21st September 2024

21st September 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Obadiah 1v15-18)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


The Edomites had grown sinfully arrogant and proud. They felt secure in their mountain fortresses and rejoiced at the apparent destruction of the Kingdom of Judah. It wasn’t the first time that the Edomites had watched their cousins collapse. The Kingdom of Israel was united for only a brief period of time before splitting into north and south in the year 930BC.
The northern kingdom was called Israel while the southern kingdom was called Judah. Israel existed for just over two hundred years before being destroyed by the Assyrians. Judah continued until 586BC before being overrun by the Babylonians.


I wonder if Edom’s historians gloated over the fall of Israel both north and south? Edom remained strong and prosperous while their cousins down the road had lost everything. The temptation for self-satisfied pride was great and Edom was all too eager to pat themselves on the back. 


However the Lord was moving against Edom and His plan was to restore the fortunes of all of His people. The house of Jacob (representing Judah) would be a fire to Edom (v18a) and they would be joined by the house of Joseph (representing Israel) who would bring flame to the Edomites (v18b). The united people of God would see Esau’s house burned to stubble leaving no survivor behind (v18c).


This language seems incredibly uncompromising to our modern ears. We prefer to think that everyone is fundamentally good and God is not too angry with the state of this world. We admit that there are some very evil people who deserve to be punished but they are in the minority. When the day of the Lord comes people like Hitler are in big trouble but 99% of the rest will be fine.


This talk might make us feel warm and fuzzy but it is simply not true. When we consider the destruction of Edom we must not see it as a mere historical event but also as a glimpse of the judgement to come. If the destruction of Edom was terrible it was a mere shadow of the judgement that the Lamb of God will bring to the world. I have heard God’s acts of judgement which come before the last day described as “pre wrath wrath and pre judgement justice.” I think this a helpful summary. When the wicked are judged on this earth we are seeing a little glimpse of the scale of the final judgement. Indeed when the wicked seem to escape punishment on this earth, they will not and cannot escape the gaze of Jesus when He comes.


May we heed this reality, for the Lord has spoken (v18).


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q96 What is the Lord’s Supper? The Lord’s Supper is a Sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace.
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