Highlights:
Five visions: 1. Locusts — an invading army (Amos 7:1-3); 2. Fire — consumed by (7:4-6); 3. A plumb line — measuring correctness, Israel defective (7:7-9); 4. Ripe fruit — the end is coming (8:1-14); 5. God at the altar — Israel to be destroyed (9:1-10). The promise of God to David kept (9:11-15). God speaks to Edom (Obad. 1:4,15-18, 20-21).
The Edomites had been hostile to the Israelites for centuries from the time Esau (Edom) forfeited his family birthright and was replaced by his brother Jacob (Israel) (Gen. 25:23-34; 27:41; 32:3; 36:8). They were always ready and willing to aid an attacking army against the Israelites. For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee. . . . Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of My people in the day of their calamity. . . . 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 (Obad. 1:10-15). Obadiah foretold how Edom would be destroyed but that a remnant of Judah would remain.
High in the rocky, rugged mountains, Edom seemed to be an impregnable fortress. Self-sufficiency and disinterest in the will of God led her to ignore Obadiah's warning. But within four years after Jerusalem was burned, Edom was destroyed by the same Babylonians they had assisted in battle against Jerusalem.
Many proud thinkers reject the Word of God and are deluded into thinking they are secure in the "invincible" stronghold of philosophical wisdom, or in the fortifications of social position, wealth, or power. Those insidious high places (vs 3) are a fantasy fortress because it is only Christ the King who defends any nation.
The absolute justice of God and our assurance of His faithfulness encourage us to know that His principles of right and wrong never change. Jesus expressed an inevitable spiritual Law of life for everyone: As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise (Luke 6:31).
A modern-day “Edomite” may aid the forces that are opposed to the followers of Christ and engage in open hostilities against pastors or people. But the God of Jacob never fails to have the last word and can send confusion to the most astute intellect, emptiness to the wealthiest home, or failure to the greatest business. Eventually, the Edomites disappeared from history, just as Obadiah had foretold. In contrast to the prophecy against the Edomites, Obadiah foretold that Judah would recover and one day would again possess their possessions (Obad. 1:15-17).
As then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now (Gal. 4:29).
Thought for Today:
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole House of Israel, and will be jealous for My Holy Name (Ezek. 39:25).
Christ Revealed:
As the Plumbline (Amos 7:7-8). A plumb line is an instrument used in determining an absolutely straight vertical line. Being perfect, Christ alone is qualified to walk in the midst of His people, measuring and exposing good and bad, true and false (Rev. 2 & 3).
Word Studies:
Amos 6:8 excellency of Jacob pride, arrogance (Jacob means all of Israel, including the palaces of Jerusalem and Samaria); 6:11 with breaches into ruins; with clefts onto fragments; 6:13 horns by our own strength pride over their accomplishments, military power (Deut. 33:17; I Kin. 22:11).
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts in honor of Debbi Belisle's Birthday • Staff: Jennifer Cunningham • Country: Algeria (31.5 million) in North Africa • Major languages: Arabic and French • Opposition to the Gospel is intense • 96.7% Muslim; 3.02% non-Religious; .29% Christian; .01% Baha'i • Prayer Suggestion: Praise the Lord with all of your heart, and tell others of the marvelous things He has done (Ps. 73:28).
Memory Verse for the Week:
