Obadiah 1:18 Commentary and Bible Study

In various Old Testament passages where the image of fire is used, it most naturally seen as a destructive force, and it describes the judgment of God on his enemies (Isaiah 5:24, 10:17; Zechariah 11:1, 12:6; Jeremiah 17:4). But fire is also used in a positive way, and its refining effects are drawn attention to (Isaiah 4:4; Malachi 3:2; 1 Corinthians 3:13). It is legitimate to see both of these effects in this passage. Matthew Henry in commenting on this passage says that it is fulfilled in the conversion of multitudes by the grace of Christ, and also in the confusion of all the impenitent enemies of the gospel of Christ. He reminds us that according to the apostle Paul, the gospel also has two effects which are the opposite of each other. ‘For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: ¹⁶ To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?’ (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).Israel was confronted with hostile nations who wanted to eliminate her, and the battles she fought were physical battles fought with implacable earthly enemies. The church of Jesus Christ does not fight in this way, ‘for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds’ (2 Corinthians 10:4). She fights with words, with truth preached by apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor teachers. The church of God does not use physical weapons – Peter was told by Christ to put away his sword. The church’s mission is one of mercy and not of judgment, just as Christ at his first coming came not to judge the world, but to save the world. This is about the triumph of the church by grace. Our enemies are the forces of spiritual wickedness in high places that resist the work of the gospel. What amazing imagery it is, and we are speaking now about the church in this present age of the gospel before the end shall come. This is about the progress of the gospel as it goes through the world and conquers human hearts who respond to the message. A flame is lit here and there and people are brought to trust in Christ. ‘But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: ³ And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness’ (Malachi 3:2-3).The fire and flame come from both the house of Judah and the house of Joseph. The house of Joseph represents the ten northern tribes which had gone into exile. How would they play a part in this? They did so because salvation is of the Jews, and the gospel is rooted in the Old Testament, and not a jot or tittle of it will pass away until all is accomplished. All that was taught to Israel in the shadowy language of the tabernacle worship and its types, continues in the reality of New Testament worship.