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June J, 1992...The Portland O bserver-P age 7
i Portland Observer
Scripture o f the w M i
RELIGION
M a tth e w , C h a p te r
Insight on the Word: The Tragic End of a Nation
BY MICHAEL LINDSEY
Dean of North Portland Bible College
This week I ’d like to use the ques-
tion-and-answer approach to this les
son. Those who know me can tel, you I
prefer to answer questions whenever I
teach, rather than just lecture or preach.
I invented the questions, but I would
welcome your comments or questions
on the Bible at any time. Just w rite me
c/o The Portland Observer.
The Bible text fo r our Sunday School
classes this Sunday w ill be taken fro m
the little O ld Testament book ofObadiah,
verses 1-4,10-11,15,17,21.
W h a t are we doing in the book o f
O badiah? W ell, we are beginning a
new series o f studies in some o f the
most ignored books o f the Bible, the
“ M in o r Prophets.” Over the next seven
weeks w e’ ll have the opportunity to dig
into the prophecies o f Obadiah, Jonah,
Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah.
O kay, b u t w hy should we care
a b o u t these obscure little books,
tucked away between Daniel and M a t
thew? The simplest answer may still be
the best: these books have the clear
mark o f the inspiration o f the H oly
S p irit on them, and they are an essential
part o f G od’ s message to humanity.
These books (except Jonah) are
strange country to most people, even to
Christians and Jews, who recognize
them as the W ord o f God. Part o f (hat is
because we so seldom read them. And
they are hard to understand today, be
cause they refer to peoples and places
and events w hich we may only vaguely
remember from the B ib le ’ s books o f
history.
Do they s till have any relevance
to us today? Very much so. The proph
ets revealed the character o f Yahweh
(the Lord God) through the covenant
relationship he instituted with the people
o f Israel. And God’ s character never
changes: he is a righteous and holy God,
so he w ill insist on righteousness in his
people and he w ill judge and condemn
evildoers. But he is also a God o f great
mercy, ready to forgive and restore
those who lum from their sins and
surrender to his w ill.
Okay, so what about Obadiah?
We don’ t know much fo r sure about
Obadiah. His name means “ Servant o f
Yahweh (the Lord).” He has been dated
by some scholars as the earliest o f the
w ritin g prophets, but others Jhink he
wrote about the time o f the fa ll o f
Jerusalem, a contemporary o f Jeremiah.
Obadiah’s prophecy is only one
chapter long, making this the shortest
book in the Old Testament. T hat’ s why
references to Obadiah have only verse
numbers; we w ouldn’t w rite Obadiah
1:15, fo r example.
W h a t d id O badiah w rite about?
Obadiah had only one message: the
destruction o f the kingdom o f Edom.
Edom was located in the dry desert
lands south and east o f the Promised
Land. They settled in the high c liffs east
o f the Arabah (the R ift V alley), and
b u ilt a beautiful capital city, Petra, out
o f the rock o f M ount Seir. They were
successful herdsmen, despite the harsh
climate. And their home commanded
the m a jo r trade ro u te s fro m
Mesopotamia to Egypt and Arabia, so
they were also w ell known as traders
and (at times) as bandits.
The people o f Edom claimed de
scent from Esau, the brother o f Jacob.
And Jacob was the ancestor o f the na
tions o f Israel and Judah. So these na
tions should have considered themselves
brothers (note the language in verse
12).
So w hy d id O badiah w an t to see
them destroyed? He may have had his
drove the Edomites out o f Seir and took
all their land. The rest o f the Edomites,
called Idumcans, settled in the southern
fringe o f Judea (the Negev) just prior to
the lime o f Christ.
Herod the Great (Matthew 2) was an
Idumcan, and under Roman patronage
he ruled as King o f the Jews. B u ta f ter the
fall o f Jerusalem, even these Idumeans
disappeared from the pages o f history.
W h a t does a ll th is mean fo r us
today? There arc two main truths that
Obadiah emphasized in his prophecy.
First, Yahweh is in control o f the whole
earth. There is only one God, and he is
Lord over all. Though we should tolerate
other religions, even those who worship
other gods, that doesn’ t mean all re li
gions are equally valid and true. There is
a real Creator and Sustainer o f the earth,
and he proves who he is through many
means, including these prophecies about
reasons, but that’ s not the point. No
prophet spoke his own ideas on his own
initiative, “ but men spoke from God as
they were carried along by the Holy
S p irit” (2 Peter 1:21, N IV ).
And the Lord had reasons to judge
and condemn the nation o f Edom. The
city o f Jerusalem had been under attack,
and the nation Edom stood by and
watched as their “ brother” Israel was
being ransacked (verse 11), and even
rejoiced in it (v 12). As i f that wasn’ t
enough, they took advantage o f the situ
ation to rob Jerusalem themselves (v
13), and they rounded up the fugitives o f
the city and handed them over to Judah ’ s
enemies (v 14).
W hy d id Edom trea t Jerusalem
this way? These two nations had been at
odds for hundreds o f years, since the
lime o f the Exodus. David had con
quered Edom and added it to his king
dom, but they rebelled from Solomon.
From then on, Edom hated Israel and
Judah, and did everything they could to
hurt their larger neighbors. (Read more
on this history in a Bible dictionary,
under “ Edom.” )
W h a t was the L o rd ’ s predictions
concerning Edom? In general, the Lord
said that their defenses in the mountains
would not protect them in the end (vv 3-
4). They would be betrayed by their
allies (v 7). There would be no survivors
. ofE dom on M ount Seir(v 18),and their
beautiful cities and fortresses would be
taken over by another nation, out o f the
desert (v 19). Finally, the remnant o f
Edom would be ruled from Jerusalem ( v
the nations.
How could Obadiah have forseen
the fall o f Edom, unless Yahweh God
had spoken through him , and had the
power to fu lfill his judgment?
Second, the Lord does judge all the
nations according to their works (v 15).
Every people stand in judgment for their
deeds as a people, both now and in the
Final “ day o f the Lord” (Matthew 25:31-
7
In Loving Memory of
Anna Ruth Mosley
September 7,1951 - May 12,1992
sister-in law:
Anna Ruth M osley is the daughter
o f Robert and Annie L . M osley. She
was born Septem ber 7, 1951, in
Carthage, M ississippi.
Anna is the mother o f Robert L .
M osley, I I I , and C hristop h er 1 .J.
Mosley.
Anna is the beloved sister o f Rob
ert L . Mosley, Jr., Denise Parker, Aaron
G. Mosley, Daphne L . M osley, and
Heather R. Mosley.
Anna grew up w ith her brothers
and sisters, attended Highland Grade
School and Jefferson H igh School in
/
Services were held at Emmanuel
Temple P u ll Gospel
Pentecostal Church
1032 N. Sumner
Portland, Oregon
M ay 20.1992 1:00 P.M.
To A n n a , m y b e lo v e d
Portland, Oregon.
Anna had a great deal o f love to
share and found favor w ith people. She
was always w illin g to listen to your
problems and o ffe r advice, and never
burden you w ith hers. Anna was not
selfish; she would give you her very
last. Anna had problems o f her own but
she kept them to herself.
Jesus Loves You!
All en Temple C M E C h urck
32).
21).
D id these things come to pass?
They sure did. A fter Edom had helped
Babylon conquer Judah and Jerusalem,
the Babylonian king turned on Edom
; and attacked them and weakened them.
! Later the Nabateans (an Arab people)
Portland Observer encourages our readers to write
letters, to the editor in response to any articles
we publish; ■ ■ ■-.......
■
. ■ •---
Even the United States— and every
people that live here— w ill stand in jud g
ment before their Creator. And even
now we sec signs o f judgment fa llin g on
this nation, as a result o f our sins o f
hatred, exploitation, materialistic greed,
obsession with pleasure and lust, and
others. As a nation, and as various ethnic
groups w ithin this nation, we need to
turn our hearts to God in true repentance,
w hile there is s till lime. The tragedy
which fell on Edom doesn’ t have to fall
Psalm 34:3
4236 NE Eighth Avenue
(corner of 8lft i Skidmore)
Portland, Oregon 97211
(503) 287-0261
Phillip S. Nelson Pastor
on us as well.
For Best Results
Advertise in the Observer
PORTLAND OBSERVER
’77ie Eyes and Ears of the Community'
Office: (503)288-0033
Fax#: (503)288-0015
Musical! Musical! Musical!
Alma Whitney and the
“A Gathering of Friends & Family
Whitney Singers from Kansas City, Missouri
During the month o f June we will be having
special sevices fo r our families and friends. It
is our hope that you can be a part o f this
celebration.
The Mighty Untouchables
& Wilder Ward Juniors of Portland, Oregon
FEATURING
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Life Changing Interviews.
Drama
Good Music
Refreshments
Sponsored by: Rev. Amos Harris Productions
3:00 pm - June 28, 1992
O.B. Williams Center - 220 N.E. Beech
Donation: $8.00/at Door: $10.00
ALSO INTERESTING TOPICS
6-7-92 “Real Christianity Is...”
6-14-92 “Money Equals Success?”
6-21-92 “ Men & Women in the 1990s.”
6-28-92 “ Whats going on with our cities?”
Proverbs Bible and Books
3008 NE Alberta - 282-7484
Tickets Availabel at:
Pastor Mark Strong
House of Sounds Records
3620 N. Williams - 287-1960
Sundays at 11:00 am
Immanuel Free Methodist Church
311 N Ivy. (One block south fo Fremont, make a righ on Ivy.)
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BAPTIST CHURCH
Has moved Sunday services to
Stone Tower Church,
N.E. Sandy Blvd. & 30th
Worship Services 8:(X) a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
Church School 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Bible Study, Wednesdays, 116 N.E. Schuyler
10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Radio Ministry each Sunday, 8:00 a.m. on KBMS
A Teaching Church With A Reaching Ministry
Dr. James E. Martin, Senior Pastor
Church Office 116 N.E. Schuyler St.
(503) 284-1954
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M allory Avenue
Christian Church
D
i s c i p l e s
o f
C
h r i s t
Matthew 7 h£S
"Come to me all you w ho ore
w eary and heavy laden and I
w ill give you rest“
9:45am
11:00am
7:30pm
Sunday School
Morning W orship
Tuesday Bible
Study and Prayer
Inter-racial Congregation
J ia p it s t (D ju r c lj
8101 N. Fiske Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97203
Church Pho.ta: 2 » 9 -0 1 4 7
Sunday Service
10:45
Sunday School
9:30
Bible Study
6:00
Evening Service
7:00 P.M.
G od's Presence prom ises
Pouter through Jesus Christ In
G o o d Times and Bad Times
Denise R Bell. Postor
Study Phono: 2 S 9 -1 9 , 1
Pastor. Rev. James CE. Faulkner
Themes Whatever you're going to do
for the Lord, do it now
I Putor lv .1 1
126 N.€. Riberta t Portland, OR 97211 + (h03) 288-5173
1W M 9 A
=1
Amos Harris at 281-3169
or call