THE BOOK OF OBADIAH

INTRODUCTION:

1.OBADIAH was an obscure prophet; He cannot be located with any certainty among the thirteen Obadiahs of the Old Testament.

a.The name means “Worshipper of Jehovah,” or “Servant of Jehovah.”

b.He prophesied to Edom about their sins, so here is a play on his name (Obadiah) as a memory device: “O BAD EDOM.”

2.DATE: The only hint is Verses 10-14; Scholars disagree over which invasion of Jerusalem that was; Of the several possibilities, some think evidence points to a plundering of Jerusalem by the Philistines during the reign of Jehoram, about 845 BC.

3.If so, the historical setting is 2Kg 8:16-24; 2Ch 21:1-20.

4.OBADIAH is the shortest Book in the Old Testament, but it is one of the strongest messages of judgment.

5.It is not primarily to the Jews; But it prophesied Divine judgment against Edom.

a.It is a Book about the destruction of Edom, and the restoration of God’s people.

b.To the Edomites: Warning and doom; To the captive Israelites: Comfort and hope.

c.Remember the content of the Book by retaining the above-mentioned memory aid: “O BAD EDOM.”

6.Edom’s land was a rocky range of mountains bordering on the southeast of Judah, about one hundred miles from North to South, and about twenty miles from East to West, extending from the South of the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Akabah.

7.The capital city was Sela (same as the rock city Petra?), carved out of rock in a cliff far back in the mountain canyons, overlooking a valley of great beauty, and well-protected from potential enemies because of difficult access through a narrow and winding passage in the rocks.

8.Because the Old Testament centers on the Hebrew Nations, we may make the mistake of thinking that before the time of the N.T. church God dealt only with the Jews.

a.But these Gentiles to whom Obadiah wrote clearly were responsible to God; Their hope was not in circumcision and Law -- Apparently they were under the Patriarchal system.

b.Eph 2:11-12 describes the Gentile condition in terms of their relationship to the Law, but does not say that God had turned
His back on all these people.

c.This Book of OBADIAH demonstrates that the Edomites were subject to God’s fundamental law about loving one’s neighbor.

d.Therefore justice required that they be punished for their violation
of that law.

e.So it reminds us that God loves, and desires to save, all humanity.

9.THEME: “The Sinfulness Of Turning From A Neighbor In Need”.

a.The Edomites were descended from Esau, who was called EDOM, so they were kin to the Jews; But were always bitter enemies of the Jews, perpetuating the enmity between Esau and Jacob. See Gen 25:19-34; 27:41; 36:8-9; Num 20:14-22; Amos 1:11-12.

b.There was national rivalry, and when a foreign power would come in and defeat and plunder Jerusalem, the Edomites gloated over it.

c.Rejoicing over another’s misfortune is sinful - Pro 17:5.

d.So this Book is a denunciation of Edom for exulting over Israel’s calamities.

e.The spirit of OUR age encourages us to be selfish, not interested in others; We excuse ourselves by explaining, “Well, I just don’t want to get involved.”

1.CONDEMNATION -- VERSES  <1-9 -- REVELATION OF EDOM’S JUDGMENT: ARRAIGNMENT.

Introduction To Verses 1-9:

A.This section makes it very clear that the coming overthrow of
Edom is certain.

B.It shows the terrible sin of Edom; And that justice requires punishment.

Verse 1,

a.WE: The people of Israel; Maybe other prophets (the word RUMOR in the KJV is translated REPORT in the NKJV).

b.AMBASSADOR: Some unidentified means which God used to stir up other nations against Edom (cf 1Kg 22:19-23 and Jer 25:15-38 on God’s moving nations to action).

Verse 2, God made proud Edom small in the eyes of their neighbors.

Verse 3, Edom was arrogant because they were protected in the rocks and mountains, and thought they were secure against enemy attack.

Verse 4, Jehovah answers their pride and boasting by saying they could not get so high in the mountains and so secure that He could not bring them down. Is the life extension and boundary size of nations in His Hand? Consider Ac 17:26.

Verse 5,

a.Edom understood wealth (they were a great trade center), and thievery (much of their wealth had come from their robbing caravans traveling through their land).

b.If a thief breaks in he usually takes only what he wants.

Verse 6,

a.But it will not be that way when God destroys Edom -- It will be as though a thief took everything -- Nothing will be overlooked.

b.The destruction of Edom will be complete and final; All allies will turn against them, and all human strength will fail.

c.The Nation was to be totally destroyed by its enemies.

Verse 7,

a.Edom’s allies were not people of integrity who kept treaties.

b.When they had become strong and wealthy they would no longer need Edom.

c.WOUND: “TRAP FOR YOU” (NKJV). They laid a snare, a plot, a trap, as they contrived with others against Edom.

d.NONE UNDERSTANDING: “NO ONE IS AWARE OF IT” (NKJV). Edom was not aware of what was going on, and would not
know what to do when they finally discovered the treachery of their “friends.”

e.History repeats this story often in broken treaties, and the changing of alliances among nations.

Verse 8, Not only would Edom lose confederates, but also would lose the counsel of their wise men; In the day of need, human wisdom and human power would fail them.

Verse 9,

a.TEMAN: This was a chief city of Edom, which had in its populace many wise men - cf Job 2:11.

b.With their confederates and wise men gone, and with God against them, the Edomites were doomed to destruction.

2.CAUSE -- VERSES 10-14 -- REASONS FOR EDOM’S JUDGMMENT: INDICTMENT.

Introduction To Verses 10-14:

A.Description of Edom’s guilt: Their gloating over the invasion of Jerusalem.

B.Edom rejoiced when foreigners plundered Jerusalem; Thus they became as one of the plundering foreigners.

C.They should have been allies with Judah; Instead they became aggressors against Judah, and were guilty of violence and unbrotherly conduct toward Judah.

Verse 10,

a.VIOLENCE: Not only was Edom guilty of arrogance and pride (Verses 3-5), but also of cruelty against their kinsmen.

b.SHAME: As Edom had acted toward others, so they must also suffer - cf Gal 6:7-8.

c.FOREVER: This will be emphasized in later verses.

Verse 11,

a.THE OTHER SIDE: When enemies came against Jerusalem, Edom stood with those enemies simply in that they did not
oppose them.

b.ONE OF THEM: They became as guilty as the nations who were involved in 2Ch 21:8-18.

Verse 12,

a.A warning against standing with the enemies of God’s people.

b.Edom is here warned about three things:

1)They should not have LOOKED with glee on the day of their brother’s disaster.

2)Nor REJOICED in the day of Judah’s destruction.

3)Nor SPOKEN PROUDLY of their own safety in contrast to Judah’s defeat.

Verse 13, Again there are three warnings, or charges:

a.They should not have ENTERED with the enemies to destroy God’s people.

b.Nor LOOKED with covetousness on the spoils of Jerusalem.

c.Nor LAID HANDS on their goods (should not have been looters
or plunderers).

Verse 14,

a.It seems they turned the Israelites (who might have escaped)
over to their enemies.

b.So, there are two more warnings, or charges:

1)They had stationed themselves at forks and inter-sections (CROSS-WAY), waiting for fleeing refugees, probably to
rob or to kill.

2)They should not have taken the Israelites captive to be sold as slaves - cf Amos 1:6,9.

3.CONSUMMATION -- VERSES 15-21 -- ANNIHILATION OF
EDOM: SENTENCE.

A.REMOVAL OF EDOM, Verses 15-16; Now the tables will be turned; Edom will reap the fruit of their sowing as they share in God’s judgment on the nations; OBADIAH has been called “The Prophet Of Poetic Justice.”

Verse 15,

a.Edom would not escape the DAY OF THE LORD which was soon to come.

b.It would be a day of terror to the enemies of God; It would be a day of deliverance to those who trusted God.

c.Again a reference to the lasting principle of Gal 6:7-8.

Verse 16,

a.In some way Edom had desecrated the HOLY MOUNTAIN (would that be Jerusalem?)

b.Some students think this may have been a drunken party as a celebration of the Israelites being carried away.

c.Or it may be a figure of speech referring to all of Edom’s violence toward Judah - cf Verse 10.

d.Heathen nations who had fought against God’s people would DRINK of God’s wrath and would become as if they had never been -- Completely removed from the face of the earth, by Divine Judgment.

B.RESTORATION OF JUDAH, Verses 17-21; Consolation and hope for Judah (HOUSE OF JACOB) and Israel (HOUSE OF JOSEPH); Future exaltation to those who will flee to Mt. Zion; This is a prediction and prophecy of the N.T. church to be established
nearly nine hundred years later.

Verse 17,

a.A promise that Edom and all other heathen nations would go down, but that God’s kingdom would stand - cf Dan 2:44-45;
Heb 12:28.

b.This would be God’s stronghold, a place of protection and a place of worship (made up of redeemed and sanctified people).

c.It is not physical descendants; But the spiritual house of the redeemed - See Lk 1:33.

d.POSSESS: The Edomites would be as though they never had been, and their possessions eventually would belong to God’s people.

Verse 18,

a.JACOB-JOSEPH: This indicates a coming spiritual uniting of Judah and Israel, the two nations who had been separated since the death of Solomon - cf Jer 31:31-34.

b.They would be a devouring flame to consume the Edomites.

c.Edom’s destruction began with an invasion by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar, and continued with various calamities until their identity was finally lost (In the Third Century AD Origen spoke of them as a people whose name and language had altogether perished).

Verse 19,

a.As Zion would be a conquering victor, possessing the territory
of her enemies, so Edom would be conquered and possessed
by others.

b.The destruction of Edom and the conquest by Judah is not the complete fulfillment.

c.But this looks to the fulness of the Messianic Conquest which was to come later - Num 24:14-18 (STAR-SCEPTRE: Christ-Power).

d.Amos 9:11-12 says the remnant of Edom would become a possession; James says this is fulfilled in Christ - Ac 15:15-18.

e.The bringing in of the Gentiles (Ac 10) fulfilled the predictions of Amos and Obadiah.

f.Those of Edom who escaped were those who fled to the Messiah and to the spiritual Mt. Zion (the church -- See Eph 2:16).

Verse 20, God would not forget His people who had been carried captive into foreign countries; They would be redeemed and would receive their spiritual heritage.

Verse 21,

a.This deliverance would be through SAVIORS (DELIVERERS: Rescuers, bringing salvation) through whom the message would be brought to them.

b.This explanation exactly fits the work of apostles of Christ -- Note Ac 1:8; Eph 2:17.

c.The kingdom belongs to JEHOVAH - cf Dan 2:44.

d.The kingdom of Edom was destroyed; The remnant escaped in Spiritual Zion.

e.Thus God’s dominion over the Gentiles was established; God’s people are triumphant, spiritually - Rom 8:37; And the world is completely defeated, spiritually - 1Jn 5:4.

**OBADIAH IN ONE WORD:

EDOM.

**OBADIAH IN THREE WORDS:

“O BAD EDOM” (Memory device for “Obadiah”).

**CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF OBADIAH:

1.He is the Judge of the nations, Verses 15-16.

2.The Savior of Israel, Verses 17-20.

3.The Possessor of the everlasting kingdom, Verse 21; Col 1:13.

**CONTRIBUTION OF THE BOOK OF OBADIAH TO THE BIBLE:

1.This BOOK offers a clear example of the fact that pride goes before a fall - cf 1Co 10:12.

2.It also shows that cruelty and bitterness will finally be avenged -
Ecc 12:14.

3.One who just simply does nothing more than encourage wrong-doing is necessarily a partaker - Verse 11; 2Jn 11.

4.In time of Divine judgment, God provides salvation by grace for those who will turn - Mk 16:16.

WHERE ARE WE:

FRIENDS OF GOD? - - - ENEMIES OF GOD?