The Pulpit Commentary — Obadiah — Section 18

exercised as to what is revealed about the judgment day, and of the Divine wrath upon the wicked; others havo difficulty in understanding the moral government of the world; but the docile, hum hie-minded believer takes this book as from the band of God. On the top of every page he sees, as it were, written in letters of golden light, "Thus s11ith the Lord." Where the word of a king is there is power, We have here the words of the King of kings. "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." That same Word upholds all things by its glorious power, And here we have that Word in writing, and it is God's great revelation of hie will. It is the chief means by which the Holy Spirit quickens the dead in trespasses and sins, and revives the drooping graces of his saints. "By thy Word thou hast quickened me." If you want any other proof of the power of the Word, read in the Revelation of the doings of him who was clothed in a vesture dipped in blood, and whose name is "The Wo1d of God." St. John wa.s inspired to write five books. In the opening chapter of the first he describes the Word made flesh, and dwelling among us. In the closing chapters of the last book he describes the Word in the blood-dyed vesture. It is the union of these truths which gives such power to the written Word. God bas spoken to us by his Son. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Let us, then, take heed how we hear. We all need to be ·attentive to the Word. Oh that Christ's high-priestly prayer were true of each of Ull, "I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me, and they have received them . . . . Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth" I Let us seek to "receive" all the words which have been given us. "They have received them." May this be true of us, and may we be sanctified more and more by the Word! "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth." IV. And now let us ask-WHAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS PROPHETIC BOOK? It is twofold. It tells of judgment upon the house of Esau, and mercy upon the house of Jacob. We shall hope to return to this subject again, but for the present let us note what a summary we have here of all revelation. We have, as it were, the pillar of the Lord-a light to Israel, a black cloud to the Egyptians. "He that believeth shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be condemned." The righteous shall walk therein; the transgressors shall fall therein. Esau, despising his birthright, barters it for a mess of pottage. Jacob, taking hold of God's strength, wrestles with the angel of the covenant, and 1s called Israel; for as a prince he has wrestled with God, and prevailed. In the one case we see wickedness apparently mighty and dominant, building on the heights, but brought down and made very small. In the other we have Zion, once feeble and down-trodden and despised, made triumphant and glorious by the grace, al:ld love, and wisdom, and power of him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and made us priests and kings unto God. If we notice the story of Esau, we see him in Genesis despising his birthright and hating his brother. In Numbers we see the two nations. Israel is marching to Canaan. Esau withstands him. The King of Edom prevents the progress. In this Edom seems the stronger. In St. Matthew'e Gospel we note the birth of Christ and the advance of the spiritual Israel. Then we find Herod the Edomite opposing with no little success. He commands the destruction of all the young children in Bethlehem. A true Edomite -a red man-a man of blood. But as we get to the close of the sacred Word we see that the house of Esau has disappeared. Zion is all-triumphant. Within the pearly gates all is joy, and light, and rest, and glory for evermore. Nothing that defileth can enter. The hosts of the true Israel are safe for ever. The great "Thus saith the Lord" by Obadiah the prophet has received its complete fulfilment. Let us, then, be sure of this-that whatever seeming strength falsehood and wickedness may possess, in the end truth only shall prevail; the kingdom which is "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" only shall predominate, and in a little while it shall be known that "the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." "The kingdom shall be the Lord's" (ver. 21).-A.. O. T. Vers.1-4.-Edom subdued. "The vision of Obadiah, Thus saith the Lord God concerning Edam; We have heard a rumour from the Lord," eto. We have said that, although there are so many Obadiahs mentioned in Scripture, the prophet cannot be identified with any of them. The sacred writers were never ready to put them11elves 14 'l'HE BOOK OF OBADIAH. [1-21