Preaching points for the day November 17 Sermon Bones (just the skeleton of the message)
·         Scripture: Obadiah 1:1-21 (the whole book)
·         Message/Theme: The downfall of pride, we are to care for our neighbors, and God is sovereign over all nations
 Introduction               Have you ever seen a teacher's contract from 1923? You can find pictures of it or from other years as well, but read something like this:·         You will not keep company with men, and you will not marry during the term of our contract.
·         You must be home between hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. and you must not loiter downtown in any of the ice cream stores.
·         You may not travel beyond the city limits unless you have the permission of the chairman of the board and you may not ride in a carriage or automobile with any man unless it be your father or your brother.
·         You may not smoke cigarettes, or drink...
·         You may not dress in bright colors, and you may not under any circumstances dye your hair. You must wear at least two petticoats, and your dresses may not be shorter than 2 inches above your ankles.
·         You must keep the school neat and clean, sweep the floor at least once daily, and scrub the floor at least once a week with hot, soapy water. You must clean the blackboards once a day, and start the fire at 7 a.m. so the room will be warm at 8 a.m.
This is how a teacher is to conduct herself...How are we to conduct ourselves? I) The Book of Obadiah - a guide to how we are to conduct ourselves, especially as it concerns pride and our neighbors/brothers·         It’s only 21 verses and the shortest book in the Old Testament.
·         There are a lot of Obadiah's mentioned in the Bible - it was a common name, but most likely none of them are a reference to the prophet.
·         A message directed toward Edom which lay to the south-southeast of the southern tip of the Dead Sea.
·         Because there is so little historical data in the book, it is very hard to date.  Scholars disagree.  The book clearly refers to a time when Judah and Jerusalem were invaded and plundered so most scholars believe this is speaking about what happened in 586 BC when Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army ransacked Jerusalem and deported most of her inhabitants into exile.
·         But here’s the deal: The Edomites, were also descendants of Jacob, and they participated in this plundering.
·         During the reigns of David and Solomon, Israel controlled Edom, but thereafter Edom's territory was frequently the object of wars for its possession, because the main trade route to the Gulf of Aqaba ran through it.
·         Then, when Israel did not have the upper hand - in fact they needed a hand... Edom gloated over Judah's downfall (vv. 12-13), helped loot Jerusalem, entered into the gambling for booty and slaves (v. 11), and captured fleeing Judean refugees and sold them into slavery (v. 14).
 Edom and Israel did not get along The forbear of the Edomites was Esau, the brother of Jacob. Isaac's twin boys could not be any more different from each other.  From the first their relationship was marked by deceit and hatred, and their enmity continued among their descendants. II) Jacob and Esau            Sibling rivalry is a reality of life and it can start young. Like the first-grader who came home and proudly reported to her dad she was now officially a “Brownie.” Not to be outdone, her three-year-old brother rushed up and proudly announced he was a cupcake! Let's actually read about it from Genesis 2519This is the account of Abraham's son
Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac,20and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.
21Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
22The babies jostled each other within
her, and she said, "Why is thishappening to me?" So she went toinquire of the Lord .23The Lord said to her, "Two nations are
in your womb, and two peoples fromwithin you will be separated; one peoplewill be stronger than the other, and theolder will serve the younger."God knew there would be strife...24When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.
25The first to come out was red, and his
whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.26After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob.
 That jostling was prevalent most of their lives, and in the lives of their descendants - it got nasty. We continue - it does not get better...Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.27The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open
country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents.28Isaac, who had a taste for wild game,
loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.29Once when Jacob was cooking some
stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished.30He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!"
(That is why he was also called Edom, Edom = Red, Esau = hairy - vivid names)31Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."
32"Look, I am about to die," Esau said.
"What good is the birthright to me?"  birthright to Jacob.
34Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. Jacob purportedly stole both Esau's birthright and the covenantal blessing of their father (God's promise to Abraham originally, and passed down).Read Genesis 27 - Jacob gets Isaac's blessing instead of Esau27So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his
clothes, he blessed him and said, "Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed.28May God give you of heaven's dew
and of earth's richness- an abundanceof grain and new wine.29May nations serve you and peoples
bow down to you. Be lord over yourbrothers, and may the sons of yourmother bow down to you. May thosewho curse you be cursed and those whobless you be blessed."30After Isaac finished blessing him and
Jacob had scarcely left his father'spresence, his brother Esau came infrom hunting.... Jacob and Esau could not have been more opposite, neither could their blessing - listen to the language...38Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" Then Esau wept aloud.
39His father Isaac answered him,
"Your dwelling will be away from the earth'srichness, away from the dew of heaven above.40You will live by the sword and you will
serve your brother. But when you growrestless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck."41Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had
given him. He said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob." ·         Jacob will quickly go to his Uncle Laban to escape Esau's threats. He gets married (twice) and then will find his way home (a lot more story here). In the end, the descendants of Esau became known as the Edomites, and Jacob’s, of course, the Israelites. The land of Canaan couldn’t sustain them both so Esau moved to what was called the hill country of Seir, and later Edom.
·         The animosity flared up generations later after Israel was freed from slavery in Egypt. Moses asked permission to pass through Edom on their way to the Promised Land, but the king of Edom said no and put up a military barricade (Numbers 20:14-21).
·         The grudge that started with the bickering of two twin boys mushroomed into two proud nations at war.
 They are bothers... as such, they are supposed to get along (at least on some level), so their animosity cannot be justified.Read Deuteronomy 23:77Do not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. Do not abhor an Egyptian, because you lived as an alien in his country.
 Obadiah is another chapter in their story III) How we treat our neighbor/brother·         The book begins as God announces his plans to judge Edom. God shows Obadiah he’s declaring war on Edom. He invites surrounding nations to join in the battle. Though Edom was great in her own eyes, God will make her small. Edom was enormously proud. God speaks of “the pride of your heart.” If you look carefully you can see Edom had many reasons to be proud. She had a lot going for her.
·         First, there were her natural defenses. He notes “you live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights.” The central area of Edom has red sandstone cliffs that rise to the height of over 5,000 feet. These cliffs are easily fortified. Perhaps you’ve heard of Petra. It was an almost impenetrable fortress in Edom. Experts say because of its position in the mountains a dozen men could hold it against an army. No wonder the Edomites said to themselves, “Who can bring me down to the ground?” God says, I can: “Though you soar like an eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down.” ·         Edom was also proud because her of wealth. She was situated along the great trade routes between Syria and Egypt. Trade brought business and the people grew rich from the tolls exacted from the many caravans. But God says when I’m done with you nothing will be left! Even thieves leave something behind when they steal. Not even grape harvesters can pick every grape. “But how Esau will be ransacked, his hidden treasures pillaged!” ·         Verse 8 mentions “the wise men from Edom.” The Edomites were known for their wisdom. It wasn’t God’s wisdom; it was worldly wisdom. In fact, scholars point out the Edomites left no record of allegiance or dependence on any god. They’re unique in this regard, maybe the first secular society. They thought so much of themselves they didn’t need any higher power in their lives. They had it all figured out. But God says “I will destroy the wise men of Edom.”
 The Edomites trusted in all these things. People today trust in all these things. What do you trust in?·         God wants you secure not in your accomplishments, your bank account, your brains, your experience, but rather in him. He wants to be your fortress, your rock, your shield and your strong tower. Obadiah says to the proud, trust not in yourself, or else God will bring you down. Like God said to the Edomites, “The pride of your heart has deceived you.” Usually the way that happens is the very thing you trust in fails you. Though you soar like an eagle, he brings you down.
 Edom's terrible treatment of Israel

• Notice what made all of these things especially deplorable is they were directed towards “your brother Jacob.” The first charge: “the violence done to your brother Jacob.”

• Pride is centered only on self and it strikes out against anything that dares to challenge its supreme reign in life.

• Though it can also be seen in indifference. Verse 11 says they “stood aloof” when strangers carried off Judah's wealth and foreigners entered their gates.

• Not only did they stand aloof but they also gloated, rejoiced, and even boasted over their brothers’ calamity.

• The proud, self-driven heart will be more than willing to personally benefit from another’s misfortune.

 ·         None of us would say that we enjoy seeing others fail, but.... James Boice makes a very astute observation: This word “gloat” means to “look down on.” He defines this as “an improper curiosity about their brother’s tragedy.” They stood aloof but they sure wanted to know every gory detail of their downfall. He says, “I know Christians who act like that. They never help anyone, but they’re not adverse to finding out the wicked details of some other Christians failings.”
·         Obadiah takes it one step further. He says they actually kicked them when they were down. They marched through their gates and seized their wealth in the day of their disaster. They waited at the crossroads and cut down the survivors. The proud, self-driven heart will be more than willing to personally benefit from another’s misfortune. The Lord says three times “You should not” have done this.
·         Obadiah's prophecy focuses on the destructive power of pride and reminds us of the consequences of living in a self serving manner, following through on our own feelings and desires for that, and not considering the impact on those around us.
·         The bigger they come, the harder they fall
·         Pride goeth before a fall.
·         Am I my brother's keeper?
·         Paybacks are (terrible)...
·         I laugh, but understand when parents look at their own children/grandchildren and think... payback...
 Now read verse 1515"The day of the Lord is near for all
nations. As you have done, it will bedone to you; your deeds will return uponyour own head. IV) What happens to the proud?·         How does God deal with the proud? God says the day is coming when Edom and all the proud who defy him and destroy their brother will be brought down.
3The pride of your heart has deceived
you, you who live in the clefts of therocks and make your home on theheights, you who say to yourself, 'Whocan bring me down to the ground?' ·         What’s interesting about this is Edom did fall. Edom lost its independence about 100 years later. From 312 BC her land was controlled by the Nabateans. Eventually, the Edomites were literally thrown out of their own land and forced to live in the southern part of Judah. God says what will happen to Edom typifies what will happen to all nations who proudly oppose God and oppress his people.
·         "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows - that will he also reap." Galatians 6:7
·         "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." Proverbs 11:4
 V) Who is my ‘brother’?·         Maybe you wonder, how do I know if I have Edomite pride running through my veins? Well, you look for the signs. Pride that resides and hides deep in our heart eventually shows up; it leaks out.
·         Are you ever secretly glad when someone gets what is coming to them?
·         Am I proud? Obadiah would simply ask us, how do you treat your brother?
·         Who is my brother? Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” When someone asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told a story about a Samaritan who saw someone he didn’t even know who was in need and whose need he could meet. That’s your neighbor; that’s your brother.
·         Do you struggle to set aside your own wants and desires for those of one another's? That's a form of pride.·         Though such pride has been a part of the lives of human beings since Adam and Eve, Obadiah offers us a stark reminder to place ourselves under God's authority, to subject our appetites to his purposes, and to find our hope in being his people when the Day of the Lord comes.
 The prophecy is addressed to Edom - though Judah was intended as the primary readers of this book. So, there must be in it intended for Judah. And, if Edom is a brother to Judah, that means Judah is supposed to be a brother to Edom... that in itself means the lesson goes both ways. And if you are the downtrodden and pillaged, there is a word there too.·         God says to his people, “I’ll bring you back. You’ll possess the land. You’ll inhabit the very places your enemies lived. You’ll worship in your temple. You’ll find deliverance on Mt Zion.”
·         And they did. After 70 years in exile they came back and rebuilt their temple.
·         What God did with Israel is an example of what he’ll do in that final, climactic Day of the Lord at the end of history.
 ·         Now all of this was meant to be a message of encouragement to God’s people. He wants us to know that though the proud often prosper while you suffer, he’s still in charge. He’s in charge of the affairs of both nations and individuals.
 ·         That includes all the details of life. It’s hard to believe that when things aren’t going your way. It makes it even harder when someone far worse than you is getting all the breaks. But God is still in charge.
·         Israel needed to believe that as they were being hauled off into exile while their Edomite brothers stood there and laughed. We need to believe that as our economy spirals downward, or a child grows distant from the Lord, or a job search goes on and on. Obadiah reminds us God is still in charge. He rules over the affairs of our lives. And he promises the day will come when the tables will be turned and the kingdom will be the Lord’s.
 Conclusion: The Day of the Lord - the King is coming·         I like the language - The Day of the Lord is another way of saying that the king is coming. And his name is Jesus.
·         If you’re the one who is down; if you’re the one being kicked and laughed at as the Israelites were in this story, and if you know this King, then that will be a great comfort to you.
·         But if you’re among the proud, if you’re one of those who says, “I trust in no one but myself,” you’re in danger
·         In a small way, this conflict between God's kingdom and his enemies finds its completion in the person of Jesus.
 ·         Pastor Mark Mitchell - I like his thoughts about this... he says
·         It makes me think of two kings who confronted each other. One was an earthly king. His name was Herod Antipas. He was the son of Herod the Great, the one who slaughtered the babes of Bethlehem to get rid of the Christ child. His son, Antipas, was no better. He’d beheaded John the Baptist. He divorced his wife to marry the wife of his half-brother. What you probably didn’t know is these Herods were Edomites and once again their outstanding characteristic was pride. Antipas was wealthy and powerful. If anyone stood in his way, the life of that person meant as little to him as the lives those innocent children did to his father. His philosophy of life was, “It’s all about me.” He was the epitome of human pride. He exalted himself.
·         The other king, of course, was Jesus. He was the true King of Israel, the natural heir to David’s throne. But he didn’t look like a king. He stood before Antipas like a sheep ready for slaughter. Antipas wanted him to do a miracle like it was some kind of trick. He plied him with many questions but Jesus didn’t say a word. He mocked Jesus by dressing him in an elegant robe, but then he sent Jesus back to Pilate. Jesus could have called forth legions of angels to sweep Herod from his throne, but instead within just a few hours he would die a felon’s death. He humbled himself.
·         Herod exalted himself and said “What’s in it for me?” But Jesus humbled himself and said, “I’m here to do my Father’s will. He has sent me to give my life for my brothers, so they can find life.” In the end, Jesus was raised up in glory; Herod died at an unknown date while in exile in Gaul.
·         Christ's kingdom will ultimately triumph. We may not see his kingdom clearly right now, but the scripture proclaims that the forces of darkness have been defeated; "having the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross, Colossians 2:15.
·         But Jesus humbled himself and said, “I’m here to do my Father’s will. He has sent me to give my life for my brothers, so they can find life.”
·         He treats us like a brother.
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