The Pulpit Commentary — Obadiah — Section 33

No more shall Ephraim vex Judah. They also take in Se.me.rie.. No more shall It be heard that the Se.me.ril;ans have no part with the Jews. And more still. Benjamin shall possess Gilead, thus stretching to the east. It she.ll have a portion on both sides of Jordan. A.nd, further, Judah shall receive into fellowship those who were carried away captive from them. Some in Ze.rephath in Zidon, labouring as slaves in the mnelting-house, and the captivity of Jeruse.lem shall possess the cities of the south. Thns the inspired prophet, from the se.cred mount of vision, amongst other blessings, notices these five: (1) liberty after captivity; (2) peace e.fter war; (3) wideness after straits; ( 4) a portion on both sides of Jordan; (6) unity after divisions e.nd discord. With what joy must Obadiah have seen all these rich blessings unfolded before him I Liberty! Oh whe.t a history of captivity and bondage was that of the Jews I Peace I Their natione.l life hitherto had been one of war. Wideness I Up to this they had been sorely straitened and hemmed in in veriest narrowness. .d portion on both sides of JMdan ! Hitherto they had had their lot on the western side only. Unity I They had been torn by divisions. They had been weakened, impoverished, and desolated by divisions. How pleasant, therefore, the prospect of Judah receiving into its bosom multitudes of the captivity of Israeli All one at last. One fold under one Shepherd. A delightful prospect. Obadia.h, like another Moses, must have viewed the scene with patriotic joy a.nd ha.llowed fervour and gratitude. And now for the spiritua.l applica.tion of the passage to onrselves. I. Gtonrous LIBERTY lB PBOCLADmD 'l'O us. Christ sets his people free. He came to lead captivity captive. He opens the prison to those who were bound. Hie Word i.e the perfect law of liberty. The Apostle Pater's deliverance from prison is like a picture of the deli verauce wrought for the soul of man. We were in the de.rk dungeon, fast bound in misery and iron. Light shone in the prison. A friendly hand smote us. A voice be.de us arise. The fetters fell off. We were led forth from the darkness of death into the light and liberty of the children of God. Or we may say, in the language of David (Ps. cxxvi. 7), "Our soul ie escaped as a bird out of the ene.re of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are eecaped." Joyous liberty, blessed liberty, gloriou~ liberty of the children of God. Il. PEACE IS OURS. The J>e&Ce of the very God of peace. Secure tranquillity through the blood of the everlasting covenant. "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, eaith your God. Speak ye comforta.bly to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her war- fare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; " " Peace to him that is far off, e.ud t.o him that is near." Peace always and by all means. m WIDENESS IB OURS. "Thon hast known my soul in e.dversitiee; ... thou hast aet me in a large room." The Lord brings his people into a wealthy ple.ce. "Rehoboth" ill written on the gospeL "Rehoboth " is written on the work of Christ. "Rehoboth" ill written on the wells of salvation. On the joys, the glories, the r,romieee of covena.nt grace, the letters are written u with Calvary's blood-" Rehoboth.' Room enough and to spare (Job mvi. 16). IV. A PORTION oN BOTH BD>EB OF JoBDA.N lB OtJRB. The Christian has the promise of the life that now is as well as that which is to come. All things are ours. The world, life, death, things present, things to come, the blessings of the throne e.nd the blessings of the foot.etool, the upper springs and the nether springs,-all are ours. Oh, let us pity the men who have their portion only in thi.e life I Let ue pray for those whose hearts and treeeuree a.re where the ruet and moth e.re. Let ue seek to influence for good e.ll those who have no portion on both sides of Jordan. V. Finally, THE CHURCH IS OALLED 'l'O UNITY. We are to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit. There are many stones, but one temple. There are ma.ny children, but one household-one family. There are many branches, but one Vine. There are many members, but one body. The Communion feast teaches this oneness. Our Lord's great interceseorie.l prayer was that his people all might he one. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of love and concord, calls ue to oneneee. The divisions of Christians must grieve the Spirit. "01ll' little systems have their day; They have their day, e.nd ceaee to be; They are but broken light.a of thee, And thou, 0 Lord, e.rt more than the7." 1-21.J THE BOOK OF OBADIAH. 29