GOD will FINALLY establish HIS KINGDOM!
September
24 Bible Reading: Obadiah Chapter 1
GOD will FINALLY establish HIS KINGDOM!
"But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance,
and there shall be holiness; the
house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. 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. "Then saviors shall come to
Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord's." (Ob 1:17-18, 21)
God’s goal
in history is the establishment of His kingdom. For Israel this will include
the return of the people, the possession of the land, the judgment on Israel’s
enemies, and the restoration of the kingdom in holiness. The above verses
contain the promise of the expansion of God’s people in all directions until
they regain their ancient territory. God’s repeated promise concerning
possession of the land (in Gen. 12:7) will have its final fulfillment through
God’s help!
We should
note that “Mount Zion” (in v. 17) and
“My holy mountain” (in v. 16) refer
to the same place: Jerusalem. The
references to the “house of Jacob”
and the “house of Joseph” (in v. 18)
signify a unified Israel. God
intends to rejoin the kingdoms of Israel and Judah as one people again. The
closing verse looks forward to that time when the Lord’s people will come to
mount Zion and judge the mount of Esau during the kingdom age (Dan. 7:27; Rev.
5:10). The emphasis on “saviors” (in
v. 21) is upon God the Father as the
Savior (Is. 45:21) and upon God the Son
as Savior (Acts 4:12). God will be all in all, and His glorious, triumphant
people will reign forever with Him!
Let us
understand that these were Obadiah’s last words against all human arrogance,
pride, and rebellion. Edom had thought itself indestructible; but the Lord
humbled that nation and restored the fallen Israel. Many people are tempted to
consider themselves beyond the reach of God. But God will bring them low, just
as He will lift those who humble themselves before Him. And one great day, He will establish His just rule over all…!!!
"The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Rev 11:15)
