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28th December 2025
SundayReflection
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'The Bible Says'
commentary is created by numerous writers
"Obadiah 1:17-21"
..... meaning
The Victory of Israel
'But on Mount Zion some will escape, and it will be a sacred place. The people of Jacob will possess the land that is theirs by right.'
While Edom will be crushed by God's judgment on the day of the LORD, Israel and Judah will be restored.
The book of Obadiah closes on a positive note for the covenant people of God.
It describes the restoration of Israel in the coming day of the LORD.
While God will destroy Edom in His wrath (vv. 15-16), He will restore Israel.
Thus, on Mount Zion there will be those who escape, and it will be holy.
Mount Zion is used here as a synonym for Jerusalem (e.g. 2 Samuel 5:7; Zepheniah 3:14).
Mount Zion is in the southeastern part of the city of Jerusalem, which is in the southern kingdom of Judah. It was the place where David lived.
God is said to dwell on Mount Zion because it is the seat of authority in Israel (Isaiah 8:18). It represented the place where God lived among His people.
The phrase on Mount Zion there will be those who escape may refer to the survival of the people of Israel from the distress they will encounter.
The fact that 'it will by holy' may refer to a future time when the temple will be restored in Jerusalem, and the Messiah will sit on the throne of Israel.
This is prophesied in Ezekiel 40-44 and Zechariah 14:9-21.
The LORD used these terms here symbolically to portray His judgment on Edom. When fire attacks a field, it usually leaves it barren and desolate.
In the same way, God will use survivors from both Israel and Judah as His instrument of judgment to destroy the land of Edom.
As a result, the house of Esau will be as stubble.
The term stubble refers to the cut stalks of grain plants left in the fields after the harvest of the grains.
Since it burns rapidly, it is used here to portray the destruction of the Edomites.
Israel and Judah will set them on fire and consume them, so that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau.
Their destruction will be complete and final for the LORD has spoken.
If this is speaking of a time when the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah are in alliance against Edom, that would mean Edom's demise took place at their hands prior to the fall of Israel in 722 BC.
If it is speaking of an end time event when Israel is united and restored, then this could take place in the end time battles.
(As is always the case with biblical prophecy, it could be both).
The name Ephraim is used for the northern kingdom of Israel because Ephraim was the most prominent tribe there in those days (Hosea 13:1).
Samaria was the capital city of the northern kingdom, which caused the northern kingdom to sometimes be referred to as Samaria.
Zarephath was an ancient city located on the coastal highway between Tyre and Sidon in Phoenicia.
It is the place where the widow fed Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-9).
When the LORD restores His covenant people, the deliverers will ascend Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau.
The term delivers likely refers to the returning exiles from the southern kingdom of Judah.
Mount Zion is used again as a synonym for Jerusalem.
That is, the deliverers from Jerusalem will rule over the land that once belonged to Edom and the kingdom will be the LORD's.
One day, God will defeat His adversaries, restore His covenant people, and establish His universal kingdom.
The prophecy of Obadiah features the LORD's acts of judgment and restoration in the coming Day of the LORD.
God will judge Edom and all the Gentile nations for their disobedience and rebellion. But He will restore Israel and Judah.
This prophecy served to comfort the people of Judah by reminding them of God's covenant love for them.
It thus provides hope for Judah.
This hope is also available to all those who place their trust in Jesus Christ today.
For when we accept Jesus, God adopts us into His family (Ephesians 1:5).
As such, "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female" (Galatians 3:28).
We are all one in the body of Christ.
This is an edited version.
The full article is avaiable on request
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