Tues.’s Devo - The Glory of God

Read: Obadiah 1:1-21; Revelation 4:1-11; Psalm 132:1-18; Proverbs 29:24-25 Obadiah’s name means "servant of Jehovah." He was believed to have prophesied immediately after the taken of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in 588 B.C. Five years afterwards Edom was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. He was also believed to be a contemporary with Hosea, Joel, and Amos. Obadiah is the shortest Old Testament book and speaks mostly of the plight of Edom which he types as an anti-christ. He is called heathen and greatly despised by the Lord. His heart is full of pride and deception and exalted himself high among the stars. Edom had been famous for their wisdom, but their wisdom would deceive even them. They would trust those who complimented them only to be deceived by them. God’s complaint against them was that they had rejoiced over the children of Judah when Jerusalem was destroyed. Every nation is judged by the way they treat God’s chosen. Instead of coming and looting Jerusalem, they should have come bringing aid to the people. They kept God’s people from escaping and delivered up to their enemy those they found escaping. The table would turn and they would one day become the stubble to Israel’s fire. Judah and Israel would come together as one nation. They would recover all of the land promised them by Moses and the land owned by their ancient oppressors like the Edomites, Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Canaanites and even Tyre and Sidon. They would be ruled by a prince who is Jesus and the kingdom will be the Lord’s kingdom. In Revelation, there is a voice like a trumpet blast and a door open in heaven with the call to come up there. Is this the Rapture? The voice wants to show John what will happen next from heaven’s perspective and that is where we might be watching the rest of the book if we are believers. John was shown a throne with someone sitting on it. Twenty-four thrones surrounded his throne with elders sitting on their thrones. Colors swirled through the air and the elders all had on white with gold crowns. Flashes of lightning and thunder came from the main throne and seven torches stood in front of it. They were the sevenfold Sprit of God. They stood for wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord. The middle candlestick being the very Spirit of God (Isaiah 11:2). In front of the throne was a sea of glass like crystal. Around the throne were the four living creatures full of eyes. The first beast was like a lion, the next like a calf, the third like a man and the fourth like an eagle flying. They each had six wings and many eyes. They cried Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. When they gave glory and honor to the one who sat on the throne, the twenty-four elders fell in worship and cast their crowns before the throne saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things, and for that pleasure they are and were created. As daunting as this picture is, what a wonderful revelation to know that we are created for God’s pleasure and all heaven knows that. Lord, may we bring you pleasure in our lives. May our worship be pure and our lives make you smile.