Homilist Obadiah 1:1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus said the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumor from the LORD… I. THAT GOD MAKES A REVELATION CONCERNING BAD MEN. Here is a revelation concerning Edom, the enemy of God and His people. Isaac had two sons by Rebecca, Esau and Jacob; Esau was called Edom, because he robbed his brother of his birthright (Genesis 25.). 1. The forms of the revelation. (1) As a vision. "The vision of Obadiah." The prophet was a seer. The Eternal revealed Himself to the eyes of his soul. He who would be a true minister of God must see the thing before he speaks it — "That which we have seen and handled," man has a faculty for seeing the invisible. (2) As a report. "We have heard a rumour from the Lord." He heard as well as saw. The soul has ears to catch the echoes of eternal thought. 2. The character of this revelation, a message. "An ambassador is sent among the heathen." God sends His messages to the nations in many ways and by many agents. 3. The subject of the revelation. "Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle." The object of the message was to stir up the Assyrians and afterwards the Chaldeans against Edom. But our proposition is, that God makes a revelation concerning bad men; and the subject of that revelation embraces at least two things. (1) That their sins will ruin them. "The wages of sin is death."(2) That evangelical repentance will save them. "Let the wicked forsake his way," etc. II. THAT GOD PUNISHES BAD MEN BY BAD MEN. He now sent a messenger amongst the nations, — what for? To stir up the Assyrians and Chaldeans — both bad people — to wreak vengeance on corrupt Edom. Why does He employ bad men for this awful work of retribution? 1. He reveals in the most powerful way to the victim the enormity of his sin. 2. He reveals His own absolute power over the workings of the human heart. Thus "He maketh the wrath of men to praise Him," etc. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. |
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