Yesterday at Saar Fellowship our text was the Old Testament’s shortest book, Obadiah. Just 21 verses, but packed with lessons and prophecy. Some books are easier to see Jesus in than others, right? Hosea bought Gomer out of a sinful lifestyle even though she was already His, foreshadowing the price paid for us at Calvary. Obadiah is a little more obscure, but, it is a book of the Bible, the words of a prophet, therefore, it points to Jesus.
The Gospel in the bigger picture in Obadiah confirms the great promise of the Gospel that God will deliver His people.
God’s rescue, the deliverance of His people, is really, bigger picture, the theme of the whole Bible. That’s what God promises through the words of Obadiah – deliverance, rescue and restoration for His people – and this is possible for believers, now, through the Messiah, through Jesus.
No matter how scattered, persecuted, or despondent His people are, God will restore and deliver His people.
He will gather His people from all peoples and nations into His eternal family.
V.17 in lots of translations reads
“But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance,
And there shall be holiness;
The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
The last verse, v.21, echoes the ultimate triumph of the Gospel,
Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion
to rule Mount Esau,
and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.
Remember the multi-fulfilment of true Biblical, Scriptural, from the mouth of God prophecy?
Immediately this meant that there would be deliverance for God’s people.
Ultimately, this is reflected in Revelation 11.15
…The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of rhis Christ, and she shall reign forever and ever.
The final line of the book points towards the big idea:
God will deliver His people.
The substance of the promises of Obadiah are promises for those who have faith in Christ.
He is the redeemer, He is the deliverer, He is the rescuer, He is the Saviour.
James Travis 