The Pulpit Commentary — Obadiah — Section 32

o.11 thine enemies perish, 0 Lord: but let them that love thee be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might." The Church of God bas often been likened to a worm, yet it is to thresh the mountain, and is seen in sacred song as "fair a.s the moon, clear as the sun, ond terrible as an army with banners." Thus weakness is girt about with strength, because God himself fights his people's battles, and is one with them. "He that seeketh thy life seeketh my life;" "He that toucbetb you toucbeth the apple of mine eye." All-conquering oneness. This secret of conquest may be seen by comparing our text with Isa. x. 17. In our text the word is," The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble;" but the word in Isaiah is, "The light of Israel shall be for a fire, and bis Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour bis thorns and his briers in one day." Thus the Lord espouses the cause of his people; so that in all things they are more than conquerors through him who loved them. II. WHAT IS THREATENED IN OUR TEXT RESPECTING ESAU APPLIES TO ALL THE ENEMIES OF Goo. As it is said that the house of Esau shall be as stubble consumed by the flame, so in New Testament language the ungodly are likened to chaff which shall be burned with unquenchable fire. It is a dreadful thing to be found amongst the enemies of God. St. Paul, we read, wept because there were men who were enemies of the cross of Christ. A n:ian who is hostile to the atonement of the Saviour shows he refuses to be reconciled to God. The message of reconciliation has come to ns. The way of peace is proclaimed to us. The gospel of God's grace is set before us. 'l'he path of life is revealed. Salvation is offered without money and without price. When we were enemies Christ died for us. Now, the promise is, "peace by the blood of the cross." And some spurn the cross. The apostle might well weep. Angels might well weep. The Saviour himself wept over such. There cannot be hope for a man who remains an enemy of the cross of Christ. The house of Esau shall be as stubble. The ungodly are as the chaff. There cometh One "whose fan is in bis band, and he will tbroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into his garner, but burn up the chaff with unquenchable fore." And not only is this part of our text applicable to all the enemies of God; it reminds us of the overthrow of all that is evil. Every plant that the Father bath not planted shall be rooted up. Truth shall prevail over error. Light shall conquer darkness. Eternal day shall chase away the shades of night. Goodness shall prove stronger than sin. The Seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's bead. All things shall be subdued unto Christ. "He must reign till he bath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that sha.ll be destroyed is death." Ere a little, and the song shall be heard, "'l'he Lord God omnipotent reigneth." Voices as of many waters, voices as of mighty thunders, voices loud and strong, voices of angels, voices of the redeemed of men, joyous coronation-voices, shall soon unite in proclaiming the once despised Man of sorrows " Knm OF KINGS AND Lono or LORDS. And he shall r~= for ever." "For the Lord bath spoken it."-A. C. T. Vers. 19, 20.-" Rehoboth." "And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria : and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites [ or rather, 'the captivity,' etc., 'which are among the Canaanites' (Pusey, following the Chaldee, etc.)], even unto Zarepbath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south." Here we have wideness at last; Rehoboth after narrowness, strife, contention, and hatred (Gen. xxvi.). The house of Jacob is shown us stretching forth in all directions-north, south, east, and west; the promises long looked for fulfilled; Jacob, long pent in, now enjoying a large room. The cries in narrowness have been answered in wideness. Rehoboth is inscribed on Judah's banner, and little Benjamin shares the plenteousness. They of the south have no Edomite enemy; nay, the mount of Esau is their possession. 'l'bey of the plain have no Philistine foe; their own borders reach to the coast. Over Philistia they triumph. The giants of Gath lie in the dust. The men of Ashdod and Ekron, who sang th,.. praise of Dagon, are no more. Ashkelon and Gaza are silent in death. They of the plain possess the whole territory of the Philistines, with the sea for their only border. But much more than this. They extend northward. They take in Ephraim. 18 THE BOOK OF OBADIAH.