Upon Mount Zion, Israel’s Final Triumph

The final five verses have some symbolism, actually a fair amount of symbolism. Verse 17 starts with this words of hope when it says: “But on Mount Zion!” For all the evil that has taken place against God’s people, by those calling themselves wheat yet are really tares, come the message of hope. The message is changing from destruction of those that are prideful and full of hate, to one of redemption for those that have remained faithful. Who have matured as Wheat and are now ready for the harvest.

For every trial and temptation that comes our way, God has provided a way out. For those that have found the path of righteousness, the path to the throne of God, he has promised that upon this world we now live in that is filled with hate, envy, and destruction will one day possess all the earth as their reward for faithfully following Christ.

The words used by Obadiah to describe this comes in verse 18 where it says, “The house of Jacob shall be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame, But the house of Esau shall be stubble; they shall kindle them and devour them, and no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken.”

It would appear Obadiah was saying the descendants of Jacob, either Israel of old or spiritual Israel of today will take vengeance upon Edom. It is important to remember Edom is representative of all peoples that oppose God. In reality it is the righteousness of Christ that is as a consuming fire.

The final verse in the book gives us a clue for it closes by saying: “And the kingdom shall be the LORD’s. It is the righteousness of one who is the seed of Jacob, Jesus Christ himself who’s righteousness goes before the very ones that have been held captive by the enemy to give them freedom and pronounce judgement against all that oppose God’s people and God Himself.

It is Christ’s righteousness that shall kindle a fire that will cleans the world of all unrighteousness so that no trace of sin will remain for as it says in verse 18 we have this assurance because the verse ends with these words: “For the LORD has spoken.”

“The south shall possess the mountains of Esau, and the Lowland shall possess Philistia. They shall possess the fields of Ephraim and the fields of Samaria, Benjamin shall possess Gilead” (verse 19).

All that is being described is the land that was originally promised to Abraham when told that his descendants would possess all the land as far as his eye could see.

Verse 20 brings even more clarity when it says, “and the captives of this host of the children of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath.” God desired Israel to remain faithful and now for all Israel whether Israel of old or Spiritual Israel of today, all that have remained faithful will inherit the land, the land that has been made new, recreated to be like it was in the beginning and to live with their creator and Lord forever and ever.

So, the question Obadiah asks each of us is, what side are you aligned with? Are you aligned with Esau and his descendants or have you aligned yourself with his brother Jacob?

When Rebekah was given the promise that two nations were come from her two sons, she was told “one people shall be stronger than the other and the older shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23) Rebekah believed this meant Jacob would receive an earthly birthright, but in fact the prediction was that Jacob would receive a heavenly birthright.

Obadiah, although a prediction of eventual destruction is actually a promise that God is ultimately in control. He knows who the wheat and the tares are, and has a special reward for all those who are victorious and ripen awaiting the final harvest.

It is my prayer that all reading this will remain faithful to God until the end, thus receiving the heavenly birthright and becoming heirs of Christ Kingdom which will never come to an end.

May God bless you all.

P.S.  To view all the previous posts on Obadiah, It Is Only 21 Verses click here.