Holding Wrong Attitudes Towards Others
I. Our Attitude toward Our Brothers - Obadiah 1-16
- A. The person who can expose wrong attitudes
- 1. Obadiah (a servant and worshipper of God - v. 1
- B. The source of wrong attitudes
- 1. A proud heart - vv. 2-3
- 2. Self-exaltation - v. 4
- C. The expression of wrong attitudes
- 1. Worldly wisdom and understanding - v. 8
- 2. Fleshly strength - v. 9a
- D. The judgment on wrong attitudes
- 1. The instruments God uses in judgment - vv. 1, 7
- 2. The thoroughness of God's judgment - vv. 5, 6, 9b (Jer. 49:7-22)
- E. The history of hatred and violence - v. 10
- 1. Jacob and Esau - Gen. 25:22-34
- 2. The character of Esau - Heb. 12:15-17
- 3. Edom's refusal to give Israel passage - Num. 20:14-22
- 4. The ancient hatred of Edom - Ezek. 35:1-15
- 5. The hatred toward Jerusalem - Psa. 137:5-7
- F. An improper attitude toward our brothers' failures and chastisement
- 1. Taking sides with our brothers' enemies - v. 11
- 2. Gloating over God's judgment of our brother - v. 12
- 3. Taking advantage of our brothers in their calamity - v. 13
- 4. Merciless behavior - v. 14
- G. Our attitudes on "the Day of the Lord"
- 1. The law of retribution - v. 15
- 2. The law of sowing and reaping - v. 16
II. God's Attitude toward Our Brothers - Obadiah 17-21
- A. Based on God's choice - v. 17a (cf. Psa. 132:13-18)
- B. A bright future
- 1. Deliverance - v. 17b
- 2. Holiness - v. 17c
- 3. Possessing their inheritance - vv. 17d, 19-20
- 4. Judgment on the house of Esau - v. 18
- 5. The kingdom - v. 21
III. God's Attitude toward All Men - Jonah 1--4
- A. Revealed in His sovereignty in reaching us - Jonah 1:1-3:9
- 1. Sending His Word in our wickedness - Jonah 1:1-2
- 2. Preparing a servant to speak His Word - Jonah 1:3-2:10
- 3. Providing an opportunity to make a decision - Jonah 3:1-4
- 4. Granting faith and repentance - Jonah 3:5-9
- B. Revealed in His tender mercy toward us - Jonah 3:10--4:11
- 1. Unveiling His nature and character - Jonah 4:2
- 2. Forgiving and repenting - Jonah 3:10a (cf. Luke 11:32)
- 3. Suspending judgment - Jonah 3:10b
- 4. Pitying and sparing us - Jonah 4:11a
- 5. Considering the persons and the objects - Jonah 4:11b
IV. The Anatomy of an Improper Attitude - Jonah 1--4
- A. The behavior of an improper attitude - Jonah 1:1-17
- 1. Getting attitudes exposed in the presence of the Lord - Jonah
1:1-3
(cf. 2 Cor. 2:10-11)
- 2. Inwardly running from God - Jonah 1:3, 5, 10
- 3. Outwardly running into God - Jonah 1:4, 17
- 4. Unconsciously fulfilling God's purpose - Jonah 1:17 (cf. Matt. 12:39-40)
- 5. Troubling others because of our disobedience - Jonah 1:5-16
- B. Dealing with an improper attitude - Jonah 2:1-10
- 1. Praying in affliction - Jonah 2:1-2, 7
- 2. Experiencing death - Jonah 2:3-6
- 3. Touching God as mercy - Jonah 2:8
- 4. Experiencing resurrection - Jonah 2:6-10
- C. Serving with an improper attitude - Jonah 3:1-10
- 1. Outwardly obeying but inwardly resisting - Jonah 3:1-4; 4:1
- 2. God using an imperfect servant - Jonah 3:5-10
- D. The reactions of an improper attitude - Jonah 4:1-11
- 1. The factor that draws out our attitude - Jonah 3:10
- 2. The components of an improper attitude - Jonah 4:1
- a) A narrow understanding of God's blessing - 2 Kings 14:25-27
- b) The relationship between depression and attitudes - Jonah 4:1,
3, 8b
- c) Latent anger and prejudice - Jonah 4:1b
- d) Being at odds with God's character and feeling - Jonah 4:2-4
- e) The deep entrenchment of an exclusive attitude - Jonah 4:5
- f) God's attempts to get our attention to transform our attitude
into His
- Jonah 4:6-11