Obadiah: Vengeance Is The LORD’s
Tim Rice
February 2, 2025

Obadiah 1:3-4, 12-18, 21 (ESV)

3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” 4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD. … 12 But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress. 13 Do not enter the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; do not gloat over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not loot his wealth in the day of his calamity. 14 Do not stand at the crossroads to cut off his fugitives; do not hand over his survivors in the day of distress. 15 For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. 16 For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been. 17 But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions. 18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the Lord has spoken … 21 and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.

Intro: What is your most vivid experience with vengeance?

COVENANT LOVE, HOLY AUTHORITY
What is the LORD’s relationship with His people and judgment against evil-doers?

ENVY & HATRED
What is the opposite of covenant love and a full heart?

THE MIRACLE OF MERCY
How is it possible for God to both destroy and save His enemies?

YOU CAN PRAY WITH US …
1 - Worship the LORD for His Covenant faithfulness and goodness. Praise Him, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that by His steadfast love, He is true to us even in the midst of our failures.

2 - How have you lived condescendingly and proudly over those around you who’ve failed? Confess your pride and hard-heartedness to Jesus, asking Him to forgive you and soften your heart to love as He does.

3 - Give thanks to Jesus that by the Cross He satisfied justice in such a way as to count us punished yet spare us from hell. Thank Him for raising us to new life, transforming us from enemies to be His true friends.

4 - Who do you know that is self-righteous and hard toward those who are weak, low, or broken? Pray for them, asking the Lord to humble them so that they would see what their sin deserves and genuinely turn to Christ.

5 - Read Romans 12:14-21. Ask the Holy Spirit to work into you such fullness as to drive out any discontentment or envy. Pray for such humility – at your own forgiveness in Christ – that you are merciful to others who fail.