The Pulpit Commentary — Obadiah — Section 25

in bis wiBdom, nor t.he mighty in his might, where shall we obtain II wisdom worth seeking? Where shall we find the secret of a God-given strength? I will now &IliiWer these inquiries. I. WHERE SHALL WISDOM BE FOUND? That of Edom will not do. The wisdom of this world is insufficient for an immortal soul. We mostly need, not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, but that wisdom of God whioh none of the princes of this world knew, for bad they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Where shall wisdom be found? St. Panl tells us it is a revelation of the Spirit of God. Where shall wisdom be found? 'l'he Scriptures, by the power of the Spirit, "make us wise unto salvation." Behold in Jesus the Wisdom of God. Ohsen·c, we say not-See ir. him great wisdom, but-See in him infinite wisdom; see in him the Wisdom of God. All that can come forth from God is in the blessed Jesus. He is the Wisclom of God. In his Person you have perfect God and pe1fect man-the hea,·enly and the earthly, the perfect embodiment and revelation of Wisdom. In his Person, his words, his work, his life, death, and resurrection, behold the Wisdom of God. And remember that" he of God is made unto us Wisdom." Yes; this is the wonder of wonders, this is the gracious answer to the question, "Where shall wisdom be found?" " He of God is made unto us Wisdom;" "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, ... bnt let him glory in the Lord,'' "who is the Wisdom of God and the Power of God." II. 'l'HE POWER OF Goo. This will bring us to the reply to the second inquiry- Wherein may we find power? The mighty man is not to glory in his might. The mighty men of Teman, as well as the wise of Edom, are denounced, What is the source of strength that cannot decay? St. Paul understood when he said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." In Christ we have righteousness and strength. When we are weak in ourselves, we are strong in him. He is not only the Wisdom of God, but the Power of God. God's power to save, God's power to bless, God's power to raise, sanctify, glorify, is Christ-" Ohrist the Power of God." Is there a soul yon want saved? Christ is the Power of God. Is there a tried and afflicted one you desire to be comforted. ? Christ is the Power of God. Is there one you want taught, guided, succoured, blest? Christ is the Power of God. Do you in your own soul want soul-weanedness, heavenly mindedness, spirituality? Christ is the Power of God. Do you want power to overcome, power to be holy, power to be faithful? Christ is the Power of God. Do you want fears banished, sorrow healed, anguish soothed, and death conquered? Christ is the Power of God. He must be mighty to save. He must be all-able to renew and bless. Christ is the Almighty. 111. We may now LOOK .A.GAIN AT OUR SCRIPTURE. We have seen that it shows tlie evil of all false confidence. It declares human wisdom and human power untrust- worthy. It shuts us up to Christ, the Wisdom of God and Power of God. And it presses upon our hearts this important question, "What is our hope? n It calls us to see whether we are building on the mountains of Esau or the Rock of Ages. We are warned that every one of the mount of Esau shall be cut off. All refuges of lies shall be swept away. The foundation of God only standeth sure, and none other foundation can any man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Oh, let us rejoice in the sure Foundation I Let us declare plainly that all our hopes are founded on Jesus Christ, that the foundation of our trust is Christ, the foundation of our happiness is Christ, the foundation of our glorious expectationa is Christ. On him as our Founda- tion we may rest secure. The gates of hell cannot prevail against us. The Rock of Ages iB immovable, the covenant ii inviolable, the promises are unalterable, and the Divine love is eternal, and when the mountains of Edom and all other false confidences shall for ever perish, "the righteous shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father for ever and ever."-.A. C. T. Vers. 10-14.-Edom's cruelty. Here one of the great sins of Edom is denounced iu very forcible language. Notice the succession of pointed sentences. "Thou ~houldest not have looked on the day of thy brother." The eyea were in the trans- gression. Hagar, we read, could not look upon Ishmael in his distress. But Edom could look on afflicted Jacob. "Thou shouldest not have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction." The emotions were in the transgression. " Love rejoiceth not ill iniquity," "Thou llhouldellt not have spoken ,proudly in the day of 1-21.] THE BOOK OF OBADIAH. 21