If you don't
have a One Year Bible or prefer something online, this link will take you to
the day's reading, http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/. This
site allows you to select from several languages and several English
translations.
DECEMBER 13
Obadiah
Welcome
to the shortest book in the Old Testament. We know very little about Obadiah.
It was a common name, but the most famous Obadiah was the guy who worked for
King Ahab in 1 Kings 18. He was secretly a worshiper of Yahweh and hid the
prophets of God from Jezebel, providing them with bread and water during the
drought. But I don't think this Obadiah was that guy. Although we don't know
when he wrote, the fact that Jeremiah quotes Obadiah gives us some direction.
My guess is that Obadiah wrote after the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem. The
object of God's message was judgment against the nation of Edom because of the
actions of the Edomites during and after this event. It was because of these
actions that God said:
2“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not
Esau Jacob's brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I
have loved Jacob 3but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his
hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” 4If
Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear
down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom
the Lord is angry forever’” (Malachi
1:2-4).
Vs.
1-4 God's pronouncement against Edom is red-hot and v. 4 is very dramatic.
Vs.
5-10 There are at least three things God will do to the Edomites. Take time to
note these. Notice how long God will be mad at Edom.
Vs.
11-14 Now, note what the Edomites did and how those things relate to what the
Lord will do to Edom. Notice too, the phrase, on the day… On that particular day they betrayed their brothers.
They looted their city. They cut off the fugitives and survivors. Do you see
the connection?
Vs.
15-16 And now comes another day. What Edom did is a picture of the arrogance of
all the nations against Israel. I think that something similar to this will
happen during the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation when the temple in
Jerusalem is desecrated. The Edomites would be repaid in kind. This will also
be true of those who persecute the followers of Christ in the Tribulation (Rev.
16:6).
Vs.
17-18 Notice God's jealousy for Zion and for His people. We've seen this before
in the OT, and we'll see it again.
Vs.
19-21 When the Lord returns and Jesus sets up His kingdom, Israel will possess
the lands of their enemies.
In
all that we are reading, you would think that the nations of the world would
take note that if God disciplines His own people, that is God's business. They
should stand in awe. If God doesn't spare His own when they sin, He will not
spare these Gentile nations either. When the nations strike God's own people,
as will happen again in the future, God will unleash His fury. God loves Israel.
And because He has called and used Israel as a servant for the nations He will
save them and contend for them. Also, since this portion of the Bible has been
in print for over 2000 years, you'd think that kings and governors would notice
how God will treat nations who defy Him. If He didn't spare His own people, He
certainly won't allow the unbelieving nations to dishonor Him. This stuff is
all written down, but I'll bet reading it isn't a government priority in any
country on this planet.
Revelation 4
This
is a short, transitional chapter that gets us to the throne in heaven. It would
have been good to have had chapters 4 and 5 together. Remember that this is
still before the beginning of the Tribulation; in fact, we are seeing what
happens in heaven at the throne of God to begin the Tribulation.
V.
1 Notice that in this verse, after this
occurs twice. After what? I think it is not only after the letters to the
churches, but it is after the church has fulfilled its mission.
Vs.
2-3 Here we see the throne and the One who sits on it. In some respect, this is
like Daniel 7:9-14. In Daniel, the One on the throne is the Ancient of Days.
Here, it is God the Father.
For
the imagery of the rainbow, I'd go back to what God said the rainbow meant when
He gave it to Noah. It might suggest that God is the embodiment of salvation or
is "surrounded" by the will to save men.
V.
4 Twelve of these guys have to be the apostles. Jesus promised them this. Who
the other twelve are is anyone's guess. The golden
crowns have to do with living and conquering by faith before God in this
fallen world. You can come up with your own list. Abraham might be one of them.
Daniel, Noah and Job would be good guesses. I'd also think Moses and Elijah
were there since they appeared with Jesus and spoke to Him about His sacrifice
in Jerusalem. It's all speculation.
V.
5 Further setting the stage here, there is a dynamic representation of
creation. Anyway, that's what I make out of it.
These
seven spirits, which are the seven torches before the throne, we have
met before and we'll see again. Somehow I think these seven spirits are related
to the message of salvation. In Revelation 5:6, the spirits are seen with the
slain lamb and sent by God into all the earth. Since they have already been
related to the church in 3:1, it could be that they are "empowering angels,"
sent to give care and strength to the ministry of the church as it works in the
harvest. After the Tribulation begins, neither the church nor these spirits are
mentioned again.
Vs.
6-8 This should recall Isaiah 6 and the visions of Ezekiel and the glory of
God.
Since
the angels in Isaiah 6 and the angels here all sing holy, holy, holy, I would say that God's holiness is something very
important to the angels. This is not choreographed; it is a natural shout of
praise to God for something that must be very meaningful to them. Notice that
the elders (v. 11) say something else that is almost the same thing they will
say before the Lamb.
When you put together
certain events in the Bible, you get the idea that Satan has called God's
righteousness, even His holiness, into question. Satan's words to God in Job
suggest this. Satan is shown as the accuser of mankind before God, demanding
that God be holy and righteous in judgment. And then it says in Romans
3:25-26, (Jesus) whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by
faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance
he had passed over former sins. 26It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might
be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
In Ephesians, Paul says that the principalities and powers
in the heavenly places had something revealed to them in the church. I don't
think Satan thought God could save mankind without violating His own holiness.
Anyway, I think it is very important for the angels that God
is holy.
Vs. 9-11 The praise here of the elders for God the Father is
expressed differently than the reason for which the angels praise Him.
What we are seeing is the ending of redemptive history. What
a long, sad tragedy this has been for mankind. Yet, it will end in praise and
in glory. We stand in that last part of history before God's judgment is
revealed. We have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and are His witnesses to
a dying world, testifying to what He has done. We get to present the offer of
salvation, forgiveness and a new life. We get to work in the harvest making disciples,
who make disciples. What we are seeing means that there will be total victory
and fulfillment. In faith then we need to keep working and serve our Lord in
the harvest, even when it is rough now. We can see that the best is yet to
come.
Psalm 132
This
song of the pilgrims coming to worship in Zion was a remembrance and a prayer.
They were praying for the continuance of the Lord's blessing on David, and that
God would remember His selection of Jerusalem as the place of His blessing and
presence. I get the impression that Solomon wrote this, possibly for the
dedication of the temple.
Vs.
1-5 This is referring to David's desire to bring the ark of the covenant to
Jerusalem. That wasn't a political move since the ark had been out of Israel's
worship for many years. David himself loved God and wanted God's presence to be
near to him.
Vs.
6-7 Here is all of Israel calling one another to go to the temple to the
dwelling place of God.
Vs.
8-10 This may have been Solomon's call to the Lord to enter the Most Holy Place
(Holy of Holies) and dwell there once the ark had been placed there.
Vs.
11-12 Solomon was referring to the promise to David and he saw himself as the
fulfillment of this promise. Jesus, of course, will be the son of David who
will reign there; and during the Millennium, all peoples and nations will be
able to come to Jerusalem and worship Him. At the end of Revelation, we will be
reading the fulfillment of this psalm.
Vs.
13-18 Not only did God say He would dwell in Jerusalem, at the end of the
Millennium there will be a New Jerusalem and Jesus will dwell there.
Proverbs 29:24-25
It seems like both the thief and
the man of fear destroy themselves in ironic ways. Trusting in the Lord might
not seem logical, but it sure beats the alternatives.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are interested in growing
deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth
of a discipleship culture in the church, that is, groups of 3-4 disciples,
meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out
and make disciples, who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal
and important discipleship manual we have and it is the key to our growth and
service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here, or what we
are to be doing, or whom we are to be following. My comments are only meant to
provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of
redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us,
as disciples, focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that
the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to
find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, making
disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive
commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
Anyone reading along with us is
welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own
observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition
or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any
point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as
I understand it. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that
will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are
reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a
supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we
will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making
disciples, who make disciples. Being in
the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the
essential essence of being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full
presentation of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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