Thursday, April 10, 2014

OBADIAH’S VISION

Suggested Reading: Obadiah

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

In Petra, Jordan, this massive façade, 30m wide and 43m high, is carved out of the sheer, dusky pink rock-face and dwarfs everything around it. The engineering genius of the ancient people who lived here is awe inspiring. Petra was the capital city of the Edomites. In today's reading the prophet Obadiah denounces Edom for her pride. Secure in their impregnable fortress city, the Edomites felt that they were beyond the danger of invasion or conquest.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verses: Obadiah verse 17

But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance,

And there shall be holiness;

The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

 

The Edomites were descended from Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, sons of Isaac and Rebekah (read Genesis 25:19-23). Rebekah “went to inquire of the Lord.” This expectant mother was aware that the twins were struggling in her womb and she prayed about it. “The Lord said to her: ‘Two nations are in your womb…the older shall serve the younger.'” Obadiah’s prophecy confirms what God said to Rebekah, that Edom (Esau) would serve Israel (Jacob). Mount Zion (Jerusalem) is the capital city of the descendants of Jacob.

Obadiah predicts that the proud people of Edom would be humiliated. In the day of Jerusalem’s calamity, Edom had gloated and even surrendered Israelite fugitives to the enemy. Edom was guilty of flagrant injustice. “The day of the Lord” is a time of reckoning for all nations.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray that I will be found walking in “holiness,” ready for “the day of the Lord!” May the laws enacted by our nation reflect Your “Holiness” Lord Jesus! I pray for our leaders. Grant them grace, I pray, to serve You and all people in righteousness. May our leaders be made aware that the nations are being judged in Your courtroom! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I marvel at the homes and public buildings carved from the solid rock in Petra. Today it is not a proud capital city; it’s a tourist destination, a most impressive relic of an ancient powerful nation. King Abdullah of Jordan was in New York City, and no doubt he was intent on promoting tourism, which is a mainstay in the economy of his country, when I had the privilege to meet him at the Mayflower Hotel. As we visited I mentioned that my son-in-law covered his country several times each week on TV in the Arabic language. The King said, “What is his name?” “Rev. Nizar Shaheen,” I answered. With a surprised look on his face, the king said, “Nizar is a great man of God. I watch him on TV regularly.” It occurred to me that the king might have been tempted to say this for tourism’s sake, so I asked him, “On what channel do you watch Nizar?” He knew all the details, so I concluded he really did watch the message of God’s Word as Nizar and his guests present Jesus as Saviour and Lord!

The Crossroads ministry launched the Arabic language ministry almost 30 years ago. We were able to do this because of the prayers and support of God’s people. Crossroads has new, exciting and effective plans for a greater than ever in-depth coverage of all the nations of our world with the Good News of Jesus!

Yours for all of us joining the Crossroads team in the current membership drive (click here for more info and to request the special book offer, The Greatest Words Ever Spoken),

David

P.S. HERE is an interview that my son Ron did with Steven K. Scott on yesterday’s 100 Huntley Street about the book The Greatest Words Ever Spoken. Reading all the words of Jesus on a particular topic is a great way to spend time with Him!

 

14 thoughts on “Thursday, April 10, 2014

  1. What an amazing history book our bible is. The pic of the carved out rock work in Jordan is beautiful.
    Obadiah reconfirms to us that it doesn’t pay to boast and feel secure in our own works. I need to be reminded of that every now and then.
    Thanks DM for another valuable history lesson.
    May God bless you and your team with abundant funding for all your Christian endeavours.

  2. That’s an exciting report, David to evangelize the nations!! Thank God for Crossroads and also for Nizar and “Light for all Nations” Interesting that King Herod was a descendant of Esau( Edomites) and his people died while defending Jerusalem against the Romans in 70AD. God can turn and overturn. Important prayer to pray today for our country and people. Today my friends and I are celebrating the birthday of a mutual friend 96 years old. Have a great spring day brothers and sisters in the Lord!

  3. Thank you David for your prayer for the nations:

    “Lord God, I pray that I will be found walking in “holiness,” ready for “the day of the Lord!” May the laws enacted by our nation reflect Your “Holiness” Lord Jesus! I pray for our leaders. Grant them grace, I pray, to serve You and all people in righteousness. May our leaders be made aware that the nations are being judged in Your courtroom! Amen!!!”

  4. Dear Rev. David M.
    I am so grateful to be a member of such a vital ministry as Crossroads is . The vision for the future of Crossroads of spreading The Good News of Jesus by the means of media and todays technology is so exciting and encouraging . So yes I pray Heavenly Father , that this present two weeks of raising funds will enable all the team workers to do the work of Christ by standing strong in the name of the One Who never gave up, Jesus Christ . Amen.
    Have a blessed day on this beautiful spring day everyone.
    xxxx Carole.

  5. What beautiful stone work. It is amazing what the early people could do without the modern tools. Just think how long it would have taken to do that.

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