This is the shortest book in the Old Testament and, although quickly read, its message applies to us today. We know nothing of the prophet Obadiah. His name means, “servant, worshipper of Yahweh,” indicating that his parents were godly people. From the prophecy, we can assume that he lived in or around Jerusalem in the last days of the city before it fell to Nebuchadnezzar. It is interesting to note that the prophecy is paralleled in Jeremiah
- Obadiah and Jeremiah were contemporaries and there is every
The prophecy is a judgment on Edom because of their unlove and disloyalty to their brother Israelites. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob (Genesis 36:1,8,9). You can read the story of the two brothers in Genesis 25 – 36. From the womb, Esau’s descendants were designated to be the servants of the descendants of Jacob (Genesis 25:22ff). Esau was careless and indifferent to spiritual things, even willing to sell his covenant rights for a bowl of soup (compare Hebrews 12:16). The Herods of the New Testament were Edomites and true to family type, showed no interest in the things of God (Matthew 2, Luke 13:31ff; 23:8; Acts 12:21ff). There is more than one name in Scripture for Edom. One is Teman, and important town in Edom; another is Seir. Esau lived in Seir (Genesis 36:8), which is the chief mountain range of Edom and is often used to describe the whole land of Esau’s descendants, directly south of the Dead Sea. There were never friendly relations between the two nations, even though they were related by blood. Read: Numbers 20:14-21; Deuteronomy 2:1-18; II Samuel 8:14; II Kings 14:7; and II Chronicles 28:17. This prophecy is delivered against them when they sinned against their brother in a way that demanded God’s judgment. It happened as follows: The final invasion of Jerusalem took place when it fell to the Babylonians in 586 BC. An account of this is in II Kings 24:13-16; 25:4-17; II Chronicles 36:18,20; Jeremiah 6:1 – 9:22; Ezekiel 4:1 – 7:27. Note the special reference to the fugitives in II Kings 25:4,5. It would appear that seeing Israel was defeated, Edom joined in the attack against them, siding with Nebuchadnezzar and handing the fugitives back to him. Read: Ezekiel 25:12; 35:5-6; Lamentations 1:17; Psalm 137:7; Lamentations 2:15-17; 4:21; Ezekiel 35:11-15; 36:2-6. At such an act of callous unlove, the judgment of God is pronounced in this prophecy. Obadiah is one more statement that we sin against God when we act unlovingly to our fellow man. Edom’s sin was to kick a brother when he was down; to gloat over his misfortune and make the most of it for itself. The prophecy was fulfilled. All that remains of Edom’s greatness are the ruins of Petra.
OUTLINE OF OBADIAH
I. TITLE AND INTRODUCTION, VS 1
II. GOD’S JUDGMENT ON EDOM, VS. 2-14
THE JUDGMENT ANNOUNCED, VS. 2-7. The breaking of pride, vs. 2-4 Total destruction, vs. 5-7 THE REAFFIRMATION OF DESTRUCTION, VS. 8-14 Shame and destruction, vs. 8-10 Edom’s specific crime, vs. 11-14
III. THE DAY OF THE LORD, VS. 15-21
DELIVERANCE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE, VS. 15-18 THE LORD’S KINGDOM ESTABLISHED, VS. 19-21 Although Judah is being punished, they will yet give birth to Messiah, and His kingdom shall be when Edom is forgotten. Edom, on the other hand, will be judged and there will be nothing left.