Oba 1:18 And There Shall Not Be Any Remaining of the House of Esau

[Study Aired September 18, 2024]

Oba 1:18  And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.

Oba 1:18  And the house^H1004of Jacob^H3290 shall be^H1961 a fire,^H784 and the house^H1004 of Joseph^H3130 a flame,^H3852 and the house^H1004 of Esau^H6215 for stubble,^H7179 and they shall kindle^{H1814 (H8804 Qal)} in them, and devour^{H398 (H8804 Qal)} them; and there shall not^H3808 be^H1961 any remaining^H8300 of the house^H1004 of Esau;^H6215 for^H3588 the LORD^H3068 hath spoken^{H1696 (H8765 Piel)} it.

H1004 – Bayith, house, dwelling habitation, shelter or abode, place, receptacle, home, household, family, family of descendants, household affairs, inwards, temple, on the inside, within, probably from a primitive root H1129, Banah, to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue, build a house (ie, establish a family), to be built/rebuilt, established 

H3290 – Ya`akob, Jacob = heel holder or supplanter, from a primitive root H6117, Aqab, to supplant, circumvent, take by the heel, follow at the heel, assail insidiously, overreach, overreach, attack at the heel, hold back

H1961 – Hayah, to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out, to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come into being, to arise, appear, come, become like, to be instituted, be established, be in existence, abide, remain, continue, to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated, to accompany, be with, be done, be brought about, be finished, be gone, a primitive root

H784 – Esh, fire, flames, supernatural fire, altar-fire, God’s anger, a primitive word

H1004 – see above

H3130 – Yosafe, Joseph = Jehovah has added, future(?) of a primitive root H3254, Yasaph, to add, increase, do again, join, join oneself to, be joined, be added to, cause to add, increase, do more

H3852 – Lehabah, flame, tip of weapon, point, head of spear, from H3851, Lahab, flame, blade, of flashing point of spear or blade of sword, from an unused root meaning to gleam 

H1004 – see above

H6215 – Esav, hairy, apparently a form of a primitive root H6213, Asah, to do, fashion, accomplish, make, work, produce, to deal with, act, act with effect, effect, prepare, attend to, put in order, observe, celebrate, acquire, appoint, ordain, institute, bring about, use, spend, pass, be done, be made, be produced, be offered, be observed, be used, be made, to press, squeeze

H7179 – Kash, stubble, chaff, from a primitive root H7197, Kashash, to gather, assemble, collect, gather stubble or sticks, to gather together, gather oneself together

H1814 – Dalaq, (Qal) to burn, hotly pursue, a primitive root

H398 – Akal, (Qal) to eat, devour, consume, slay, destroy, a primitive root

H3808 – Lo, not, no, nothing, without, before (of time), a primitive particle

H1961 – see above

H8300 – Sariyd, survivor, remnant, that which is left, from a primitive root H8277, Sarad, to escape, survive (Used once in OT)

H1004 – see above

H6215 – see above

H3588 – Kee, that, for, because, when, as/for though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since, yea, indeed, if, though, that if, for if, indeed if, but if/rather, except that, only, nevertheless, that is, for though, forasmuch as, for therefore, a primitive particle

H3068 – Yehovah, Jehovah = the existing one, the proper name of the one true God, unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of 0136 (not found in E-sword) from a primitive root H1961, Hayah, to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come into being, become, arise, appear, come, become, become like, be instituted, be established, be in existence, abide, remain, continue, stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated, accompany, be with, occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about, be done, be finished, be gone

H1696 – Dabar, (Piel) to speak, promise, a primitive root

The book of Obadiah parallels a fundamental theme of the Bible: there are two spiritual men in scripture, the old man and the new man. 

Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Rom 9:13  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

It is important to remember both Jacob and Esau are twin brothers, both born of the freewoman (Rebecca). Both were anointed, but the elder brother was the “rejected anointed.” Their story is a story of election, not of works:

Rom 9:11  (For the children being not yet born, neither (Jacob nor Esau) having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

Applied inwardly, judgment is now on the house of God, and our God is a consuming fire, so much so that there “shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau.” The “rejected anointed” shall be “rejected.”

The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, typifies the work of Christ in our lives. In this sense, fire has a positive application. In other words, fiery trials are good for us.

Deu 4:24  For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire,  even a jealous God.

Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

Rev 19:12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

The function of “fire” is to work a good work in our lives, to try our faith. The Greek word used for “try” is G1381 dokimazo meaning ‘to approve, discern and to test.’

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried (G1381) with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

The consuming fire of God’s word searches out the hidden things:

1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Oba 1:3  The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee..

Oba 1:6  How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!

Oba 1:8  Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?

The wise men of Edom symbolize our proud heart, and as the gospel of Jesus Christ is revealed to us, we as ambassadors of Jesus Christ have Christ shining in our hearts to reform our old ways and thoughts.

2Co 4:2  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2Co 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2Co 4:5  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

As ambassadors of Jesus Christ, the elect of Christ, he gives us the knowledge of the glory of God and considers us his friends, revealing all things he has heard of his father.

Jhn 15:14  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Jhn 15:15  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

It is only if we remain faithful and overcome to the end, that we will be considered “overcomers.”

Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Those who overcome are chosen according to election. In other words, it is not because of works, but of Him that calleth. This doesn’t absolve us from continuing our walk and continuing to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. If anything it inspires to continue to seek the scriptures daily to learn more about Christ and his Father. This is so we can know Christ, or rather be known of him.

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God,

Rom 9:11  (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Rom 9:12  It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Those new to the faith may ask, “How can a God of Love hate? How can a loving God plainly state He hates Esau?”

Here is the answer Paul gives in the very next verse:

Rom 9:14  What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Reformation is a process, and that which is sown in dishonour (our old man, Esau), our carnal mind must fall away.

Rom 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Jhn 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease.
Jhn 3:31  He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

1Co 15:43  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Co 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

The house of Esau (the old man) is signified, in type, by Abishag.

1Ki 1:1  Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
1Ki 1:2  Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.
1Ki 1:3  So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag (H49) a Shunammite, and brought her to the king

The Hebrew word Abishag (H49) is formed from two Hebrew words, father (H1 ab) and error (H7686 shaga) meaning father of error. Hitchock’s Bible Names has the name Abishag meaning “ignorance of the father”.

While the damsel, Abishag, cherished the king, even ministered to the King, scripture reveals the King knew her not. Therefore, Abishag in type, represents the rejected anointed.

1Ki 1:4  And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

Christ also made reference to this concept of “knew her not.” Many will say they have ministered, and done wonderful works, but Christ (the King) will say to them I never knew you:

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, even though it may be “sought carefully with tears”:

Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Even though Abishag cherished the king, the King knew her not.

Here is how important knowing the King is:

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

On the other hand, Esther is a more appropriate symbol that foreshadows the bride of Christ, because scripture states the King loved her above all women.

Est 2:17  And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

In summary, Jesus Christ is our one, true saviour, and has chosen to complete His workmanship in us, His chosen (His elect). As He increases in us, our old man decreases. There shall not be remaining anything of the house of Esau (our old man) because flesh and blood (the carnal mind, our proud heart) cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Esau is that stubble being burnt up, and because our God is a consuming fire he will be faithful to complete His workmanship in our lives.

Oba 1:18  And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.

Oba 1:17 But on mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness,
And shall possess the house of Jacob their possessions

[Study Aired September 11, 2024]

Oba 1:17  But upon mountH2022 ZionH6726 shall beH1961 deliverance,H6413 and there shall beH1961 holiness;H6944 and the houseH1004 of JacobH3290 shall possessH3423 (H8804 Qal)(H853) their possessions.H4180 

H2022 – Har, hill, mountain, hill country, mount, a shortened form of H2042, Harar, mountain, hill, hill country, mount, from an unused root meaning to loom up

H6726 – Tseeyone, Zion = parched place, the same (regularly) as H6725, Tseeyoon, signpost, monument, market, (Used three times in OT) from the same as H6723, Tsiyah, dryness, drought, desert, from an unused root meaning to parch

H1961 – Hayah, to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out, to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come into being, to arise, appear, come, become like, to be instituted, be established, be in existence, abide, remain, continue, to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated, to accompany, be with, be done, be brought about, be finished, be gone, a primitive root

H6413 – Peleytah, escape, deliverance, escaped remnant, from H6412, Paleet, refugee, fugitive, escaped one, from a primitive root H6403, Palat, to escape, save, deliver, slip away, bring into security, cause to escape, cast forth, be delivered, bring to safety

H1961 – see above

H6944 – Kodesh, apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness, set-apartness, separateness, from a primitive root H6942, Kadash, to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate, be set apart, be consecrated, be hallowed, consecrated, tabooed, show oneself sacred or majestic, be honoured, be treated as sacred, set apart as sacred, dedicate, observe as holy, keep sacred, honour as sacred, hallow, set apart, devote, regard/treat as sacred/hallowed, keep oneself apart/separate, cause himself to be hallowed (of God), be observed as holy, consecrate oneself

H1004 – Bayith, house, dwelling habitation, shelter or abode, place, receptacle, home, household, family, family of descendants, household affairs, inwards, temple, on the inside, within, probably from a primitive root H1129, Banah, to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue, build a house (ie, establish a family), to be built/rebuilt, established

H3290 – Ya`akob, Jacob = heel holder or supplanter, from a primitive root H6117, Aqab, to supplant, circumvent, take by the heel, follow at the heel, assail insidiously, overreach, overreach, attack at the heel, hold back

H3423 – Yarash, (Qal) to take possession of, inherit, impoverish, be an heir, come to poverty, be poor, a primitive root

H853 – Ayth, sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative, contracted from H226, Oth, sign, signal, distinguishing mark, banner, remembrance, miraculous sign, omen, warning, token, ensign, standard, miracle, proof, probably from a primitive root H225, Ooth, to consent, agree (Used four times in OT)

H4180 – Mowrash, possession, (Used 3 times in OT) from a primitive root H3423, Yarash, to seize, dispossess, take possession of, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir, come to poverty, be poor, be dispossessed, be impoverished, devour, cause to possess or inherit, cause others to possess or inherit, destroy, bring to ruin

—

Oba 1:17  But on mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness, And shall possess the house of Jacob their possessions (Interlinear version)

In this study we will look at the two Hebrew words [Zion and Deliverance] and how they are used in the New Testament

[1] Zion H6726 and the corresponding Greek word G4622 Sion

[2] Deliverance H6413 and the corresponding Greek word G859 Forgiveness

Zion H6726 means a mountain of Jerusalem and the corresponding Greek word is Sion G4622.

Here is how it appears first in the New Testament

Mat 21:4  All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
Mat 21:5  Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of a beast of burden

This prophecy spoken of is linked to Zechariah 9:9 and also referenced in Isaiah

Zec 9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass

Isa 12:5  Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
Isa 12:6  Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

The words of Jesus Christ are then said to be a stone of stumbling in Zion, to the outward Jews. This is true even today because to the orthodox Jew, the New Testament is not considered Holy Scripture.

Rom 9:32  wherefore? because—not by faith, but as by works of law; for they did stumble at the stone of stumbling,
Rom 9:33  according as it hath been written, ‘Lo, I place in Sion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence; and every one who is believing thereon shall not be ashamed.

A few chapters later Paul writes about the mystery of Israel’s salvation:

Rom 11:25  Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Rom 11:26  And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob

The Deliverer who will “come from Zion” is Jesus Christ, the saviour of the world:

1Jn 4:14  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son [Jesus Christ] to be the Savior of the world.

Deliverance H6413 Peletah, is from the root word H6403 paw-lat meaning “to escape”.

The corresponding Greek word is G859 aphesis meaning freedom, to pardon, or deliverance. It comes from the root word G575 meaning “off” or separation, departure.

Mat 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from/separation [G575] their sins.

The same word for deliverance used in Obadiah 1:17 is the same word used by Joseph. We are given to see there is only one truly sovereign will: the will of God the Father.

Gen 45:4  And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Gen 45:5  Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Gen 45:6  For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
Gen 45:7  And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance [H6413].
Gen 45:8  So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Spiritually, deliverance means forgiveness. Here are the words of Christ, who went into the synagogue on sabbath and stood up and read from Isaiah 61:1

Luk 4:17  And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luk 4:18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised

The holy spirit of God the Father is on Jesus Christ, his son, and we are witnesses to this truth, when we preach the good news of the gospel of Christ, the one true saviour and redeemer of our sins

Luk 24:47  And that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name [JESUS CHRIST] among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

It is the blood of Christ that is the new testament

Mat 26:27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus Christ was the rock of offence, the stumbling block in Zion, because he was crucified

Act 5:30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Act 5:31  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Act 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit [of God the Father], whom God hath given to them that obey him.

The only thing that distinguishes us from the [Jews that seeked to kill him] is obedience. When we are obedient to the word of God, we are able to say not my will be done, but your will be done:

1Pe 2:6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1Pe 2:7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1Pe 2:8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him [JESUS CHRIST] who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Because of Jesus Christ’s excellent example (the love he had for his Father), we understand that love means to be obedient

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we obey his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Finally, Mount Zion appears twice more in the New Testament where it is referred to as the heavenly Jerusalem, a kingdom which cannot be moved

Heb 12:22  But ye are come to mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels

Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear

Rev 14:1  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb [Jesus Christ our Saviour] stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

When we have our Father’s name written on our forehead  we simply follow the Lamb wherever he goes.

Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Rev 14:5  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God

Following the Lamb wherever he goes enables us to became able ministers of the new covenant (written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God) knowing that we are not sufficient to think any thing of ourselves.  This is how we are delivered from the many lies and false doctrines of Babylon.

2Co 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

1Co 4:6   that ye might learn in us not to think above that which is written

2Co 12:5  Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
2Co 12:6  For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

Eph 3:19  And to know the love of Christ [the son], which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God [the Spirit of God the Father].
Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us

Following the Lamb wherever he goes means our hope is firmly placed in His words, not our own:

2Co 3:11  For if that which is done away [The Mosaic Law] was glorious, much more that which remaineth [The mind of Christ] is glorious.
2Co 3:12  Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2Co 3:13  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Co 3:14  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ

We use great plainness of speech when we speak the words of Christ. Amen

Oba 1:16  For—as ye have drunk on My holy mountain, Drink do all the nations daily, And they have drunk and have swallowed, And they have been as they have not been.

[Study Aired September 4, 2024]

Oba 1:16  ForH3588 asH834 ye have drunkH8354 (H8804 Qal) uponH5921 my holyH6944 mountain,H2022 so shall allH3605 the heathenH1471 drinkH8354 (H8799 Qal) continually,H8548 yea, they shall drink,H8354 (H8804Qal) and they shall swallow down,H3886 (H8804 Qal) and they shall beH1961 as though they had notH3808 been.H1961

H3588 – Kee, that, for, because, when, as/for though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since, yea, indeed, if, though, that if, for if, indeed if, but if/rather, except that, only, nevertheless, that is, for though, forasmuch as, for therefore, a primitive particle

H834 – Asher, which, who, that which, that, when, since, as, conditional if, a primitive relative pronoun

H8354 – Shathah, (Qal) to drink, to feast, a primitive root

H5921 – Al, upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against, on the ground of, on the basis of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, in the matter of, as regards, to, over to, unto, in addition to, with, adjoining, next, at, around, down upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, against, because, although, properly, the same as H5920, Al, height, above, upwards, on high, from a primitive root H5927, Alah, to go up, ascend, climb, meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat, come up, to spring up, grow, shoot forth, go up over, rise, extend, excel, be superior to, be taken up/away, be brought up, take oneself away, be exalted, bring up, cause to ascend, cause to go up/ascend, bring against, take away, draw up, train, rouse, stir up, offer, exalt, be carried away, be led up, be taken up into, be inserted in, be offered, lift oneself

H6944 – Kodesh, apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness, set-apartness, separateness, from a primitive root H6942, Kahdash, to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate, be set apart, be consecrated, be hallowed, tabooed, show oneself sacred or majestic, be honoured, be treated as sacred, be holy, set apart as sacred, consecrate, dedicate, observe as holy, keep sacred, honour as sacred, hallow, dedicated, set apart, devote, treat as sacred or hallow, keep oneself apart or separate, to cause himself to be hallowed (of God), be observed as holy, consecrate oneself

H2022 – Har, hill, mountain, hill country, mount, a shortened form of H2042, Harar, mountain, hill, hill country, mount, from an unused root meaning to loom up

H3605 – Kol, all, the whole, the whole of, any, each, every, anything, totality, everything, from a primitive root H3634, Kalal, to complete, perfect, make complete, make perfect

H1471 – Goy, nation, people, swarm of locusts, other animals, from the same root as H1465, Gevah, the back, behind, from H1460, Gev, the back, back, midst, from a primitive root H1342, Ga’ah, to rise up, grow up, be exalted in triumph, be lifted up, be raised up, be exalted

H8354 – See above

H8548 – Tameed, continuity, perpetuity, to stretch, continually, continuously, from an unused root meaning to stretch

H8354 – See above

H3886 – Luwa, (Qal) to swallow, swallow down, a primitive root

H1961 – Hayah, to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out, to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come into being, to arise, appear, come, become like, to be instituted, be established, be in existence, abide, remain, continue, to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated, to accompany, be with, be done, be brought about, be finished, be gone, a primitive root

H3808 – Lo, not, no, nothing, without, before (of time), a primitive particle

H1961 – See above

—

In this study we focus on the principle of knowing there is a spiritual application for the words used in the Bible. We will look at the spiritual meaning of:

• Drinking from a Holy Mountain

• What it means, spiritually, to drink the blood of Christ and eat his flesh

• Paul’s process of reformation, the work of grace in our lives

• The difference between a “spiritual harlot” and a “chaste virgin”

In Obadiah we read about drinking from the Holy Mountain. 

Oba 1:16  For—as ye have drunk on My holy mountain, Drink do all the nations daily, And they have drunk and have swallowed, And they have been as they have not been.

This does not mean physically drinking from a physical mountain, because in understanding scripture correctly, we can only “rightly divide the word of truth” when we apply an important principle:

There is a spiritual application for every word used in the Bible.

Here is how Christ explains this principle:

Jhn 6:24  When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
Jhn 6:25  And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
Jhn 6:26  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
Jhn 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

How can physical “meat” endureth unto everlasting life? Christ even goes on to boldly command his followers to drink his blood. He does not mean this literally of course, because for those who have eyes to see, they see his words are spirit.

Spiritually, eating Christ’s flesh and drinking his blood means “dwelling in him” as stated in verse 56

Jhn 6:53  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Jhn 6:54  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Jhn 6:55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Jhn 6:56  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

When we dwell in the words of Christ (search the scriptures daily, forsaking not the gathering of the saints, etc) we are dwelling in him and spiritually “drinking continually”.

As it states in Obadiah “and they have drunk and have swallowed, And they have been as they have not been”, it is this process of change that is our transformation from the old man to the new man. This is not something we can do on our own steam, but only if we are being dragged to Christ. This work is the judgement of our old man and it needs to be carried out by the only one truly capable of completing this work: our one true Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Isa 43:11  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [G1670, ‘helkuo’, drag] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Without this “reformation” we remain a Saul of Tarsus type, thinking he is doing everything perfectly. Without this “reformation” we remain a spiritual harlot (Queen Vashti type, Jezebel, Aholah, Aholibah etc) thinking we are rich and in need of nothing

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked

It is when we begin to see that we are that “wretched man” staring back at us in the mirror that grace begins its work in us, enabling us to begin to repent, just as Paul looked back on his time as “Saul of Tarsus”.

Here are the words of Paul reflecting on his time as “Saul of Tarsus”

1Ti 1:12  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
1Ti 1:13  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1Ti 1:14  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus

But the road to Damascus was not the end of Paul’s transformation, it was just the beginning. It was when grace began its work. And the work of grace is to establish the new heart (the new man). The starting point for this work however is giving us eyes to see we were sinners when we thought we weren’t.

1Co 15:9  For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
1Co 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

It is only by the grace of God was Paul able to be “reformed”

Heb 13:9  For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein

It is the work of the grace of God which “transforms” us from a spiritual non-repentant harlot (Saul) into a spiritual chaste virgin (Paul).

Isa 1:21  How is the faithful city become an harlot!

2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

A “repentant harlot” is not the same thing as a “harlot”.

A “repentant harlot” is the opposite of a “harlot”, it is a spiritually “chaste virgin to Christ”.

An unrepentant harlot is spiritually still an “unrepentant harlot”.

The faithful city acts as a harlot, committing spiritual fornication, when they use their husband as a “placeholder husband”

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

We simply cannot say “Lord, Lord” and “Yes, Yes, But…”. We cannot speak with a silver tongue saying “Lord, Lord” and at the same time not do the things that Christ, our husband, says to do.

Without the work of Grace in our lives we remain in our iniquity and self-righteousness, turning grace into lasciviousness (Jude 1:4) and it is only because of Jesus Christ’s workmanship can we be transformed into the new man.

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith

But the work is not complete. We are not perfect while still in the flesh. For to say we are perfect now is to say the resurrection is already passed

2Ti 2:17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
2Ti 2:18  Who have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some

This was the mistake the King of Tyrus made. Like Job, he considered himself perfect and trusted in his own beauty

Ezk 28:14  Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Ezk 28:15  Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Ezk 28:17 a Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness…
Job 2:3  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

And what was the end of the King of Tyrus (in type, our old man)

Ezk 28:17b  … I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Ezk 28:18  … therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, 
Ezk 28:19  … and never shalt thou be any more.

If we say we are perfect now, we would not need to continually (daily) be made a living sacrifice. Out transformation would be complete and we wouldn’t need Christ any more.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

The root word for Holy (used in the phrase “Holy Mountain”) is sanctified [H6942 kaw-dash]. And in the new testament the word for sanctified is [G37 hagiazo]. We must be sanctified (cleaned/purged), and this is a continual, daily process:

2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

And what is being cleaned? What needs to be purged? The verse prior gives the answer

2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

To be considered a vessel of honour, we must have the wood, hay, and stubble of the earth (the old man) removed. 

And how is this achieved, the verse prior reveals the answer

2Ti 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

We start to depart from iniquity when we begin to rightly divide the word of truth

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Rightly dividing the truth within our own lives is the work of grace because the function of grace is to teach us:

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts (physical and spiritual harlotry), we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (as a chaste virgin)

While it is impossible for the old man to depart from iniquity in his own strength, because he was born in iniquity, it is only the true bread of life that can give us the life and light of Christ.

Eph 5:14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light

Jhn 6:47  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Jhn 6:48  I am that bread of life.

Oba 1:15  For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

[Study Aired August 28, 2024]

Oba 1:15  ForH3588 the dayH3117 of the LORDH3068 is nearH7138 uponH5921 allH3605 the heathen:H1471 asH834 thou hast done,H6213 (H8804 Qal) it shall be doneH6213 unto thee: thy rewardH1576 shall returnH7725 (H8799 Qal) upon thine own head.H7218

H3588 – Kee, that, for, because, when, as/for though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since, yea, indeed, if, though, that if, for if, indeed if, but if/rather, except that, only, nevertheless, that is, for though, forasmuch as, for therefore, a primitive particle

H3117 – Yome, day, time, year, a working day, a day’s journey, days, lifetime, period (general), today, yesterday, tomorrow, from an unused root meaning to be hot

H3068 – Yehovah, Jehovah = the existing one, the proper name of the one true God, unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of 0136 (not found in E-sword) from a primitive root H1961, Hayah, to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come into being, become, arise, appear, come, become, become like, be instituted, be established, be in existence, abide, remain, continue, stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated, accompany, be with, occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about, be done, be finished, be gone

H7138 – Karobe, near, kinship, from a primitive root H7126, Karab, to come near, approach, enter into, draw near, be brought near, cause to approach, bring near, cause to draw near, bring, present

H5921 – Al, upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against, on the ground of, on the basis of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, in the matter of, as regards, to, over to, unto, in addition to, with, adjoining, next, at, around, down upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, against, because, although, properly, the same as H5920, Al, height, above, upwards, on high, from a primitive root H5927, Alah, to go up, ascend, climb, meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat, come up, to spring up, grow, shoot forth, go up over, rise, extend, excel, be superior to, be taken up/away, be brought up, take oneself away, be exalted, bring up, cause to ascend, cause to go up/ascend, bring against, take away, draw up, train, rouse, stir up, offer, exalt, be carried away, be led up, be taken up into, be inserted in, be offered, lift oneself

H3605 – Kol, all, the whole, the whole of, any, each, every, anything, totality, everything, from a primitive root H3634, Kalal, to complete, perfect, make complete, make perfect

H1471 – Goy, nation, people, swarm of locusts, other animals, from the same root as 

H1465, Gevah, the back, behind, from H1460, Gev, the back, back, midst, from a primitive root H1342, Ga’ah, to rise up, grow up, be exalted in triumph, be lifted up, be raised up, be exalted

H834 – Asher, which, who, that which, that, when, since, as, conditional if, a primitive relative pronoun 

H6213 – Asah, (Qal) to do, make, work, produce, to deal with, act, act with effect, effect, prepare, attend to, put in order, observe, celebrate, acquire, appoint, ordain, institute, bring about, use, spend, pass, a primitive root 

H6213 – Asah, (Niphal) to be done, be made, be produced, be offered, be observed, be used, a primitive root

H1576 – Ghemool, dealing, recompense, benefit, from a primitive root H1580, Gamal, to deal fully with, recompense, deal out to, do to, deal bountifully with, recompense, repay, requite, wean a child, to be weaned, to ripen, bear ripe

H7725 – Shoob, to turn back/away, return, come or go back, return unto, of dying, of human/spiritual relations, apostatise, repent, of inanimate things, in repetition

H7218 – Roshe, head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning, tip (of mountain), height, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest, division, company, band), choicest, best, sum, from an unused root to shake

—

In this study we will look at the Hebrew words for near and nations. The day of the Lord is at hand in that the Lord is chastening us to forsake ungodliness. Therefore our new heart is being established and being built with grace. We are not appointed wrath, but unto salvation. Knowing we cannot please God in the flesh, we endure to the end knowing he will be faithful to complete his work in our lives.

We are commended to be patient in this time of trial and chastening

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4  and let the patience have a perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire—in nothing lacking

We are not perfect now, in these clay vessels. To say we are perfect now is to say the work of trying our faith is complete. Instead, the truth is we are being perfected, day by day and this is the day of the Lord that is at hand

Oba 1:15 For the day of the LORD is near [H7138] on all the nations [H1471]

The Hebrew word for near is Kaw-robe’ meaning at hand, more ready, shortly. Here is the same word used in Zephaniah 

Zep 1:7  Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

Zep 1:14  The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

And what is this day?

Zep 1:15  That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

Was that day just for those people of old, out there and back then? Do we experience this day of God’s wrath in our lives now?

A principle for understanding scripture is to know that every verse of scripture has an inward application. People make the mistake of saying that verse doesn’t apply to them, it only applied to the context of those living back in that day. But look what Christ says

Rev 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.  And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this book [the entire bible]

Here is a link to an article discussing the topic: Did Christ endure the wrath of God? Are we appointed to wrath? https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/did-christ-endure-the-wrath-of-god-are-we-appointed-to-wrath/

Here is how this doctrine appears [excerpts from the study]: 

“I had been written to by a gentleman expressing his understanding  that Christ could not have endured the wrath of His Father as we do, simply because Christ had not sinned to deserve His Father’s wrath.”

And here is how this doctrine is dealt with by using scripture and the sum of his word:

“You and I have been given to hear the words which inform us that our Lord was “in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin.” Exactly what are we being told when we read that “it is through much tribulation” that we must enter into the kingdom of God? Most people are not given to ‘hear’ that the “much tribulation [required to] enter into the kingdom” includes the seven last plagues which fill up the wrath of God, without which we cannot “enter into the temple of God”.

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

“No man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled” would necessarily include “the man Christ Jesus”.

1Ti 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

It was Christ Himself who insisted that His own flesh was not better than ours when He said:

Luk 18:19  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

The point being is that if Christ were above enduring the wrath of His Father, then there is no way He can say that He “was in all points tempted like as we are…”

Isa 53:10  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; 

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work[within our old man]: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed [our old man], whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

This is all being said of our old man who is then contrasted with our new man is the next verse:

2Th 2:13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

This verse is a repetition of:

1Th 5:8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ

We really are “blessed and holy” above all men if we are granted to die to our old man in this age.

It is with that mind frame that we can say with Paul, “we are not appointed to wrath but to salvation” (1Th 5:9), whereas I once thought that the mention of being appointed to salvation was proof that Paul was speaking of all men. I thank that gentleman for helping me to see that not only can we say “We are not appointed to wrath, but to salvation” is true of our new man whom we are to reckon as “alive unto God”, at the same time we are reckoning “our old man [as] crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin.” That is to be our mindset. [end]

Here is what Christ says in the New Testament about day of the lord being ‘near’

2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

Christ is both our ‘high priest’ and ‘captain of our salvation’. We are encouraged to draw near to him (to his word).

Heb 10:21  And having an high priest over the house of God [the temple which we are];
Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Heb 2:10  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Christ is our high priest ‘over the house of God’ administering governance and rulership as he chastens us and teaches us to forsake ungodliness.

And we know that Jesus Christ is at hand now.

Php 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Php 4:5  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

And who are the nations of Oba 1:15 For the day of the LORD is near on all the nations [H1471]

While there is an outward application, as in all nations will be judged, at this point in time we can see this verse has an inward application to the giants of our land (the nations) within.

What happens to our old man?

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed [our old man], whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming

1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath [the day of wrath is not an eternal never ending day], but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ
1Co 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1Co 6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Our old man has to die. And this is a daily death, each day we are dying daily to our old ways. Our carnal mind has to be destroyed because the carnal mind is enmity against God, but like all things it is a process and is not immediate

Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

As in Obadiah, Edom typifies our carnal mind [the old man within]. Similarly, both Aholah and Aholibah, two sisters of the same mother, typify our old man. 

Ezk 16:44  Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter 

Ezk 23:2  Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
Ezk 23:3  And they committed whoredoms in Egypt
Ezk 23:4  And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister

Neither Aholah and Aholibah partake in any inheritance which is the bride of Christ’s. This is true for two reasons. First, because our new man who is not appointed to wrath, and secondly because, whoremongers will not inherit the kingdom of God.

This question is presented in Ezekiel to the whoredoms of Jerusalem

Ezk 16:20 Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter?

In God’s eyes, is it a small matter? 

Here is Christ’s answer

Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming

And this is the end result of the heathen, Edom, Aholah and Aholibah, our old man, all experiencing the day of the Lord. All of them dwelling in that land shall be destroyed by the fire of His Jealousy.

Ezk 16:63  That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame

Zep 1:18  Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

And who is the one carrying out this work?

Isa 42:1  Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine chosen [Christ], in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: He [Christ] shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Christ’s judgement is what teaches us to forsake ungodliness. God’s soul delights in Christ, his son with whom he is well pleased. Likewise he delights in us, our new man.

But he does not delight in our old man. He does not delight in any aspect of Aholah and Aholibah

2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men

2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up

2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

We are commended to be patient in this time of trial and chastening

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4  and let the patience have a perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire—in nothing lacking

We are not perfect now, in these clay vessels. To say we are perfect now is to say the work of trying our faith is complete. Instead, the truth is we are being perfected, day by day and this is the day of the Lord that is at hand

Oba 1:14  Nor stand by the breach to cut off its escaped, Nor deliver up its remnant in a day of distress.

[Study Aired August 21, 2024]

Oba 1:14  NeitherH408 shouldest thou have stoodH5975 (H8799 Qal) inH5921 the crossway,H6563 to cut offH3772 (H8687 Hiphil) (H853) those of his that did escape;H6412 neitherH408 shouldest thou have delivered upH5462 (H8686 Hiphil) those of his that did remainH8300 in the dayH3117 of distress.H6869

H408 – Al, not, no, nor, neither, nothing, do not, let not, let there not be, a negative particle

H5975 – Amad, (Qal) to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth/up/upright/with, take/make a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of, stand still, stop, cease, tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, persist, be steadfast, hold one’s ground, remain standing, rise, be erect, be upright, arise, appear, come on the scene, appear, rise up/against, be appointed, grow flat/insipid, a primitive root

H5921 – Al, upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against, on the ground of, on the basis of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, in the matter of, as regards, to, over to, unto, in addition to, with, adjoining, next, at, around, down upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, against, because, although, properly, the same as H5920, Al, height, above, upwards, on high, from a primitive root H5927, Alah, to go up, ascend, climb, meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat, come up, to spring up, grow, shoot forth, go up over, rise, extend, excel, be superior to, be taken up/away, be brought up, take oneself away, be exalted, bring up, cause to ascend, cause to go up/ascend, bring against, take away, draw up, train, rouse, stir up, offer, exalt, be carried away, be led up, be taken up into, be inserted in, be offered, lift oneself

H6563 – Pereq, parting of ways, breaking in upon, plunder, crossroad, from a primitive root 

H6561, Paraq, to tear apart/away/off, break away, snatch, rescue, tear off from oneself, be broken off, be broken in pieces

H3772 – Karath, (Hiphil) to cut, cut off/down, destroy, take away, permit to perish, a primitive root

H853 – Ayth, sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative, contracted from H226, Oth, sign, signal, distinguishing mark, banner, remembrance, miraculous sign, omen, warning, token, ensign, standard, miracle, proof, probably from a primitive root H225, Ooth, to consent, agree (Used four times in OT)

H6412 – Paleet, refugee, fugitive, escaped one, from a primitive root H6403, Palat, to escape, save, deliver, slip away, bring into security, cause to escape, cast forth, be delivered, bring to safety

H408 – see above

H5462 – Sahgar, (Hiphil) to shut up, deliver up, imprison, a primitive root

H8300 – Sariyd, survivor, remnant, that which is left, from a primitive root H8277, Sarad, to escape, survive (Used once in OT)

H3117 – Yome, day, time, year, a working day, a day’s journey, days, lifetime, period (general), today, yesterday, tomorrow, from an unused root meaning to be hot

H6869 – Tsarah, straits, distress, trouble, vexer, rival wife, from H6862, Tsoriy, Zorites or Zorathites = see Zorah, hornet, from H6881 Tsorah, Zareah or Zoreah or Zorah = hornet, apparently another form for H6880, Tsirah, hornets, from a primitive root H6879, Tsara, to be diseased of skin, be leprous, be a leper, have leprosy

In Hebrews, we are promised that our day of distress will yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness. This study focuses on the phrase “day of distress”. We look at three Hebrew words of “distress”. Obadiah writes about Edom’s violence against Jacob, resulting in Jacob’s day of distress. Applying this inwardly, we all must go through our day of distress, and while uncomfortable at the time, it will produce good fruit. We will also look at the story of Elkanah’s two wives – Hannah and Peninnah – and see how a Hebrew word for distress is also translated as a female rival. We are encouraged to know there is great value in turning to the Lord and being obedient to his voice, especially in our times of tribulation and distress, as it says in Deuteronomy:

Deu 4:30  When thou art in tribulation (distress/ a narrow, tight place), and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
Deu 4:31  (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

Luk 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Here are three different Hebrew words used for distress.

• H4691 Distress, narrowness, trouble anguish
• H6887 Distress, be in a strait (trouble)
• H6869 Distress צָרָה (tsaw-raw’) means tightness (that is, figuratively trouble); transitively a female rival

[1] H4691 Distress (mets-oo-kaw’) appears in Zep 1:15

Zep 1:14  The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
Zep 1:15  That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble [H6869] and distress [H4691], a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
Zep 1:16  A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
Zep 1:17  And I will bring distress [H6887] upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.

[2] H6887 Distress means to be in a strait (trouble) and it is the root word of H6869 (tsaw-raw) meaning a female rival and adversary. 

Zep 1:17  And I will bring distress [H6887] upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.

Zep 1:17 is linked to 1 Sam 2:8. It is God’s promise to us, he raises the new man in us, out of the dust, and from the dunghill. The Lord will make the poor (lowly in spirit, meek and gentle) to set them among princes.

1Sa 2:8  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars [H4690] of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.
1Sa 2:9  He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God,which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

[3] Distress H6869 צָרָה (tsaw-raw’) means tightness (that is, figuratively trouble); a female rival. The word appears as “adversary” in 1 Samuel.

1Sa 1:6  And her adversary (H6869) also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

Here is the story of Elkanah’s two wives: Hannah and Peninnah

1Sa 1:1  Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah…
1Sa 1:2  And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

The root words of the two names

Hannah = favoured, from the root word meaning H2603 khaw-nan properly to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore, gracious.

Num 6:25  The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

Peninnah = an Israelitess, from the root word H6434, a pearl, ruby

Job 28:18  No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

Pro 3:15  She (Wisdom) is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

The wife with children, Peninnah provokes the wife without children, Hannah.

1Sa 1:3  And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

1Sa 1:4  And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
1Sa 1:5  But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
1Sa 1:6  And her adversary [H6869] also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
1Sa 1:7  And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked [H3707] her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

The word for provokes [H3707] kaw-as, is a primitive root meaning to trouble, to be indignant, angry, be wroth, riled and disturbed. 

The female adversary Peninnah provokes / riles Hannah, but the fruit of this “riling up” is the good fruit [Samuel]. 

The name “Samuel” (pronounced, shem-oo-ale’) means [H8050] Heard of God.

1Sa 1:10  And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
1Sa 1:11  And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head

1Sa 1:15  And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD

1Sa 1:17  Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
1Sa 1:18  And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
1Sa 1:19  And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
1Sa 1:20  Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD

Conclusion

Our day of distress, while uncomfortable at the time, will yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

While Penninah provoked and riled up Hannah (caused her distress), the peaceable fruit resulting from the ordeal was Samuel, whom God did not let any of his words fall to the ground.

1Sa 3:19  And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

When we think above that which is written, our words fall to the ground, hence Christ’s commandment to learn not to do this:

1Co 4:6  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Book of Obadiah – Oba 1:13 Thou Shouldest not have Entered into the Gate of My People

[Study Aired February 28, 2024]

Oba 1:13  Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;

Oba 1:13  Thou shouldest not^H408 have entered^{H935 (H8799 Qal)} into the gate^H8179 of my people^H5971 in the day^H3117 of their calamity;^H343 yea,^H1571 thou^H859 shouldest not^H408 have looked^{H7200 (H8799 Qal)} on their affliction^H7451 in the day^H3117 of their calamity,^H343 nor^H408 have laid^{H7971 (H8799 Qal)} hands on their substance^H2428 in the day^H3117 of their calamity;^H343 

H408 – Al, not, no, nor, neither, nothing, do not, let not, let there not be, a negative particle

H935 – Bo, (Qal) to go, enter, come, come in/with/upon, fall or light upon, attack, come to pass, attain to, be enumerated, a primitive root

H8179 – Shahar, gate, from a primitive root H8176, Shawar, act as gate keeper, to split open, reason out, reckon, estimate, (Qal) to calculate, think Pro 23:7 (Used once in OT)

H5971 – Am, nation, people, persons, members of one’s people, compatriots, country-men, kinsman, kindred, from a primitive root H6004, Amam, to dim, darken, grow dark, eclipse, be held dark, be dimmed, grow dark (Used three times in OT)

H3117 – Yome, day, time, year, a working day, a day’s journey, days, lifetime, period (general), today, yesterday, tomorrow, from an unused root meaning to be hot

H343 – Ade, distress, burden, calamity, disaster, day of calamity from H181, Ood, brand, fire brand, (Used three times in OT) from an unused root meaning to rake together

H1571 – Gam, also, even, indeed, moreover, yea, neither, neither…nor, but, yet, though, yea though, again, alike, by contraction from an unused root

H859 – Attah, you, a primitive pronoun of the second person

H408 – see above

H7200 – Ra’ah, (Qal) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider, have vision, regard, look after/at, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon/out, find out, give attention to, discern, distinguish, gaze at, a primitive root

H7451 – Ra, bad, evil, disagreeable, malignant, unpleasant, evil, worse than, worst, sad, unhappy, unkind, wicked, distress, misery, injury, calamity, adversity, injury, wrong, from a primitive root H7489, Rawah, to be bad, be evil, be displeasing, be sad, be injurious, be wicked, do an injury or hurt, do evil or wickedly, mischief, to break, to shatter, broken, be broken, be broken in pieces, be broken asunder

H3117 – see above

H343 – see above

H408 – see above

H7971 – Shalach, (Qal) to send, send away, stretch out, extend, direct, let loose, a primitive root

H2428 – Khayil, strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army, ability, force, from a primitive root H2342, Khool, to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained, whirl, whirl about, bear, bring forth, wait anxiously, be made to writhe/bear, be brought forth, be born, whirling, writhing, suffering torture, wait longingly, be distressed (Used five times in OT)

H3117 – see above

H343 – see above

H5971 (‘Am meaning a people, a flock) is from the root word H6004 aw-mam’ A primitive root meaning to associate; by implication to overshadow (by huddling together): – become dim, hide.

This root word appears three times in the Old Testament:

Lam 4:1  How is the gold become dim [H6004]! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
Lam 4:2  The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

It appears in the prophecy against the Prince of Tyre.

Ezk 28:1  The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
Ezk 28:2  Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
Ezk 28:3  Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide [H6004] from thee:
Ezk 28:4  With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:
Ezk 28:5  By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
Ezk 28:6  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;
Ezk 28:7  Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.

It also appears in the prophecy of Ezekiel 31. Similar to the prophecy against the Prince of Tyre, the Egyptian Pharoah has a heart lifted up, a proud heart: “Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height).”

We reap what we sow, and the consequences of a proud heart and striving to be tall in stature, striving to be counted worthy of respect, is that we are brought down:

Ezk 31:1  And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezk 31:2  Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?
Ezk 31:3  Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing [H6751] shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
Ezk 31:4  The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.
Ezk 31:5  Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.
Ezk 31:6  All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow [H6738] dwelt all great nations.
Ezk 31:7  Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.
Ezk 31:8  The cedars in the garden of God could not hide [H6004] him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.
Ezk 31:9  I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.
Ezk 31:10  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;
Ezk 31:11  I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.
Ezk 31:12  And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people [H5971] of the earth are gone down from his shadow [H6738] , and have left him.
Ezk 31:13  Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches…

Ezk 31:18  To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.

A word related to H6004 aw-mam’ (meaning to overshadow (by huddling together) is shadow.

Shadow appears as three Hebrew words:

H6751 (tsaw-lal’) a primitive root meaning to hover over, to shade, twilight, beginning to be dark, shadowing. (2 appearances)

H6752 (tsay’-lel) meaning shade, shadow (4 appearances)

H6738 (tsale) meaning shade, whether literally or figuratively: – defence, shade (-ow) [49 appearances)

Sng 2:17  Till the day doth break forth, And the shadows [H6752] have fled away, Turn [H5437], be like, my beloved, To a roe, or to a young one of the harts, On the mountains of separation!

We are instructed to turn from (avoid) our shadows (our time in the night) and be more like Christ. The Hebrew word for turn is H5437 saw-bab’ meaning to revolve/change

Ezk 7:22  My face will I turn [H5437] also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.

It is our day of calamity that is our day of judgment. The trials that occur in the heat of the day are what force us to turn from our shadows (our time in the night). This day of calamity is the destruction of the old man and his old ways, and judgment is now on the house of God. It is the brightness of Christ that produces in us a desire to daily turn from (avoid) our shadows.

Calamity H343 ‘êyd is from the same as H181 (firebrand, raking together) (in the sense of bending down); oppression; by implication misfortune, ruin: – calamity, destruction.

Jer 49:7  Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?
Jer 49:8  Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity [H343] of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him.
Jer 49:9  If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.
Jer 49:10  But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.

Even when we sit in the darkness, we are not able to hide ourself, and we are saved by the light of Christ.

Mic 7:8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness [H2822], the LORD shall be a light unto me.

The word for darkness is H2822 (kho-shek’) meaning dark, misery, ignorance, death. The corresponding Greek word is G4655 (skot’-os) meaning darkness, shadiness, obscurity.

Mat 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Pro 2:10 When wisdom [Christ] entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
Pro 2:11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
Pro 2:12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
Pro 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness

Pro 4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Mankind, in his darkened, black, fleshly, carnal state cannot see even his righteousnesses are filthy rags and that God creates both light and darkness.

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ [hidden in the ‘letters’ of the Old Testament].

1Pe 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light [out of the letter and into the spirit]:

Psa 18:28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

Conclusion and Spiritual Principle. We are first darkness because we are all in Adam (the first Adam shall die), but through Christ we are turned from darkness to light (in Christ all shall be made alive), but each man in his own order.

Act 26:18  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Luk 1:79  To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Book of Obadiah – Oba 1:12 …Neither Shouldest Thou Have Rejoiced Over the Children of Judah in the Day of Their Destruction…

[Study Aired February 21, 2024]

Obadiah 1:12  But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.

Oba 1:12  But thou shouldest not^H408 have looked^{H7200(H8799 Qal)} on the day^H3117 of thy brother^H251 in the day^H3117 that he became a stranger;^H5237 neither^H408 shouldest thou have rejoiced^{H8055 (H8799 Qal)} over the children^H1121 of Judah^H3063 in the day^H3117 of their destruction;^{H6 (H8800 Qal)} neither^H408 shouldest thou have spoken proudly^{H1431 (H8686 Hiphil) H6310} in the day^H3117 of distress.^H6869

H408 – Al, not, no, nor, neither, nothing, do not, let not, let there not be, a negative particle

H7200 – Ra’ah, (Qal) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider, have vision, regard, look after/at/upon/out, see after, learn about, observe, watch, find out, give attention to, discern, distinguish, gaze at, a primitive root

H3117 – Yome, day, time, year, a working day, a day’s journey, days, lifetime, period (general), today, yesterday, tomorrow, from an unused root meaning to be hot

H251 – Awkh, brother, half-brother (same father), relative, kinship, same tribe, each to the other (reciprocal relationship), of resemblance, a primitive word

H3117 – see above

H5237 – Nokriy, foreign, alien, foreigner, foreign woman, harlot, unknown, unfamiliar, wonderful, from H5235, Neker, calamity, disaster, misfortune, from a primitive root H5234, Nakar, to recognise, acknowledge, know, respect, discern, regard, be recognised, observe, pay attention to, pay regard to, notice, perceive, be willing to recognise/acknowledge, acknowledge with honour, be acquainted with, distinguish, understand, make oneself known, act or treat as foreign or strange, disguise, misconstrue, disguise oneself, act as alien

H408 – see above

H8055 – Samach, (Qal) to rejoice, exult, a primitive root

H1121 – Ben, son, grandson, child, member of a group/guild/order/class, children, youth, young men, people, of lifeless things, i.e sparks, stars, arrows, from a primitive root H1129, Banah, to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue, establish a family, be built/rebuilt, established, be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine)

H3063 – Yehoodah, Judah = praised, from a primitive root H3034, Yadah, to throw, shoot, cast, cast down, throw down, give thanks, laud, praise, confess, give

H3117 – see above

H6 – Abad, (Qal) perish, vanish, die, be exterminated, be lost, strayed, a primitive root

H408 – see above

H1431 – Gadal, (Hiphil) to make great, magnify, do great things, a primitive root

H6310 – Peh, mouth, extremity, end, weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sam 13:21 from a primitive root H6284, Pa’ah, to cleave in pieces, break/dash into pieces, shatter (used once in OT)

H3117 – see above

H6869 – Tsarah, straits, distress, trouble, vexer, rival wife, from H6862, Tsoriy, Zorites or Zorathites = see Zorah, hornet, from H6881 Tsorah, Zareah or Zoreah or Zorah = hornet, apparently another form for H6880, Tsirah, hornets, from a primitive root H6879, Tsara, to be diseased of skin, be leprous, be a leper, have leprosy

The Hebrew word used for stranger is:

H5237 nok-ree’ meaning strange. Used in a variety of degrees and applications (foreign, non-relative, adulterous, different, wonderful): – alien, foreigner, outlandish, strange, woman.

From H5235 [neker] something that is strange, an unexpected calamity

From H5234 [naw-kar] A primitive root; properly to scrutinize, that is, look intently at; hence (with recognition implied), to acknowledge, be acquainted with, care for, respect, revere, or (with suspicion implied), to disregard, ignore, be strange toward, reject, resign, dissimulate.

This primitive root word appears first in Genesis 27:23

Gen 27:23  And he discerned (recognised) him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.

It is also used to describe how Joseph interacted with his brothers when they came to Egypt:

Gen 42:6  And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
Gen 42:7  And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.

It is used in Ruth’s interactions with Boaz:

Rut 2:10  Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

In the new testament, the Greek words for strange include:

G3581 xen’-os. Apparently a primary word; foreign, 

…and…

G245 allotrios. Another’s, that is, not one’s own; by extension foreign, not akin, hostile: – alien.

From G243 allos. A primary word “else”

Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers (G3581) and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

As fellow citizens of the household of God, we are taught by grace, not meat. This meat can be quite delicious, as ‘strange’ is translated in Hebrew as ‘wonderful.’ There are some “wonderful” sermons performed in Babylon by very charismatic “men of God”. When I was coming out of Babylon, I moved from a Baptist church to start attending an Assemblies of God church. Hillsong, at the time, was one of the largest churches in Australia, and they had just opened a new campus in Brisbane. Each Sunday night they put on quite a performance. For all the congregation it was a “wonderful” and entertaining experience. However, their doctrine was not the truth, and so when you pulled back the curtain, you started to see that their truth was not ‘truth’ at all. Their Sunday evening performances were actually a little “strange.” Now we see the truth in Christ. We are ministered to by the words of Christ (the bible), and we now know that it is a good thing we, the body of Christ, are established (built) with grace, not with meats.

Heb 13:8-9  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange (G3581) doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

John 10:4  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 
John 10:5  And a stranger (G245) will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers (G245).

The voice of the stranger is subtle because false doctrines are wrapped around the “gold and silver” of Babylon:

Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images [doctrines] of men, and didst commit whoredom with them.
Ezk 16:18  And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them.
Ezk 16:19  My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD.

A few verses prior describes how beautiful and appealing these false doctrines seem:

Ezk 16:13  Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
Ezk 16:14  And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezk 16:15  But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.

The Hebrew word for fornication is H2181 A primitive root meaning “highly fed and therefore wanton.” Wantonness means “lack of care”, bad behaviour that is intentional or shows no care about bad things that might result. It is the same word as lascivious.

Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jud 1:5  I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

Eze 16:26  Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger.
Eze 16:27  Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way.

The word ‘lewd’ is H2154 zimmaw meaning “a plan, especially a bad one.” From H2161 zaw-mam’ a primitive root meaning to plan, usually in a bad sense: – consider, devise, imagine, plot, purpose, think (evil). The word is first used in Genesis referring to the tower of Babel. My eldest daughter has been introduced to Lego and is becoming quite skilled at building towers and cities. Children have wonderful imaginations, and their schemes and plans to build a great city are “wonderful” to watch. Her Lego towers are not very strong though, as for the tower of Babel the issue God had was their hearts and their desire for building it. They were building it for a name (H8034) meaning the idea of a definite and conspicuous position, an appellation (denomination), honour, as a mark of individuality. It was a defiant act saying, “Look, God, at all we can do, all we can touch, all we can achieve on our own and in our own name, so as to establish our own name.” 

Gen 11:4  And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name [H8034], lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
Gen 11:5  And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
Gen 11:6  And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined [H2161] to do.

Any doctrine that is antiChrist (against Christ) is the voice of the stranger. The word ‘imperious’ is used to describe the true nature of “her”, meaning domineering:

Eze 16:30  How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman;
Eze 16:31  In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;
Eze 16:32  But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband.

Isa 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Christ is the truest example of a faithful wife because He was obedient to God. In type, Christ is a faithful wife of God, teaching us the importance of submission, faithfulness, and obedience to one husband. Likewise, we the elect are called the bride of Christ, in the same manner being submissive, faithful, and obedient to our one husband, Christ.

1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God

Both Adam and Eve followed the voice of the stranger (the serpent) instead of the voice of God. They didn’t have the tools to try the spirits, and so in that sense they were blind.

Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground [Your own dying, carnal body of dust] for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

2Pe 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Nevertheless, we have been given Christ’s light, His word, His grace which teaches us to forsake ungodliness.

Conclusion and Spiritual Principle. We have been given valuable (and valuable is an understatement) riches the world sees not. While the world (the strangers: Egypt and Babylon) are desiring the fruits of the tree of knowledge and evil, we have been given to eat the words of life. The voice of the true shepherd leads us, drags us, and impels us to eat his bread. His words give us life and it is his words alone that will remain. 

Ricky Gervais, an atheist, has a different view, he says “… Science is constantly proved all the time. You see, if we take something like any fiction, any holy book… and destroyed it, in a thousand years’ time, that wouldn’t come back just as it was. Whereas if we took every science book, and every fact, and destroyed them all, in a thousand years they’d all be back, because all the same tests would [produce] the same result.”

This is known as the empirical method. In Science, so as to ensure reliability and validity of results, they follow the rule of seeing is believing and the importance of controlling for variables and being able to have repeatable results, but Science cannot see faith. Men of Science are not willing to admit they don’t actually know how hot the center of the sun is. They provide estimates, and speak with confidence on the topic, but no scientist has been brave enough to venture out and collect reliable and valid samples. 

The Achilles heel of science is “things unseen,” and things not seen do exist, such as faith. We know faith is:

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

We don’t have to feel threatened by the atheist’s arguments above, because we can discern the voice of the stranger in Ricky’s words. We should be grateful we have been given the gift of faith in greater supply than him; not of our own doing, but ordained of Christ before the world began. That truth is humbling. Like Gideon’s army being whittled down to 300 men, it is God who has preordained who will lap of the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, compared to you ‘will boweth their knee to drink.’ 

Interestingly, it is those that lap like a dog who are chosen. A dog symbolises obedience to their master, and we are willing to let our master guard us while we drink.

I read a quote somewhere which says,‘time will destroy all your books.’ The books of Babylon, the scientific works, and wonderful treasures of Egypt won’t last. While physical books of the bible gather dust on shelves, the words written within the bible cannot be destroyed because they are life and truth. It is these words, the words of Christ, we consider of most value because we have been given the faith to see value in things unseen.

Heb 11:24  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Heb 11:28  Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Heb 11:29  By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Heb 11:30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Heb 11:31  By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

Heb 11:32  And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Heb 11:33  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Book of Obadiah – Oba 1:11 The Lot has Been Cast Against Jerusalem

[Study Aired February 14, 2024]

Oba 1:11  In the day of thy standing over-against, In the day of strangers taking captive his force, And foreigners have entered his gates, And for Jerusalem have cast a lot, Even thou art as one of them!

Oba 1:11  In the day^H3117 that thou stoodest^{H5975 (H8800 Qal)} on the other side,^{H4480 H5048} in the day^H3117 that the strangers^{H2114 (H8801 Qal)} carried away captive^{H7617 (H8800 Qal)} his forces,^H2428 and foreigners^H5237 entered into^{H935 (H8804 Qal)} his gates,^H8179 and cast^{H3032 (H8804 Qal)} lots^H1486 upon^H5921 Jerusalem,^H3389 even^H1571 thou^H859 wast as one^H259 of^H4480 them.

H3117 – Yome, day, time, year, a working day, a day’s journey, days, lifetime, period (general), today, yesterday, tomorrow, from an unused root meaning to be hot

H5975 – Amad, (Qal) to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth/up/upright/with, take/make a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of, stand still, stop, cease, tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast, hold one’s ground, remain standing, rise, be erect, be upright, arise, appear, come on the scene, appear, rise up/against, be appointed, grow flat/insipid, a primitive root

H4480 – Min, from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than, some of, after (of time), from…even to, both…and, either…or, too much for, through, because, from H4482, Mane, musical chord, a stringed instrument from an unused root to apportion

H5048 – Neged, what is conspicuous, what is in front of, in front of, straight forward, before, in sight of, in front of oneself, straightforward, before your face, in your view/purpose, corresponding to, in the sight or presence of, parallel to, over, for, in front, opposite, at a distance, from the front of, away from, from before the eyes of, opposite to, at a distance from, from before, in front of, as far as the front of, from a primitive root H5046, Nagad, to be conspicuous, tell, make known, declare, announce, report, expound, inform of, publish, proclaim, avow, acknowledge, confess, messenger, be told, be announced, be reported

H3117 – see above

H2114 – Zoor, (Qal) to become estranged, strange, another, stranger, foreigner, an enemy, loathsome, strange woman, prostitute, harlot, a primitive root

H7617 – Shabah, (Qal) to take captive, captive, lead captive, a primitive root

H2428 – Khayil, strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army, ability, force, from a primitive root H2342, Khool, to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained, whirl, whirl about, bear, bring forth, wait anxiously, be made to writhe/bear, be brought forth, be born, whirling, writhing, suffering torture, wait longingly, be distressed (Used five times in OT)

H5237 – Nokriy, foreign, alien, foreigner, foreign woman, harlot, unknown, unfamiliar, from H5235, Neker, calamity, disaster, misfortune, from a primitive root 

H5234, Nakar, to recognise, acknowledge, know, respect, discern, regard, be recognised, observe, pay attention to, pay regard to, notice, perceive, be willing to recognise/acknowledge, acknowledge with honour, be acquainted with, distinguish, understand, make oneself known, act or treat as foreign or strange, disguise, misconstrue, disguise oneself, act as alien

H935 – Bo, (Qal) to enter, come, go, come in/with/upon, fall or light upon, attack, come to pass, attain to, be enumerated, a primitive root

H8179 – Shahar, gate, from a primitive root H8176, Shawar, to split open, reason out, reckon, estimate, (Qal) to calculate, think Proverbs 23:7 (Used once in OT)

H3032 – Yadad, (Qal) to throw lots, cast lots, love, loving-one, friend, a primitive root

H1486 – Gowral, lot, pebbles used for systematically making decisions, portion, recompense, retribution, from an unused root meaning to be rough (as stone)

H5921 – Al, upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against, on the ground of, on the basis of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, in the matter of, as regards, to, over to, unto, in addition to, with, adjoining, next, at, around, down upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, against, because, although, properly, the same as H5920, Al, height, above, upwards, on high, from a primitive root H5927, Alah, to go up, ascend, climb, meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat, come up, to spring up, grow, shoot forth, go up over, rise, extend, excel, be superior to, be taken up/away, be brought up, take oneself away, be exalted, bring up, cause to ascend, cause to go up/ascend, bring against, take away, draw up, train, rouse, stir up, offer, exalt, be carried away, be led up, be taken up into, be inserted in, be offered, lift oneself

H3389 – Yerooshahlahim, Jerusalem = teaching of peace, probably from a primitive root H3384, Yarah, to throw, shoot, cast, pour, lay, set, shoot arrows, throw water/rain, be shot, to point out, show, direct, teach, instruct, and a primitive root 

H7999, Shalam, to be in a covenant of peace, be at peace, peaceful one, one in covenant of peace, make peace with, cause to be at peace, live in peace, be complete, be sound, be finished, be ended, be sound, be uninjured, complete, finish, make safe, make whole or good, restore, make compensation, pay, requite, recompense, reward, be performed, be repaid, be requited, perform, make an end of

H1571 – Gam, also, even, indeed, moreover, yea, neither, neither…nor, but, yet, though, yea though, again, alike, by contraction from an unused root

H859 – Attah, you, a primitive pronoun of the second person

H259 – Ekhad, one (number), each, every, a certain, an (indefinite article), only, once, once for all, one…another, the one…the other, one after another, one by one, first, eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal), a numeral from a primitive root H258, Akhad, to go one way or another, to be sharp, (Used once in OT)

H4480 – see above

Sibling rivalry, especially among brothers, is a significant theme in scriptures. Here in Obadiah vs 11, instead of Edom being considered a brother, he is labelled as “one of them”. Edom didn’t act like a brother to the Israelites. Instead, Edom is considered to be just as bad as the invading enemy of Jerusalem, because like Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian Empire, Edom was allowed to participate in looting Jerusalem. Instead of acting as a protective brother, Edom acted with violence and treated his brother as a stranger, acting with violence and spite toward Israel. 

Esau hated Jacob because of the original betrayal:

Gen 27:41  And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

Pro 18:19  A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

Esau hated Jacob in chapter 27 of Genesis, but two chapters prior we are told that in fact it was Esau who hated his birthright and had sold it to Jacob

Gen 25:29  And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
Gen 25:30  And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
Gen 25:31  And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
Gen 25:32  And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
Gen 25:33  And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
Gen 25:34  Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

The spiritual type and shadow of Esau despising his birthright is that Edom despises things of the spirit. Or more accurately, Edom values the things of the flesh (a bowl of pottage, food) more than the things of the spirit (birthright). 

Is it wrong for Esau to be angry for what Jacob did to him? Is it wrong to hate your brother if he trespasses against you? Esau’s hatred for Jacob is contrary to the commandment given in Deuteronomy, Leviticus and in Luke:

Deu 23:7  Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.

Deu 23:19  Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:
Deu 23:20  Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Lev 19:17  Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

Luk 17:3  Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
Luk 17:4  And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him

Here is a further distinction between how one treats a brother versus a stranger

Cain even asks this question concerning how he is to behave toward his brother:

Gen 4:9  And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?

We know that ultimately, it is God’s sovereignty that sparked this original murder, and likewise all brotherly division, since, as it says in Luke 12:

Luk 12:49  ‘Fire I came to cast to the earth, and what will I if already it was kindled?
Luk 12:50  but I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I pressed till it may be completed!
Luk 12:51  ‘Think ye that peace I came to give in the earth? no, I say to you, but rather division;
Luk 12:52  for there shall be henceforth five in one house divided—three against two, and two against three;
Luk 12:53  a father shall be divided against a son, and a son against a father, a mother against a daughter, and a daughter against a mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.’

It is better to be divided from the world and united in Christ, and as we know, in God’s time, all shall one day be all in all.

Mat 18:8  Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into (aonion) fire.

1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

The Hebrew word for brother is H251 (Awkh) and the Greek word is G80 (Adelphos). Here are some of verses of how it appears in the New testament:

1Jn 2:9  He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

1Jn 2:10  He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

1Jn 2:11  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1Jn 3:10  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

1Jn 3:12  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

1Jn 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

1Jn 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

1Jn 3:17  But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1Jn 4:20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

1Jn 4:21  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Here is how we are commanded to treat our brothers, we are commanded to walk charitably with him (G26: Agape, affection and benevolence)

Rom 14:15  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

It is encouraging to see we have brothers who are companions in tribulation, as stated by John.

Rev 1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

We show agape (love) to our brothers through showing mercy and compassion, as well as executing true judgment.

Zec 7:9  Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
Zec 7:10  And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart

It is encouraging to see that Christ loves us more than a brother.

Pro 27:17  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend

Pro 18:24  A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Edom treated Jacob like a stranger instead of a brother. We reap what we sow, and a consequence for Edom treating Jerusalem with violence was they were, in turn, also to be considered as a foreigner.

Oba 1:11  In the day of thy standing over-against, In the day of strangers taking captive his force, And foreigners have entered his gates, And for Jerusalem have cast a lot, Even thou art as one of them!

In turn, Christ treats our old man as a foreigner. Christ is a stranger to our old man, and a loving friend to our new man; a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Mat 21:42  Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Mat 21:43  Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

The voice of a stranger is treated as a heathen man and a publican.

Mat 18:17  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Conclusion & Spiritual Principle: Christ acts as a stranger to our old man, but as a loving friend/brother to our new man. His love “grinds us to powder.”

Pro 27:6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

We have nothing to fear, even if our brothers try to trap us and attempt to kill us, as Joseph’s brothers did. Joseph’s brothers treated him like a stranger (Gen 37:20 “Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams”) but we know that Christ orchestrated all that evil for good, to save many alive. We reap what we sow, and as Joseph’s brothers treated him as a stranger, many years later, it was Joseph’s turn to treat them as a stranger:

Gen 42:7  And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food

This was not an easy thing for Joseph to do, but he was executing true judgment (Zec 7:9  Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother).

Gen 42:23  And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.
Gen 42:24  And he turned himself about from them, and wept

After a period of judgment, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers:

Gen 45:2  And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
Gen 45:3  And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
Gen 45:4  And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Gen 45:5  Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

Like Joseph, Christ does not blame us for our poor decisions. We are told not to be angry with ourselves as Christ shows compassion and mercy upon us as the weaker vessel. Christ treats us as a friend. He guides us and walks with us as a true shepherd. We have nothing to fear because Christ and God is within our midst, and the God of Jacob is our refuge:

Psa 46:2  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Psa 46:3  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
Psa 46:4  There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psa 46:5  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
Psa 46:6  The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
Psa 46:7  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Psa 46:8  Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
Psa 46:9  He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
Psa 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psa 46:11  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Book of Obadiah – Oba 1:10 For Violence to your Brother…You Have Been Cut Off

[Study Aired February 7, 2024]

Oba 1:10  For slaughter, for violence to thy brother Jacob, Cover thee doth shame, And thou hast been cut off—to the age.

Oba 1:10  For slaughter^{H4480 H6993} For thy violence^{H4480 H2555} against thy brother^H251 Jacob^H3290 shame^H955 shall cover^{H3680 (H8762 Piel)} thee, and thou shalt be cut off^{H3772 (H8738 Niphal)} for ever.^H5769

H4480 – Min, from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than, some of, after (of time), from…even to, both…and, either…or, too much for, through, because, from H4482, Mane, musical chord, a stringed instrument from an unused root to apportion

H6993 – Kehtel, slaughter, from a primitive root H6991, Kawtal, to slay, kill (Used three times in OT)

H4480 – see above

H2555 – Khawmawse, violence, wrong, cruelty, injustice, from a primitive root H2554, Khawmas, to wrong, do violence to, treat violently, do wrongly, be treated violently

H251 – Awkh, brother, half-brother (same father), relative, kinship, same tribe, each to the other (reciprocal relationship), of resemblance, a primitive word

H3290 – Ya`aqob, Jacob = heel holder or supplanter, from a primitive root H6117, Awkab, to supplant, circumvent, take by the heel, follow/attack at the heel, assail insidiously, overreach, to hold back

H955 – Buwshah, shame, (Used 4 times in OT) participle passive of a primitive root H954, Boosh, to pale, be ashamed, be disappointed, delayed, confounded, confusion, become dry, delay, be long

H3680 – Kawsaw, (Piel) to cover, conceal, clothe, cover over, spread over, overwhelm, a primitive root

H3772 – Karath, (Niphal) to be cut off/down, be chewed, fail, a primitive root

H5769 – Olam, long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world, long time, always, continuous existence, perpetual, indefinite or unending future, eternity, from a primitive root H5956, Alam, to conceal, hide, be hidden, be concealed, be secret, dissembler, hide oneself

Here is the literal translation of Obadiah 1:10 with the root words included:

Oba 1:10 Because of slaughter and the treating violently (we do to our) brother Jacob, (our old man will be) supplanted, shame (become dry) covers (our old man and it will be) cut down perpetually (continually).

The old man in us is, by design, created to be a “very good” adversary to the New Man. “Very good” is in the sense of being very effective at carrying out its purpose. It is an appropriate tool for the job at hand. In the same way God comments on all the beasts of the earth of His creation (including the serpent), saying it was “good” [H2896: ṭôb, appropriate]

Gen 1:24  And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Gen 1:25  And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good (appropriate).

The old man is a very good (appropriate) adversary. However, we reap what we sow, and all actions have consequences. It is because of the violence against the new man, the old man is being covered in shame as it is being cut down. Ultimately, the old man in us “shall come to nought.” There are a few Hebrew words translated as shame

1. H955 boo-shaw’ feminine of H954, shame
2. H954 boosh meaning to be pale, become dry
3. H1322 bo’-sheth from H954 shame (the feeling and the condition, as well as its cause); by implication (specifically) an idol.

• a drying up of a land. 
• When a wetland dries up the fish and vegetation die and begin to stink from the rotting matter. 
• Something that gives off a bad odor or is loathsome. [Hebrew and Aramaic]: stink, abhor, abomination, loathsome, stinking, savour, displeased.

Shame is used in the context of being clothed or covered and also translated as confused

Psa 89:44  Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.
Psa 89:45  The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame [H955]

Job 8:22  They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame [H1322]; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought

Psa 71:1  In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion [H954]

The passage in Ezekiel about the Valley of the dry bones uses the Hebrew word H3002 yaw-bashe’ to describe the bones as dry. It comes from the root word H3001 yaw-bashe’ meaning ashamed, confused and confounded. 

Eze 37:1  The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
Eze 37:2  And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry [H3002].

These bones are dry, and we know Christ referred to living people as ‘dead’ when He said, “Let the dead bury their dead” (Mat 8:22). Spiritually speaking, our bones are very dry if we are not clothed with Christ. If we do not have Christ, the quickening spirit, to cover our bones, we do not have true life

Eze 37:3  And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.

It is only when we are given the breath (spirit) of Christ to cover our bones that we are given life. This life covers our dry bones as we hear the word. We “hear” in the full sense of the word, because we hear and understand.

Eze 37:4  Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Eze 37:5  Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath [wind/spirit/make of quick understanding] to enter into you, and ye shall live:

It is Christ alone who gives us life, even though we were slain, His covering is life.

Eze 37:6  And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Eze 37:7  So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
Eze 37:8  And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them

Here is how flesh and blood is described in the New Testament. Spiritually speaking, flesh is not flesh; flesh is “meat”, and blood is not blood; blood is “drink.” Meat and drink are how we are transformed from the old corruptible state (having dry bones) to the nourished New man.

Joh 6:53  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Joh 6:54  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Joh 6:56  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Joh 6:57  As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
Joh 6:58  This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

Christ lives by the father; meaning Christ is in the Father and obedient to the words of His father having come to do not His will but the will of His Father. We can say the same. We are in Christ and He is in us because we are obedient to His words. We are filling up behind of the afflictions of Christ in our bodies as Christ increases in us. Our new sinew and flesh covering us is the New man dwelling in us. Christ dwells in us the same way drinking water dwells in us (physically) and gives us nourishment and life.

Eze 37:9  Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live

Eze 37:14  And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

While the old man will be clothed with shame, the new man is clothed with white raiment. Being clothed with Christ means He is putting His spirit in us.

Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

In Revelation we see the contrast of the old man (whatsoever worketh abomination) and the new man (they that are written in the Lamb’s book of life).

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

In Zimbabwe, I remember growing up in a very warm and welcoming Church. The people were very genuine, loving and kind. During Sunday church I remember clearly singing the worship song with the lyrics, “Is your name written in the lamb’s book of life?” Most Christians, if you asked, would say yes, they want their name written there, and their name is written there because they have welcomed Jesus Christ into their heart. In their hearts they have the assurance of their salvation. However, the mystery of our salvation, and how this happens, is revealed in scriptures. We know it to be a process; a process in which we are more of a bystander than author. Ultimately, Jesus Christ is the author of our salvation (Heb 2:10) and author and perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:2). This process of salvation which Christ is orchestrating is described using the Greek word [G341] renewed:

Rom 11:25  For I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, of this mystery—that ye may not be wise in your own conceits—that hardness in part to Israel hath happened till the fulness of the nations may come in;
Rom 11:26  and so all Israel shall be saved, according as it hath been written, ‘There shall come forth out of Sion he who is delivering, and he shall turn away impiety [wickedness] from Jacob,
Rom 11:27  and this to them is the covenant from Me, when I may take away their sins.’
Rom 11:28  As regards, indeed, the good tidings, they are enemies on your account; and as regards the choice—beloved on account of the fathers;
Rom 11:29  for unrepented of are the gifts and the calling of God;
Rom 11:30  for as ye also once did not believe in God, and now did find kindness by the unbelief of these:
Rom 11:31  so also these now did not believe, that in your kindness they also may find kindness;
Rom 11:32  for God did shut up together the whole to unbelief, that to the whole He might do kindness.
Rom 11:33  O depth of riches, and wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
Rom 11:34  for who did know the mind of the Lord? or who did become His counsellor?
Rom 11:35  or who did first give to Him, and it shall be given back to him again?
Rom 11:36  because of Him, and through Him, and to Him are the all things; to Him is the glory—to the ages. Amen.

Rom 12:1  I call upon you, therefore, brethren, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice—living, sanctified, acceptable to God—your intelligent service;
Rom 12:2  and be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing [G342] of your mind, for your proving what is the will of God—the good, and acceptable, and perfect.

The word “renewing” appears twice in the New Testament (Rom 12:2, Tit 3:5). Renewing is the Greek word G342 [an-ak-ah’ee-no-sis] derived from G341; renovation: – renewing.

Tit 3:5  (not by works that are in righteousness that we did but according to His kindness,) He did save us, through a bathing of regeneration, and a renewing of the Holy Spirit.

It is derived from G341 [an-ak-ahee-no’-o] meaning:

• to cause to grow up, new, to make new
• new strength and vigour is given to one, to invigorate
• to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state

G341 also appears twice in the New Testament

2Co 4:16  wherefore, we faint not, but if also our outward man doth decay, yet the inward is renewed day by day.

Col 3:9  Lie not one to another, having put off the old man with his practices,
Col 3:10  and having put on the new, which is renewed in regard to knowledge, after the image of Him who did create him

The process of our salvation is Jacob supplanting Esau within us. It is us putting on the new, and putting off the old man with his practices. This is what we are instructed to lay hold of: “to lay hold on the hope set before us.”

Heb 6:18  that through two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, a strong comfort we may have who did flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us,
Heb 6:19  which we have, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and entering into that within the vail,
Heb 6:20  whither a forerunner for us did enter—Jesus, after the order of Melchisedek chief priest having become—to the age.

Conclusion and Spiritual Principle

Psa 119:160  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. (ASV)

2Pe 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation

We see that our valley-of-dry-bones experience is Spiritual. It is our coming out of Babylon and putting on Christ which renews and invigorates our dry bones, transforming us into the New Man.

Obadiah 1:9 Mount of Esau is Cut Off

[Study Aired January 31, 2024]

Obadiah 1:9  And broken down have been thy mighty ones, O Teman, So that every one of the mount of Esau is cut off. (YLT)

Oba 1:9  And thy mighty^H1368 men, O Teman,^H8487 shall be dismayed,^{H2865 (H8804 Qal)} to the end that^H4616 every one^H376 of the mount^{H4480 H2022} of Esau^H6215 may be cut off^{H3772 (H8735 Niphal)} 

H1368 – Ghibbor, strong, mighty, strong man, brave man, mighty man, from a primitive root H1396, Gabar, to prevail, have strength, be strong, be powerful, be mighty, be great, make strong, strengthen, confirm, give strength, confirm, show oneself mighty, act proudly (toward God)

H8487 – Teyman, Teman = south, from H8486, Teyman, south, southward, whatever is on the right (so the southern quarter), south wind, toward the south, denominative from H3225, Yamiyn, right, right hand, right side, south (the direction of the right hand when facing East), from a primitive root H3231, Yaman, to choose the right, go to the right, use the right hand, be right handed

H2865 – Khathath, (Qal) to be shattered, be dismayed, be broken, a primitive root

H4616 – Mahan, purpose, intent, for the sake of, in view of, on account of, for the purpose of, to the intent that, in order to, to the end that, from a primitive root 

H6030 Anah, to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout, respond to, respond as a witness, make answer, be answered, receive, sing, utter tunefully, dwell

H376 – Eesh, man, male, husband, human being, person, servant, mankind, champion, great man, whosoever, each, contracted for H582, Enoshe, man, mortal man, person, mankind, of an individual, men, from a primitive root H605, Anash, to be weak, sick, frail, be incurable, desperate, incurable, desperately wicked, woeful, very sick

H4480 – Min, from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than, some of, after (of time), from…even to, both…and, either…or, too much for, through, because, from H4482, Mane, musical chord, a stringed instrument from an unused root to apportion

H2022 – Har, hill, mountain, hill country, mount, a shortened form of H2042, Harar, mountain, hill, hill country, mount, from an unused root meaning to loom up

H6215 – Esav, hairy, apparently a form of a primitive root H6213, Asah, to do, fashion, accomplish, make, work, produce, to deal with, act, act with effect, effect, prepare, attend to, put in order, observe, celebrate, acquire, appoint, ordain, institute, bring about, use, spend, pass, be done, be made, be produced, be offered, be observed, be used, be made, to press, squeeze

H3772 – Karath, (Niphal) to be cut off/down, be chewed, fail, a primitive root

Here is Obadiah 1:9 with the root words included:

The mighty ones (those who act proudly toward God) of Teman (South facing/the right hand) (is being) shattered (and shall) for the purpose of being a witness to mankind (the desperately wicked). So that the mountain (looming up) of Esau shall be cut down. 

Teman is the name of a district and town in the land of Edom, named after Teman, the grandson of Esau, the son of his firstborn, Eliphaz. A duke Teman is named among the chiefs or clans of Edom. Teman H8487 tay-mawn’ means the south (as being on the right hand of a person facing the east). The south denotes man’s right hand (man’s power). Figuratively, the right hand denotes “power” and “authority”:

Act 2:32  ‘This Jesus did God raise up, of which we are all witnesses;
Act 2:33  at the right hand then of God having been exalted—also the promise of the Holy Spirit having received from the Father—he was shedding forth this, which now ye see and hear;
Act 2:34  for David did not go up to the heavens, and he saith himself: The Lord saith to my lord, Sit thou at my right hand,
Act 2:35  till I make thy foes thy footstool

The proud heart in all of us is being brought down as we are humbled by Christ. Christ’s bright eyes shine in us and filtrate/purify us because we are a living sacrifice upon which He has chosen to transform into pillars in His temple. Unlike James and John arguing about who will sit at Christ’s left or right hand, we as the elect know it is simply an honour to be called, chosen, and remain faithful to be considered worthy to be grafted into the body of Christ as ministers and servants. The body does not tell the head where it will sit, on the right or the left, instead, the body is submissive to its head in all things. The body follows the head just as the body of Christ follows the mind of Christ in all things. Where Christ goes, we go:

Eze 1:20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
Eze 1:21  When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels

Contrary to this spirit of submission was the spirit of James and John:

Mrk 10:35  And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
Mrk 10:36  And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
Mrk 10:37  They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
Mrk 10:38  But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
Mrk 10:39  And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
Mrk 10:40  But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
Mrk 10:41  And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
Mrk 10:42  But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
Mrk 10:43  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Mrk 10:44  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
Mrk 10:45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

James and John were eager to make their requests known to Christ, but in doing so were making the sacrifice of fools

Ecc 5:1  Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
Ecc 5:2  Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
Ecc 5:3  For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

James and John were used as an example to remind us how important it is to “keep our foot” when entering the house of God. The mighty ones of Teman and Edom placed their identity and worth in their pride. Their heart was hasty:

Oba 1:3  The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?

Job’s words were not few, nor did he keep his foot when offering his sacrifice of fools.

Job 10:1  My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
Job 10:2  I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.
Job 10:3  Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
Job 10:4  Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?
Job 10:5  Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man’s days,
Job 10:6  That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?
Job 10:7  Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand

Job 23:3  Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
Job 23:4  I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
Job 23:5  I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

Here is God’s response to Job’s sacrifice of a fool, labelling it as Job speaking by words without knowledge:

Job 38:1  Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Job 38:2  Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge.

Job 40:1  Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
Job 40:2  Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Job Promises Silence

Job 40:3  Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 40:4  Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth

Ultimately, God the Father and Christ are sovereign in this cleansing process of purification we are all going through. How are we purified? By the words of the Son. The sovereignty of God has ordained that in “these last days” He speaks to us in His Son, Jesus Christ:

Heb 1:1  In many parts, and many ways, God of old having spoken to the fathers in the prophets,
Heb 1:2  in these last days did speak to us in a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages;
Heb 1:3  who being the brightness (G541) of the glory, and the impress of His subsistence, bearing up also the all things by the saying of his might—through himself having made a cleansing of our sins, sat down at the right hand of the greatness in the highest.

Brightness is from G541 ap-ow’-gas-mah meaning an off flash or effulgence. Effulgence means the ability to shine brightly. The brightness of Christ occurs in that he perfectly reflects the majesty of God. It is this brightness of His coming that will be how the wicked in us is revealed (illuminated):

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked (the old man) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

How is the old man consumed with the spirit of His mouth? The spirit of His mouth is the flames of fire of His Word:

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God

We are the apple of His eye, and even though we will suffer loss in this battle as we are burned, he that remains (overcomes) shall be saved.

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire

Psa 17:8  Keep me as the apple, the daughter of the eye; In shadow of Thy wings thou dost hide me.
Psa 17:9  From the face of the wicked who spoiled me. Mine enemies in soul go round against me.
Psa 17:10  Their fat they have closed up, Their mouths have spoken with pride:
Psa 17:11  ‘Our steps now have compassed him;’ Their eyes they set to turn aside in the land.
Psa 17:12  His likeness as a lion desirous to tear, As a young lion dwelling in secret places.
Psa 17:13  Arise, O Jehovah, go before his face, Cause him to bend. Deliver my soul from the wicked, Thy sword.

Being delivered in this battle is Christ saving us. We can only be truly humble if we are given eyes to see that it is Christ in us that is the New Man and He has dragged us to Himself so that we cannot take any credit for our salvation. This is true humility. Without it, without Christ, our humility is false, and we remain the high and lofty mountain of Esau.

Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

In verse 9 of Obadiah this message is reinforced: “every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off.” The word used for ‘cut off’ is H3772 kaw-rath’ meaning to cut, destroy, consume and to be chewed. It is first used after the flood of Noah

Gen 9:11  And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off (consumed) any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
Gen 9:12  And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
Gen 9:13  I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

Physical water is no longer, and never again will be, used to consume all flesh. Instead, spiritually speaking, it is spiritual fire that is used to chew/consume all flesh (the proud heart and wise men of Edom in us). It is with Christ’s fire that he consumes all flesh.

Deu 4:24  For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Deu 9:3  Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.

Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

This passage in 2 Thessalonians describes what Christ is consuming:

2Th 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

It is this process that saves us. Christ has overcome the world, Christ has brought down Teman and Edom, making Him our one and only true saviour:

Joh 16:33  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Conclusion and Spiritual Principle: Those with eyes to see and ears to hear will understand that the Word of God is a book that we are to keep and experience because the Word of God is alive and is how God the father “speak(s) to us in a Son.”

Heb 1:2  in these last days did speak to us in a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages;

The day of Christ is “at hand.”

2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand

Christ is at hand and as He increases in us, and our old man decreases, we begin to speak by words with wisdom, not as Job who spoke by words without knowledge offering sacrifices of a fool.