Greatly Despised

 June 19, 2023- Morning Bible Reading and Meditation- Obadiah 1 KJV

[1] The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord God concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. 

[2] Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.

[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? 

[4] Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.

Words to ponder for today:

Greatly Despised

A prophesy for Edom.

The descendants of Esau: Jacob’s twin brother; called also in the New Testament Idumea.

It was said that their land was conquered; a portion became a part of Judah and the half became the TransJordan;  who were controlled by numerous powers throughout the history. 

They were greatly despised because of their pride and high-mindedness. But the very cause of their non-existence is these:  “[10] For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.”

It was their  pride, that Edom ceased to exist because the wrath of The LORD’s hand fought against them, that they have been:

1. Disrespected- the intruder break forth within their highly secluded place; they were robbed and there was none left to them. v.5

2. Deceived- those people whom they trust and confederated with them have deceived them. V 7

3. Destroyed- their wise men were became confused and became void in understanding. V 8

4. Dismayed- the mighty warrior lost their courage to fight. Seeing their stronghold was pulled down. V. 9

Lesson we must ponder upon this chapter: 

No matter how mighty  in strength we are, no matter how blessed we are with wisdom and understanding,  no matter how secured our habitation be, if we runs out of cares, compassion and charity towards our brethren, even to the souls whom our Loving LORD loves, His anger shall surely become a consuming fire; that it will purge us to the extent that nothing will be left in us, but the heart which is ready to repent from pride, and turn to obey the will of GOD in our life. One of woman prophetess whom The LORD also rebuked and suffered shame and isolation is Miriam: the sister of Moses; written  in Numbers 12 KJV. Because she spake against Moses whom is The LORD’s anointed leader,  when he married and Ethiopian woman.  Looking at it, she has all the reason to spake against Moses. But it is her pride; which threatened to toppled Moses from the leadership. This happens even in the home, in the company or even on the church, that became the cause of division. From thence, Apostle Paul instructed the church such as these: 

Romans 16:17-18 KJV

[17] Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 

[18] For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Thus, Apostle Peter also remind us in 1 Peter 5:5-7 KJV

“[5] Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

[6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 

[7] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Let none of us be not among the greatly despised, but strive to  become GOD’s apple of His eyes; through our :

1. Faith in Him. Romans 10:17 KJV

[17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

Hebrews 11:6 KJV

[6] But without faith it is impossible to please him : for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2. Fear in Him. Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV

[13] Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Two kinds of fear we must have to The Almighty GOD:

1. Reverential Fear

2. Respectful/ Honoring Fear

3. Follow His ways. Matthew 16:24 KJV

[24] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Romans 12:9-10 KJV

[9] Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. [10] Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

4. Fellowshipping to be exhorted and edified with fellow brothers and Sisters. 

Hebrews 10:25 KJV

[25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Let us not leave this world without a trace, but our ways be a an extraordinary significant in, goodness, graciousness, gratefulness and godliness. Let the life we live be an example to follow in faith by others. 

Have a pleasant day ahead.

Obadiah 1:1-21 KJV

[1] The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord God concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. [2] Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised. [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? [4] Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord. [5] If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes? [6] How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up! [7] All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him. [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? [9] And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter. [10] For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever. [11] In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them. [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. [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; [14] Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress. [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. [16] For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been. [17] But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. [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. [19] And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. [20] And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south. [21] And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's.