Obadiah: WHY?

Introduction: God Questions?

We all have questions that we want to ask God? When we were at the zoo, I pointed out to amanda several features on animals that I wanted to ask God about. Why do Giraffes have such long necks? Why do certain birds have a major curve under at the tip of their beak? Why can hippos sleep under water but a cow cannot? Why? We also ask questions like why did you make me with such a booming voice. Why do I naturally talk loud, to the point it works on some peoples nerves. In this case though, the question I want to ask, and then maybe try to answer is why is the book of Obadiah in the Bible?

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Bible, it ia all about the destruction of some place called Edom. It seem hard and ambiguios to understand. And even harder to apply to my current life today. So why is it included in the Hebrew Bible. And if Paul the Apostle is correct when he says “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, correcetion and instruction in Righteousness” Then we have to assume that Obadiah has that value. But what is the Doctrine (teaching) of Obadiah, how does it correct us or lead us to live rightly?

Read Obadiah 1-21

As we read think about what questions it brings up, what emotions does the book bring you too?

Questions?

1. Who is Obadiah?

Obadiah means servant of Yahwah. There are several people in the OT who are named Obadiah, however it is unclear if any of these men are the same man mentioned the book.

2. When was the Book written?

There is no specific time period given. This makes it diffucult to determine the context of the book, because we cannot get into the experience of the Isrealite at this time. There is a clue given in Jeremiah 49: 9-16, This a parrallel passage in the Jeremiah has a very similar decree against Edom, so it could be that they were written near the same time. Yet this still doesnt give us much of an exact time of when this is written. So as you can see right now we have more questions then answers.

3. Who were the Edomites?

They were the decendents of Easu, who if you remember correctly was the TWIN brother of Jacob. So Jacobs decendents were Isreal and Esau’s decendents became the Edomites. Now the attitude of the two brothers carried over to the two nations, the Edomites were antagonistic toward the nation of Isreal. To the extent that in 586 bc when the destruction of Jerusalem took place the Edomites helped the Babylons in the destruction. It seems the people of Edom viewed the nation of Isreal as a means to gain and not as a brother or ally.

What does the Obadiah see?

1. The Pride of Edom? Obadiah 1-4

Edom was a prideful nation, they lived on the top of the mountains near where Petra is located. It was an fortified location that was easily defended. This became a source of pride and self dependence. They only needed to trust in themselves, not in the God of their ancestors. Remeber they have the same lineage as Isreal does. They may think they can soar high above it all like the eagles, but God is gonna bring them down from those lofty places.

2. They will be plundered. Obadiah 5-9

They will be completly whiped clean, there will be nothing left, even what theives would leave behind will be taken away from the Edomites. Even their allies will decieve them. The treasures that Edom (Esau) had will be sought out by their enemies.

3. They will be judged for the way they treat Jacob. Obadiah 10-14

They are not to glory in the downfall of Jacob. They were not to partake in the downfall or plundering of Jacab. Psalm 137:7 talks about the way the Edomites treated the destruction of Isreal. God knew that the Edomites had partisipated in the downfall of the Isreal and now God was going to punish them for what they had done. (Lam 4:21-22).

There is a pivot point. Obadiah 15

In verse 15 the language changes in Obadiah he switches from talking about Edom to all the nations. He uses a key prophetic term “Day of the Lord” language to look forward to the coming of Jesus and the New Heaven and New earth. Where God will judge all the nations. This is not just about Edom this is a message to all nations, where Edom represents the nations of the world. See note on Joel 1:15

There will be a remenat of Jacob and Joseph. Obadiah 16-18

Just has Edom had profited from the Nation Isreal and prospered from the blessing of God on them, the nation would become a source of Blessing again. Yet not Edom, Edom would be a source stubble. It is interesting the vision you should get here, Jacob and Joseph will burn Edom, or consume Edom. Interestly enough, Edom has been assimilated into Jordan, but Isreal again an independent Nation. Proof that what God prophisied would be fullfilled.

There will be no more Edom Obadiah 19-21

1. The Mount of Esau will be possesed by the Negab.

A dry region of Palestine south of the hill country of Judah. The territory formed a natural southern boundary for Judah

John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Is 21:1.

2. Shephelah shall possess Philistia, Ephraim and Samaria.

The geographic references here cover the primary regions inhabited by the Israelites, including: Jeremiah’s home territory where he bought the field (Benjamin); Jerusalem and its vicinity; the northern hill country (Ephraim); the foothills west of Jerusalem (Shephelah); and the southern desert (Negev).

John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Je 32:44.

3. Benjamin shall possess Gilead.

A region on the eastern side of the Jordan River allotted to the tribes of Reuben, Manasseh, and Gad. The area was well forested and fertile, producing grapes, olives, and fruit trees. The area was also known for its balm, an aromatic tree resin (see Gen 37:25

John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Je 8:22.

4. Exiles ofIsreal shall possess the Canaanites.

* This extends up the coast to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

5. Exiles of Jerusalem shall possess the cities of the Negeb.

This brings us full circle to where we started. The ones that posess the Mount of Esau will be possessed by the cities of Jerusalem.

God will own all the Land. Obadiah 21

What is the application of Obadiah?

1. God is Sovereign over all nations.

2. God is just in all his actions.

Not just as a nation but as indivduals, the way that we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ will be returned to us. I do believe that this goes directly across denominational lines. Just because we disagree with a practice, doesnt mean they are no longer a brother in Christ.

3. God stands against the proud.

Pride is talked about in the Bible probably more then the murder or homesexuality yet those are big sins to us. God looks at the pride of our heart and says that is what he hates the most. Sin is sin in God’s eyes, but pride is one that we find throughout the Bible the most. Do I serve God and my brothers with humility and bring glory to God or do I do things that draw more attention to me. This also applies as a church, do the actions of our church bring glory to God or Glory to Grawood?