_The vision of Obadiah._ THE DIVINE PURPOSE IN RELATION TO HUMANITY A voice thundering at midnight is the voice of Obadiah. It was the voice of a stranger. His age, his country, his parents, his cradle, his grave, are all unknown. Yet his was a prophet’s voice,--deep as the boom of thunder, and pen... [ Continue Reading ]
_The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee._ PRIDE I. That the most despicable people are often the most disposed to pride. Edom is described as “greatly despised.” Small and disdainable as they were, they were nevertheless proud. Men of great intellect and lofty genius are characteristically hu... [ Continue Reading ]
_How are the things of Esau searched out! _ HIDDEN THINGS SEARCHED OUT All that any test or trial can do is to show what was in us already. In many places of the East there is the horrible disease called leprosy. When a man is feeling ill they have a curious way of discovering whether he has lepr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shall I not in that day. .. even destroy the wise men out of Edom._ PRIDE IN OUR WISDOM But we are warned by these words that if we excel in understanding we are not to abuse this singular gift of God, as we see the case to be with the ungodly, who turn to cunning whatever wisdom the Lord has best... [ Continue Reading ]
_For thy violence against thy brother Jacob._ AN OLD SIN In two aspects. I. Working in the history of posterity. “For thy violence against thy brother Jacob.” The spirit of envy that was kindled in the heart of Esau towards his brother Jacob glowed and flamed with more or less intensity for ages... [ Continue Reading ]
_But thou shouldst not have looked on the day of thy brother._ THE DOOM OF EDOM The commentary on this prophecy is supplied by every traveller who has explored the recesses of the mountain of Esau. Every people that has the privileges of Edom, and like Edom abuses them, is without right to expect... [ Continue Reading ]
_But upon Mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness._ HOLINESS ON MOUNT ZION The imagery of Scripture poetry often presents instructive truths, referring to more general subjects than those on which the sacred writer might, at the particular time, be called to dwell. I. Regard... [ Continue Reading ]
_And saviours shall come up on Mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s._ CHRIST AS A CONQUEROR This is a vision concerning Edom, or the Mount of Esau, or Idumea, which are different names of one and the same country, the mountainous region to the south of Judaea.... [ Continue Reading ]