Introduction to the Book of Obadiah

Key Verse:  15,                                                                                      Kevin E. Jesmer   10-8-13

“For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.”

First, who is Obadiah?  The author of this book is Obadiah. Little is known about him. Obadiah means “servant of the Lord” or “worshipper of the Lord”.  He was from Judah, and was called to tell of God’s judgment against the nation of Edom. Obadiah was probably a contemporary of Ezekiel (Eze 35) and Jeremiah (Jer 49:7-22) who both prophesied against Edom.  Two accepted dates for this prophecy are between 853 BC and 941 BC when king Jehoram and Jerusalem were attacked by the Philistine/Arab coalition. (2 Chron 21:16) or 586 BC when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians (2 Kings 25:2; 2 Chron 25:36) Because of their treachery and pride, Edom stood condemned and would be destroyed. Now let’s think about the historical setting of this book…

First, the beginnings of the Edomites.Edom was a name given to the descendants of Esau. Jacob and Esau were brothers. Jacob’s descendants became Israel. Esau’s descendents become Edom. At first, the nation of Edom prospered. There were some good relations between the Jacob’s tribe and Esau’s tribe (about 1900 BC) But not long after their death’s, the Edomites grew to be enemies of God’s people as they continued to take root and prosper in the land. Later on, the Edomites drove the Horites out of MountSeir (Ge 14:5-6 Dt 2:12), and their descendants occupied the whole mountain. Edom was a mountainous, but well-watered country, located south of the Dead Sea. Its capital was Petra or Sela, a city carved out of the side of a high cliff overlooking a beautiful valley. It was known as an impregnable mountain fortress. The Edomites were rugged, fierce and proud warriors. Edom was proud of its secure position, but God would bring them down. In God’s time, Edom was destroyed for their pride.

Here are some ways that the nation of Edom tested God’s patience. After the Israelites came out of Egypt (about 1400 BC), they traveled through the desert for forty years, and were ready to enter the Promised Land. But the Edomites refused to let them pass through their land. When the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem (586 BC), they acted like a cheering squad. Psalm 137:7 says, “Remember, O Lord what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. ‘Tear it down,’ they cried…” The Edomites continued to be antagonistic towards the people of God. They captured and delivered fugitives back to their enemies, and looted the countryside of Israel.  In New Testament times, the Herod’s family, who co-operated with Rome and contributed to Christ’s crucifixion, were descendants of the Edomites.

The nation of Edom was also very proud. Malachi 1:4a reads, “Edom may say, ‘Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins.’” Over the centuries they had received God’s discipline. But instead of responding well, through repentance, they thought that they could recover by their own power. That is sinful pride. God did not like this. The LORD Almighty said in Malachi 1:4b-5, “…They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the LORD. 5 You will see it with your own eyes and say, ‘Great is the LORD—even beyond the borders of Israel!’” God does not like such a proud way of thinking. He wants us to come to him in our weakness, repent and humbly obey him and then he will raise us up in due time, bringing glory to himself through our lives. But the people of Edom would have nothing to do with this. It may have been because of the spiritual legacy passed down by their forefather Esau.

History proves that Esau’s descendants were to be cursed. Malachi 1:2b-5 reads, “‘Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ the LORD says. ‘Yet I have loved Jacob, 3 but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.’” Their land became a desert wasteland, where southern Jordan is today. When we examine the original prophecy concerning Esau in Genesis 27:39-40, we see that God was aware of the destiny of the Edomites. “His father Isaac answered him, ‘Your dwelling will be away from the earth’s richness, away from the dew of heaven above. You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck.’”  During Jacob and Esau’s lifetimes, this did not come true. It was some 800 years later, that King Saul and King David defeated the Edomites in battle and completely destroyed Edom. Edom’s history was a history of war in a wasteland. The lasting legacy of Esau was not very glorious.

What are some of the characteristics of this book? Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament. Obadiah uses poetic language and is written the form of a dirge. The two main themes of this book are the doom of the proud and the deliverance of the humble. It shows that God judges those who have harmed his people and his dramatic response towards anyone who harms his children. There are two mega themes in the book: justice and pride. Justice, because of Edom’s wickedness their land would be given to Judah in the day when God rights the wrongs against his people.  And pride, because the Edomites were proud and self confident and defied God. God humbled them and their nation disappeared from history.

The book can be divided into three parts;

Part 1: Verses 1-9.  An announcement that disaster was coming to Edom. Despite their fortress of cliffs and mountains and their fortified capital city, they would not be able to escape God’s judgment.

Part 2: Verses 10-14.  The reasons for their destruction. They would face such judgment because of their arrogance towards God and their persecution of God’s people.

Part 3: Verse 15-21. The prophecy ends with the day of the Lord when judgment will fall on all who harm the people of God.

In this New Testament, God’s holy people are the church. The church is made up of anyone who has placed their hope and trust in the Lord and given their lives to him. Such people are born again. They are God’s adopted children. In this New Testament era, God still covers his children with his love and protection and he still responds to all who would attack those whom he loves.

Through a study of this book may we know that pride goes before destruction. May we walk humbly before our God and live to support what God is doing and the people of God. May many “Obadiah’s”, servants of the Lord be raised up who can declare God’s wonderful works to the world and if need be, the warning of God’s judgment along with God salvation in Jesus Christ.

Credits: Life Application Bible and Sarah Barry’s Daily Bread Notes.