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Book of Obadiah – Oba 1:4  Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle

[Study Aired December 27, 2023]

Obadiah 1:4  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.

Here are the Hebrew words used in Obadiah 1:1, and where there is a root word, it is included in bold below

Oba 1:4  Though^H518 thou exalt^{H1361 (H8686 Hiphil)} thyself as the eagle,^H5404 and though^H518 thou set^{H7760 (H8800 Qal)} thy nest^H7064 among^H996 the stars,^H3556 thence^{H4480 H8033} will I bring thee down,^{H3381(H8686 Hiphil)} saith^{H5002 (H8803 Qal)} the LORD.^H3068

H518 – Eem, if, no, not, if…if, whether…or, whether…or…or, when, whenever, since, but rather, a primitive particle

H1361 – Gabahh, (Hiphil) to make high, exalt, a primitive root

H5404 – Nesher, eagle, vulture, griffon-vulture, from an unused root meaning to lacerate

H518 – see above

H7760 – Soom, (Qal) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on, set, direct, direct toward, extend, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix, station, set in place, plant, make for, transform into, fashion, work, bring to pass, give, a primitive root

H7064 – Kane, nest, cells/rooms (like nests in Noah’s ark), contracted from a primitive root H7077, Qanan, to make a nest, be nested

H996 – Bane, between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between, properly, the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from a primitive root 

H995, Bene, to discern, understand, consider, perceive, know, observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, have discernment, insight, understanding, be discerning, intelligent, discreet, cause to understand, give understanding, teach, show oneself discerning/attentive, consider diligently, instruct, prudent, regard

H3556 – Kowkab, star, of messiah, brothers, youth, numerous progeny, personification, God’s omniscience, from an unused root to be high or rounded, a helmet

H4480 – Min, from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than, some of, after (of time), from…even to, both…and, either…or, too much for, through, because, from H4482, Mane, musical chord, a stringed instrument from an unused root to apportion

H8033 – Shahm, there, thither, from there, thence, then, a primitive particle

H3381 – Yarad, (Hiphil) to bring/send/take/let down, lay prostrate, a primitive root

H5002 – Nehoom, (Qal) utterance, declaration, revelation, from a primitive root H5001, Na’am, to prophesy, utter a prophecy, speak as prophet, say (Used once in OT)

H3068 – Yehovah, Jehovah = the existing one, the proper name of the one true God, unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of 0136 from a primitive root H1961, Hayah, to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come into being, become, arise, appear, come, become, become like, be instituted, be established, be in existence, abide, remain, continue, stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated, accompany, be with, occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about, be done, be finished, be gone

Here is a version of this verse using root words where possible. This is an exercise in translating the verse to agree with the sum of God’s word (Psa 119:160 – CLV) and accord with the Truth, using the keys to the kingdom principle.

Oba 1:4 Since (you) be exalted as an eagle, since (you) determine to make a nest (there), consider diligently God’s omniscience from there. (You) will be brought down/laid prostrate declares Yehovah.

We are instructed to come down from the high and lofty places, knowing that the Lord is the one who not only made the high mountains, but is making every mountain low in his time, which is comforting to know.

Son 4:8  Come (depart) with me from out of Lebanon, my spouse, with me from out of Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from out of the mountains of the leopards.

Isa 40:1  Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Isa 40:2  Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.
Isa 40:3  The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isa 40:4  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

Rev 16:20  And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found

The old man impatiently builds his nest (abode) in the lofty places and exalts himself as the eagle. Here are two verses used to describe a lofty place: an eagle’s nest among the stars, and the mountains of leopards:

Obadiah 1:4  Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle^[H5404], and though thou set thy nest among the stars

Son 4:8  Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopards^[H5246].

Here is a closer look at these two words:

[1] Eagle [H5404]
[2] Leopard [H5246]

[1] Eagle [H5404]
H5404

נֶשֶׁר
nesher
neh’-sher

From an unused root meaning to lacerate; the eagle (or other large bird of prey): – eagle.

“Lacerate” means to make deep cuts in the flesh or skin. Figuratively it means to criticise forcefully or severely. As with all words in scripture, it has both a positive application, and a negative application. The word Eagle [H5404] is first used in Exodus

Exo 19:4  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
Exo 19:5  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Exo 19:6  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.

When the old man determines in his heart to exalt himself and make his nest among the Eagles (the high and lofty places) that is when the flesh is “lacerated”. Instead, the new man waits for the Lord, and then he is lifted up with wings as eagles.

Isa 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Psa 37:9  For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

What is it we are “waiting” for?

Isa 59:8  The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
Isa 59:9  Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

It is encouraging to see that we are privileged to be given this “light / judgement” in this age, for the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God:

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

It is this judgment that “lacerates” the flesh of the old man and brings him down from the dangerous places. Our husband Christ calls His bride from the high places in a daily process of judgment all for the purpose of humbling us,  for it is the meek that will inherit the earth. These lacerations and fiery trials are the catalyst for our humility.

Psa 37:11  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

The new man is meek and humble. We are instructed to be humble as a little child.

Mat 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble [G5013] himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

G5013
ταπεινόω
tapeinoō
to bring low, humble (self). From G5011 of low degree, lowly.

This is the sacrifice Christ requires of us. He is no longer interested in the sacrifice of burnt offerings, instead he asks us to walk humbly

Mic 6:6  Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
Mic 6:7  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Mic 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

We cannot become humble in and of ourselves. It is only achieved by the filtration of living waters, as found in the spiritual application of the word Leopard. 

[2] Leopard [H5246]
H5246 
נָמֵר
nâmêr
naw-mare’

From an unused root meaning properly to filtrate, that is, be limpid (crystal clear/transparent/glass like). Thus to spot or stain as if by dripping; a leopard (from its stripes): – leopard.

Compare H5247 and H5249 (both meaning clear water). 

“Filtration” is defined as a physical separation process that separates solid matter and fluid from a mixture. The word Leopard [H5246] is first used in SoS 4:8 and appears only six times in the Old Testament. Here is the word in Hosea:

Hos 13:4  Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.
Hos 13:5  I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
Hos 13:6  According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
Hos 13:7  Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:

When Christ drags us to Himself, He is in command and control of the process, and He “will work His work” using His “living waters”

Hab 1:5  Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

Hab 1:8  Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.

Zec 14:8  And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

The living waters going out from Jerusalem represent the word of God, which is going to fill the world as the oceans are filled with water (Hab 2:14). These living waters of (Hab 2:14) are contrasted with the wine of the harlot churches of this world which have caused spiritual drunkenness and nakedness:

Hab 2:14  For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Hab 2:15  Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!

The former [H6931 old] sea that needs to be washed and filtered is what gives the old man his strength. It is all the false doctrines that have been propagated throughout the history of mankind and are what we wrestle with in our heavens.

Conclusion

Spiritual Principle: There is a spiritual application to every word of the bible, allowing us to be washed with the word (washed with the sum of the “living waters” as it renews us daily)

Isa 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.