Today we turn a new tide in our
reading program. Through the course of the history of Israel and Judah God will
send messengers to correct the behavior of his people. These messengers are
known as prophets. Some of the prophets simply preached and we will read about
them and their actions through the course of the narrative in both Kings and
Chronicles. Some of the prophets were writing prophets. The writing prophets
accomplished a few things in their writings. Some of the writings were narratives,
typically told in first person ... their reaction and observations of how
details of the story play out. Some of the writings were in journal form …
possibly their own personal struggles with God or their prayers to God. Other
writings were written to the nations of Israel and Judah as a call to
repentance and even a call to remain hopeful.
Today we encounter our first prophet
in our chronological reading of the Bible. We encounter God’s prophet Obadiah.
Obadiah writes of a vision he had about the nation of Edom. Edom means “red”
and it was the name given to Esua, the brother of Jacob, the twin sons of Isaac
and Rebekah. The nation of Edom at this point is the distant relatives of
Israel and Judah. They have not treated Israel very well from the time they
came out of Egypt to their possession of the land. For that, God brings wrath
upon them, and he proclaims this through the messenger Obadiah.
There are arguments in the scholarly
community of when Obadiah chronologically takes place in the narrative. Some
argue its placement where we find it today. Others argue based upon the state
that Jerusalem lies in verses 11-14, which would put it after the destruction
in 586. B.C. Regardless this is a pronouncement from God on Edom that he looks
out for his people, and delivers punishment when necessary.
Here’s a cool reminder … do not fight
your own battles. Rely on God. Let God fight your battles. His discipline will
be the correct discipline.
No comments:
Post a Comment