Obadiah

Introduction—We know nothing of this prophet except his name. We aren’t even sure exactly when he prophesied, though from the internal evidence the best surmise is around 585 or so, just after Babylon had destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, and carried the last of the captives away into slavery. Obadiah—the shortest and only one chapter book in the Old Testament—prophesies against Edom. Several of the prophets have much to say to the nations around Israel, and a few of them, like Obadiah, prophesy exclusively to Gentiles. God’s coming wrath against the Edomites is sure and warranted.

God’s judgment upon Edom (vs. 1-9)—The Edomites were the descendents of Jacob’s brother Esau, so they were “relatives” of the Israelites. Edom was a country just south of Israel; it was very mountainous, and strongholds were built in dreadfully inaccessible places in these mountains. It led the Edomites to think that their country was unconquerable. They reckoned without considering Jehovah. He tells them “I will make you small among the nations; you shall be greatly despised” (v. 2). Their pride “has deceived” them, “you who dwell in the clefts of the rock” (v. 3). “Who will bring me down to the ground?” they asked (v. 3). They may live among the eagles, but “’from there I will bring you down,’ says the Lord” (v. 4). And when He finishes, there won’t be anything left: “If thieves had come to you…would they not have stolen till they had enough? If grape-gatherers had come to you, would they not have left some gleanings?” (v. 5). But the Lord will search out Edom (v. 6), and all its wealth will be confiscated. Those who had made alliances with her, those who were now at peace with her “shall deceive you and prevail against you” (v. 7). Jehovah will destroy “wise men” (v. 8) as well as “mighty men” (v. 9)—neither cunning nor strength will save the country—“to the end that everyone from the mountains of Esau may be cut off by slaughter” (v. 9). The Lord’s language here is clear: Edom is about to endure the wrath of God.

Why? (vs. 10-16)—“For violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever” (v. 10). God’s main condemnation centers around Edom’s refusal to help “your brother Jacob.” As noted, the prophecy was probably written right after the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 586; if not at that time, then at some point in Israel’s history when her enemies attacked and did significant damage. Edom didn’t help. She “stood on the other side, in the day that strangers carried captive his [Israel’s} forces…even you were as one of them” (v. 11). A very interesting and significant point is made here. When God’s people were under attack, the Edomites did nothing! They “stood on the other side;” they didn’t help. They didn’t join the attackers, they simply…did nothing. And as a result, God said that, in effect, they were as guilty as those who wreaked havoc on Judah. Point: when God’s people or cause is under attack, and we remain silent or inactive, then we are as guilty as those who have done the attacking! A sober point, indeed. Edom just watched Judah be destroyed, yea, rejoiced over it (v. 12). They boasted of it, eventually entered Judah themselves, and “gazed on their affliction” (v. 13. The Edomites even went so far as to stand “at the crossroads to cut off those among them who escaped”—they captured fleeing Israelites—and “delivered up those among them who remained”—gave them to the attackers (v. 14). When the Lord comes in judgment “upon all the nations…[then] as you have done, it shall be done to you” (v. 15). “Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.” Just as individuals reap what they sow, even so the same will happen to nations. Israel had suffered punishment because of sin, and such is the lot of other countries, too—“and they shall be as though they had never been” (v. 16). Some peoples—like the Assyrians and Babylonians—were completely obliterated from this earth. The same happened to Edom. How many Edomites do you know today?

God will deliver His people (vs. 17-21)—Even though this prophecy was aimed especially at Edom, the context was the destruction of Judah—a well-deserved destruction. But God had made a promise to Abraham—and ultimately to all of mankind—that the Savior of the world would come from the Jews, so “on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance” (v. 17). Some of His people will return and burn as a flaming fire again (v. 18). But for Edom: “no survivor shall remain of the house of Edom” (v. 18). That’s pretty clear. Their country would eventually be overrun by the Jews—“The South shall possess the mountains of Esau” (v. 19). In other words, Edom’s territory would ultimately be absorbed into southern Judea. The land was called “Idumea,” and the people “Idumeans.” The Herod family in the New Testament were Idumeans; they weren’t called Edomites, because that country no longer existed. Verse 19 speaks of other territory the Jews would possess upon returning from captivity, indeed, “the captives of this host of the children of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites” (v. 20). This happened after the arrival of the Jews from Babylonian captivity in 536 B.C. They would be part of God’s judgment upon “the mountains of Esau” (v. 21). “And the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.” He would once again rule in the land He promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Defend the Lord’s cause! Not doing so cost Edom its existence.