Bible Overview: Obadiah

Author

Obadiah

(“Servant of Yahweh”/”Worshiper of Yahweh”)

Name of at least 12 men in Scripture, but probably isn’t any of the ones mentioned elsewhere

Obadiah 1 ESV

The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!”

Date

586 B.C. or 845 B.C.

(multiple occasions when Edom attacked Jerusalem; seems to fit best around the time of the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., though many scholars believe it was much earlier during the reign of Jehoram around 845 B.C.)

Parallel passages

Jeremiah 49:7-22

Other passages speak of God’s judgment against Edom because of their involvement in the destruction and plundering of Jerusalem (Psalm 137:7, Lamentations 4:21, Ezekiel 25:12-14, Ezekiel 35)

Ezekiel 35 ESV

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it, and say to it, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste. I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the Lord. Because you cherished perpetual enmity and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment, therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; because you did not hate bloodshed, therefore blood shall pursue you. I will make Mount Seir a waste and a desolation, and I will cut off from it all who come and go. And I will fill its mountains with the slain. On your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines those slain with the sword shall fall. I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities shall not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord. “Because you said, ‘These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will take possession of them’—although the Lord was there— therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them. And I will make myself known among them, when I judge you. And you shall know that I am the Lord. “I have heard all the revilings that you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They are laid desolate; they are given us to devour.’ And you magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and multiplied your words against me; I heard it. Thus says the Lord God: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

Audience

Edom and Judah

Edom = Esau’s descendants; just as Jacob and Esau didn’t get along, their descendants didn’t either; but God’s blessing rested on Jacob’s descendants.

Edom and Adam (humanity) share the same Hebrew letters, and may indicate that this message is intended not just for the nation of Edom but also for everyone.

Purpose

To express God’s coming judgment on Edom (and all the nations) for mistreating his people.

Revelation 6:9–11 ESV

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

Themes

Pride and arrogance leading to destruction

Mistreatment of other leading to God’s judgment

God’s ultimate triumph over evil

God’s people will one day live in peace and security

Key Verses

Obadiah 2–4 ESV

Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord.

Edom’s first sin is pride, exalting itself against God and his people.

Obadiah 10–11 ESV

Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them.

Because Edom participated in the destruction and looting of Jerusalem, they will be punished.

Obadiah 19–21 ESV

Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau, and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines; they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. The exiles of this host of the people of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the Negeb. Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.

The people of Israel would be victorious again someday; Jerusalem would once again be an important city from which the Lord himself will reign over Edom and all the nations. This is a hope-filled promise for Israel: though they are currently suffering defeat, one day God will raise them up again.

Application

God hates pride and will punish it. Make sure you are not opposing yourself to God. (James 4:6)

One day Jesus Christ will return as the conquering King and will set all things right, destroying his enemies and saving those who trust in him.