Return to Mount Zion
Steve McKenzie October 23, 2022

October 23, 2022

BACKGROUND

  • Jerusalem has fallen. At the time Obadiah, both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel are in exile.
  • Edom is a neighboring region to the southeast of Israel but they are more than a neighbor – they are family. Brothers of Isaac: Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom).

ROOTS OF PRIDE

  • Obadiah 3 ““Your arrogant heart has deceived you, …”
  • [1] Position of Security (v 3-4)
  • [2] Wealth (v 5-6)
  • [3] Allies (v 7)
  • [4] Wisdom (v 8)
  • [5] Armies (v 9)

 

FRUIT OF PRIDE

  • [1] Family Neglect (v 10)
  • [2] Callous Non-Involvement (v 11)
  • [3] Malicious Gloating (v 12)
  • [4] Ruthless Exploitation (v 13-14)

 

AXE OF JUDGEMENT

  • Obadiah 15 “For the day of the Lord is near, against all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; what you deserve will return on your own head.”
  • “Day of the Lord” is a day of judgement and blessings
  • “All Nations” – no longer just talking about Edom. Also verses 1-14, the “you” is singular but in verses 15-21 the “you” in now plural.
  • This all shows that Obadiah’s words are speaking about humanity now and not just Edom’s situation.

 

RETURN TO MOUNT ZION

  • Obadiah 17 “But there will be a deliverance on Mount Zion, and it will be holy…”
  • Mount Zion represents God’s eternal, heavenly dwelling (Isaiah 2:2-4, Hebrews 12:22)
  • FIVE DESCRIPTIONS:
    • [1] Place of Safety (v 17)
    • [2] Holy Place (v 17)
    • [3] Blessed Place (v 17)
    • [4] Unified Place
    • [5] Victorious Place
  • The Kingdom will be the Lord’s (21)
    • To the people in captivity (Daniel 2:44)
    • To the struggling remnant that returned (Zechariah 14:9)
    • To an unmarried, pregnant teenage girl (Luke 1:33)
    • To us in the concluding words of Scripture (Revelation 11:15, 19:6)