The Pulpit Commentary — Obadiah — Section 31

II. In the next place, WE FIND SANOTITY rnoMTSED. "It shall ho holy." In its present-dRy applicRtion this promise sets forth the e1tnctification of God's Israel. It is not ~ufficient t-0 realize deliverance; we are to seek holiness. Joshua's captains were not only t-0 put their feet upon the necks of the five kings of the enemy, but they were to go forward and possess the whole of Canaan. Deliverance from foee in the cave of tbe heart is only preparatory to further conquests and higher attainments. We are delivered from our enemies that we may serve God without fear," in holiness and right- eousness all the days of our life." "It shall be holy." The Christian's sanctification is twofold. 1. He is se.nctified as set apa,·tfor God. Like the vessels of the ee.nctuary, he iii consecrated to holy uses. It was Belshazzar's great sin that he took the veesele of the temple and put them to a profane use. God's people are to he vessels unto honour, meet for the Master's service, resting on the heavenly Eliakim. Not their own; a separate people; sanctified or set apart by God the Father. 2. The other view of the Christian's sanctification is the blessed hallowing of the Holy Spirit. Thie is a progressive work. We are to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. We are to add to our faith, We are to be going from strength to strength, We are to press towards the mark. We are to be changed from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. "Upon Mount Zion shell be deliverance, and it shall be holy." May we now seek to be filled with the Spirit of holiness I , III. The third great promise of my text is SUFFICIENCY, "The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions." Here is all-sufficiency in all things. It is as the heir entering upon his inheritance. "My beloved is mine, and I am his;" "All things are ours, the world, life, death, things present, things to come,-all are ours.'' In possessing our possessions we enter upon the unsearchable riches of Christ. His salvation ours; hie pardon ours; his joy ours ; his rest ours; his kingdom ours ; his angels ours ; his home ours; his glory ours. Christ himself ours ; Christ in us the Hope of glory; Obrist for us the Pledge of glory; crucified together with him; raised together with him ; seated together with him; glorified together. Oh, the unsearchable riches of the Christian I May we learn to possess our possessions, to use our talents, to enjoy our privileges, to rise to our dignity, to realize our standing, to pass through the length and breadth of our Canaan I Ours a righteousness which is Divine; a peace which surpasseth nnderstanding; a joy which is unspeakable; a love which psseeth know- ledge ; a kingdom which cannot be moved ; a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Oh, let us go up and possess I Safety, sanctity, sufficiency. Eternal safety, Divine sanctity, all-sufficiency in all things. "Upon Mount Zion shall be deliverance, and it shall be holy; and the hot1Se of Jacob shall possess their posseesions."-A. C. T. Ver. UL-Troth triumphant. "And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the Lord bath spoken it." L WHAT 1B HERE PROMISED CONCERNING Goo's HERITAGE APPLIES TO THE WHOLE CHURCH OF THE FraBTBOBN. Truth may appear to lose many a battle, but in the end it will assuredly prevail Edom, long hostile to God's ancient Israel, is iikened to stubble before the flames. Happy the people who are on the conqueror's side. When Israel was in Egypt, captive and down-trodden, it seemed impossible that they could ever march forth to liberty and Canaan. But the time came when they sang of victory, and Pharaoh and his captains were as stubble before the flame. When Asa found the vast hosts of the Ethiopians coming against him, it might have appeared impossible to subdue them. But Asa knew the secret of power. The Ethiopians were soon as stubble before the flame. When the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomitee were confederate against Jehoshaphat, it seemed as if the might and greatness were on the side of the enemy, but good King Jehoshaphat gave himself to prayer and praise-believing prayer, and joyous and confiding praise. The enemies were soon as the stubble before the ~me. And so in the end truth itself shall prevail. Foes may be mighty and gospel doctnnes may seem to make slow proITT"ess, but the time must come when" the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.'' That was a wondrq~ vision once seen by St. John: war in heaven-Michael and bis angels fought agamst the ~gon and his angels, and the dragon was cast out, and his angels with him. "So let. t-21.J THE BOOK OF OBAT>JAH. 27