh, maybe we don't always

behave ourselves, the way that we should, and we regret that

But I'll tell you this, too. We know that we cannot get to

God the Father in Heaven one day except through Christ, through

his body, being the church and that's a blessing because it's

the ultimate victory in heaven. But let me just say this to,

when you have challenges in your life, when you have things that

come your way that are difficult to handle.

I'm going to tell you something else too.

The church is the place of Refuge, because in the church is

where God's people are. And those sometimes we don't

always behave as we should God's people are the greatest people

in all the world. The reason for that, not because

of our own conceit in our own Pride.

But because we go by a different standard.

We ever desire and strive to be like, Christ in all that we do

the church, Zion is the only place of Refuge for, as Obadiah

said, so long ago for in it, the redeemed shall be found.

We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the

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