PODCAST
The Last Word
February 16th, 2014
Obadiah 1:15-21
There is an interesting correlation between Obadiah 1, verse 15 and verse 21: “The day of the Lord is near for all nations . . . And the kingdom will be the LORD’s” (vv. 15a, 21b). The verses in between describe the downfall of Edom, thus fulfilling the earlier prophecy: “from there I will bring you down” (v. 4). Edom can expect to receive the same kind of treatment they had inflicted upon others, especially Judah.
Challenge to Holy Living
Jesus said in Matthew 7:12: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” If the Edomites could have adopted the Savior’s mind-set in dealing with their neighbors, their ultimate outcome would have been exceedingly different. Instead, because of their self-made and self-perceived security, they rejected God’s security and, according to Obadiah, would face the direct consequence that ultimately, “the kingdom will be the LORD’s.”
There is a distinct sense of finality to Obadiah’s last word. God always has the last word!
Author: Richard H. Neiderhiser
