Are we dressed?

1. The Origin: God speaks of Him putting on the Helmet of Salvation Isaiah 59:17 
   (offensive against injustice against his nation of Israel)

   He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
   
   This uses the figure of speech Anthropopatheia. "This is very frequent in Scriptures, when it speaks of God after the manner of men, and by bodily things sets forth the divine excellencies of the spiritual and eternal being" Bullinger.

2. Put on the whole armour of God Ephesians 6:17
   (That we may be able to stand against the wiles of those that oppose the Living God and His standards)

   Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

3. Putting on the Hope of Salvation 1 Thessalonians 5:8

   But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

The Lesson about Salvation from Psalm 68

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.

Selah. [Connecting the exhortation to bless the Lord God with the reason for it]

20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.

 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 1 Chronicles 29:11 (NIV)

The Bible teaches clearly that the Living God is the Creator of all things. This is one of the many golden themes that reveal glimpses of the God revealed in the Holy Bible.

In the beginning

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). Eight times Moses records "Then God said" as we are provided details of how the universe and especially the earth and all the life that is contained within over the seven days of creation. So the world was spoken into existence by God. The apostle Paul writes in the New Testament, "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible" (Hebrews 11:3).

David, Nehemiah, Isaiah and More Speak

King David spoke:

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet"
(Psalm 8:3-8)

"For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works..."
Psalm 139:13-14)

The Prophet Nehemiah believed:

“You alone are the Lord.
You have made the heavens,
The heaven of heavens with all their host,
The earth and all that is on it,
The seas and all that is in them.
You give life to all of them
And the he0avenly host bows down before You."
Nehemiah 9:6

The Prophet Isaiah believed:

"You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth."
(Isaiah 37:16)

Thus says God the Lord,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and its offspring,
Who gives breath to the people"
(Isaiah 42:5)

"I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the Lord, do all these things..."

For thus says the Lord,
Who created the heavens,
Who is God,
Who formed the earth and made it,
Who has established it,
Who did not create it in vain,
Who formed it to be inhabited:
“I am the Lord, and there is no other.
(Isaiah 45:7&18)

“For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being,” declares the Lord.
(Isaiah 66:2)

The Witness

Of the Land and Sea Animals

“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
And the fish of the sea will explain to you.
Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And the breath of all mankind?" (Job 12:7-10)

These are just a few of the Bible verses that witness to God as Cretor.

"yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him."
(1 Corinthians 8:6)

For more Bible quotes reviewing God as Creator: https://kupatakujuamungu.wordpress.com/2020/12/18/god-as-creator/ 

Speaking of God (Psalm 45:6)

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

Our king is the Living God that created all things on earth and in heaven, who promotes equity and justice and whose faithfulness extends throughout the earth.

Speaking of the Messiah - Christ (Psalm 45:7)

We look forward to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth. Did you know there are 318 references to this?

You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

Read All About this Important Topic: http://www.christadelphia.org/pamphl et/coming.php#1

We go live with our Bible Talk at 6pm BST.

Bible Reading: John 11:17-44

Introduction

From a family line who worshiped God, Zephaniah was entrusted a message from God in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. (Zephaniah 1:1)

Zephaniah  [Yah has given]
the son of Cushi, [an Ethiopian]
the son of Gedaliah, [Yah has become great]
the son of Amariah, [Yah has promised]
the son of Hezekiah, [Strengthened of Yah]

Josiah (Yoshiyahu)  "was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left" (2 Kings 22:1). 

We find that in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign he looked to the Scriptures and desired to bring his people back to God and a Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem. Josiah instigated a purge of all things contrary to God. The society in Israel at the time was very like today and was devoted to behaviour and beliefs contrary to God: "mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things" (2 Kings 23:23-24). Did this change the society and the people within? Did the people turn to God truly and faithfully?

Are We Worshiping God or Detestable Things?

God's message tells us that he wasn't happy, indeed he was angry with his people:

The Whole Society Was To Receive The Message
“I will stretch out My hand against Judah,
And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Those Who Were Leading Worship 
I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place,
The names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests—

Those Who Worshiped in Private
"Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops;
Those who worship and swear oaths by the Lord,
But who also swear by Milcom"

Those Who Turned Away from God
"Those who have turned back from following the Lord,
And have not sought the Lord, nor inquired of Him.”

This theme is continued throughout Scriptures. We read in Matthew 6:24

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

The Day of the LORD - A Warning and a Comfort

Zephaniah 1:7, 8, 14, 18; 2:2, 3 details warnings about the Day of the LORD. This reminds us that God has a plan for the earth and that faith is ultimately an individual thing and has to affect the the heart and mind.

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord,
    for the day of the Lord is near.
The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;
    he has consecrated those he has invited. (1:7)

‘On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice
    I will punish the officials
    and the king’s sons
and all those clad
    in foreign clothes. (1:8)

The great day of the Lord is near –
    near and coming quickly.
The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter;
    the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry. (1:14)

Neither their silver nor their gold
    will be able to save them
    on the day of the Lord’s wrath.’
In the fire of his jealousy
    the whole earth will be consumed,
for he will make a sudden end
    of all who live on the earth. (1:18)

before the decree takes effect
    and that day passes like windblown chaff,
before the Lord’s fierce anger
    comes upon you,
before the day of the Lord’s wrath
    comes upon you. (2:2)

Is it all doom and gloom? No. God cares for his people and all those that follow him and will never leave them without hope for those that return to him.

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land,
    you who do what he commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility;
    perhaps you will be sheltered
    on the day of the Lord’s anger. (3:3)

At that time I will gather you;
    at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honour and praise
    among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes
    before your very eyes,’
says the Lord. (3:20)

 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my saviour – from violent people you save me. (2 Samuel 22:3)

Drawn from the Bible Class led by P Crossley

Who Are We Following? Who is our King?

We need to be honest with ourselves. Are we by our thoughts, words and actions demonstrating we are guided by our culture and society or God the King? Let us not be like the chief priests (those who were responsible for leading the people spiritually) who proclaimed, “We have no king but Caesar!” 

The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting. Psalm 93:1-2

Are We Carrying Each Other's Burdens?

"And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha" John 19:16

"A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross". Mark 15:21

Do we need to be asked to help or are we willing to help "carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ" Galatians6:2

Introduction

Nahum (whose name means "comforter") was from Elkosh and acted as a prophet of God who spoke an oracle about Nineveh.

God is Jealous and Avenging

A jealous and avenging God is the Lord,
the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
and rages against his enemies.

Nahum 1:2-3 clearly repeats themes already addressed in Exodus 20:5, Exodus 24:14, Deuteronomy 4:24 and Joshua 24:19 that He is standards of behaviour - in action and thought, natural and spiritual. He proclaims that He is a holy and jealous God who will address rebellion against His ways. In particular God is jealous for his land of Israel and people (Joel 2:18, Zechariah 1:14, Zechariah 8:2).

God is Slow to Anger

The Lord is slow to anger but great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.

Whilst God tells us that He will take vengeance on those that are enemies to His people, land and standards he also tells us that he is slow to anger and gives people opportunity to change their ways. Our God is compassionate, longsuffering and slow to anger as Nahum and Exodus 34:6-7, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 145:8 and Joel 2:13 details.

God is a Stronghold and Protector

The Lord is good,
a stronghold on a day of trouble;
he protects those who take refuge in him

As Nahum 1:7 details that God is good, a stronghold or fortress and protector of those who align themselves to him and his ways. This is the same message of Exodus 34:6-7, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 145:8 and Joel 2:13.

We Must Choose Who We Want to Follow - God's or Man's Ways 

Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God—harshness toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off (Romans 11:22)

“The grand obstacle to the salvation of the scribes and Pharisees was their pride, vanity, and self-love. They lived on each other‘s praise. If they had acknowledged Christ as the only teacher, they must have given up the good opinion of the people” Adam Clarke

What can we learn from "the vision of Obadiah [and the words of] the Lord God concerning Edom" through 21 verses in 2023?

1. God rules in the Kingdom of Men 

Obadiah 1:1-2,18 "The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord God concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised... there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it."

God reveals how he felt about Jacob and Esau and those that follow in their respective ways. Romans 9:13-14 says "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid." Promises were made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that spoke of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

God reminds us in Daniel 4:17 that "the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men". If we as individuals, communities or countries go against God's will and ways we will be removed. 

2. God hates Pride

Obadiah 1:3 says "The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?"

The Scriptures tells us in many places that "the Lord detests all the proud of heart" and "pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:5,18).

3. God is the Righteous, Wise and Mighty Judge and is in Divine Control of All

Obadiah 1:4-9 "Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord... Shall I not in that day, saith the Lord, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter."

God is patient and longsuffering and gives us as individuals, communities and countries opportunity and time to follow his ways. He is in control and Romans 2 asks us to consider whether we can "escape the judgment of God?... But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds" (Romans 2:2-6)

4. God Cares for His People Israel and All Those Who Love Him

Obadiah 1:10 For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.

Zechariah 2:8-9 reminds us that "whoever touches you [Israel] touches the apple of his eye –I will surely raise my hand against them". If we try to frustrate the will of God we will not succeed.

5. God's Standard Requires Us to Be Compassionate

Obadiah 1:12 "But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress."

God's standard is one that is compassionate to the stranger and asks us to "not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles. Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him." (Proverbs 24:17-18). Jesus reminds us "if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15).

6. The Day of the Lord is at Hand: Choose Your Side

Obadiah 1:15, 17  "For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head...But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions."

Obadiah reminds us that Israel and Jerusalem are at the centre of his plan for the earth (Genesis 12:2-3) and that no one can escape his will and purpose. Whether we are on the side of Edom or on the side of Jacob is for us to decide. Jesus is coming back (Acts 1:11)!

Inspired by the Bible Class by K. Crane and the 5 Powerful Lessons from the Little Book of Obadiah

Hymn 418 - FARSI - New every morning is the love - For understanding from WCF on Vimeo.

“Behold, how good a thing it is, And how becoming well, Together such as brethren are In unity to dwell.”