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Our potential to praise GOD

In Hebrews we are taught that there is an offering we can bring to GOD that gives Him pleasure: “Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to GOD continually, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15 - 16).

In this article, we’ll look at the amazing record of Mordecai being honoured by the king at the expense of proud and wicked Haman, who had thought the honour would come to him, the turning point of the whole story. Again, this record speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ and the way God gave him eternal life.

Chapter 6, where we read about the most dramatic reversal of fortunes, is the very centre of the book, in terms of structure (from bro. Stephen McGeorge on chiasmusxchange.com). Everything up to this moment in the book of Esther is changed literally overnight:

• the king’s feasts to celebrate the glory of his Persian kingdom (1:3-8)

• the king’s promotion of Haman, (3:1-6)

Readings: Esther 7-8; Obadiah; Hebrews 3-5

Our middle reading today is the short but powerful book of Obadiah. It is the smallest book of the Old Testament, yet it carries a significant message about future events that will unfold following the return of Christ. Today, we will reflect on its message and relevance to our hope.

The Name and Role of Obadiah

The name Obadiah means ‘servant of Yahweh’. True to his name, the prophet served God by writing this concise prophecy. Though brief, Obadiah’s message outlines God's judgment and the eventual triumph of His Kingdom. It offers a prophetic vision that stretches far beyond its ancient setting, reaching into our own day and to the time of the end.

Readings: Nehemiah 11; Amos 3; 1 Timothy 6

There are a lot of people in the truth from all sorts of backgrounds; shop workers, teachers, mechanics, builders, hospital workers and such. This normally might cause differences between us that prevent us getting along. But there is one very important thing that helps to prevent disagreements and that is having a common belief. We know that in our case religion is a very strong binding force between us. We have a common bond based on Bible truth and this affects our behaviour in a positive way and bring us closer together even though we might live in isolation and only get to see our brothers and sisters occasionally.

In John 17 the Spirit draws us in to the intimate communication between Jesus and his Father. Jesus lifts up his eyes to heaven and speaks the words of the glorious prayer that follows in the rest of the chapter.

Readings: Nehemiah 3; Hosea 13; 1 Thessalonians 1-2

The prophet Hosea prophesied during the period when the kingdom of Israel was divided into two; the two tribes of Judah and the ten tribes of Israel. This prophecy focusses on the kingdom of those ten tribes.  We know from scripture that at the time of Hosea, God’s judgement on the northern kingdom of Israel was near.

Readings: Ezra 3-4; Hosea 6; Acts 23-24

Paul had completed three missionary journeys altogether possibly lasting about ten years. However, he never forgot all the evil he had done in his earlier days against the new Christian church, or ecclesia; “I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:13).