Saturday, May 06, 2006

Obadiah

As I opened my Bible this morning, intending on reading from the book of John in preparation for the Sunday reading, I opened “randomly” and it fell open at the book of Obadiah.

My eyes fell immediately on verses 1-9 (as it is only a one chapter book.)

1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom-- We have heard a report from the LORD, And an envoy has been sent among the nations saying, "Arise and let us go against her for battle"--

2 "Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You are greatly despised.
3 "The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, You who live in the clefts of the rock, In the loftiness of your dwelling place, Who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to earth?'
4 "Though you build high like the eagle, Though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down," declares the LORD.

5 "If thieves came to you, If robbers by night-- O how you will be ruined!-- Would they not steal only until they had enough? If grape gatherers came to you, Would they not leave some gleanings?
6 "O how Esau will be ransacked, And his hidden treasures searched out!

7 "All the men allied with you Will send you forth to the border, And the men at peace with you Will deceive you and overpower you. They who eat your bread Will set an ambush for you. (There is no understanding in him.)
8 "Will I not on that day," declares the LORD, "Destroy wise men from Edom And understanding from the mountain of Esau?
:9 "Then your mighty men will be dismayed, O Teman, So that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter.


I especially noted 2b-4, and my heart melted. I fell in prayer for our nation. Not that God will come to the side of America, but that America will once again come along side of God.

America is greatly despised among the nations. And our arrogance has deceived us. America does live in the “clefts of the rocks” in the secured areas. History has shown that we have been falsely “secure” in our location, but December 7, 1941, and 9/11 has changed all of that.

But still, we say in our hearts, “Who will bring us down?” And we are the “eagle.” And even though we have “set our nest among the stars” I greatly fear that God will bring us down.

I know this prophecy was for the nation of Edom, but it brought a chilling discovery to my heart.

As in the book of Haggai, we have been “sent” with a purpose. But we have gotten fat, and lazy, and self-centered. And now our nation is crumbling from the inside out.

We ourselves have fulfilled verses 1-4, oh that God will spare us from the fulfilling of verses 5-9!

Oh God, I pray for a revival in this nation, that we may once again hear the voice of the Lord!

5 Comments:

Blogger Mark said...

Yes. Send revival, Lord. Amen.

4:40 PM  
Blogger GZimmy said...

Yes, Betty, the word was for Edom, but it's there in the Book for us, too, to read and apply to ourselves. We need to heed the words of the scriptures to another country and realize that, as Jesus said once, "Unless you repent, you, too, will perish!"

Come, Lord Jesus, and revive us again!

4:43 PM  
Blogger John said...

It's a pity that Obadiah isn't taught or preached more. There's a lot of good stuff in it.

1:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

you nailed it here

"Not that God will come to the side of America, but that America will once again come along side of God."

every nation needs to see the difference and that awakening starts with prayer

3:33 AM  
Blogger Joel Spencer said...

Interesting read - thanks for posting! God is moving.

6:53 PM  

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