Yahweh's Provision will Come

This morning we are looking at the book of Obadiah, this is the shortest book in the Old Testament, considered one of the minor prophets. The Old Testament prophets are classified into two groups standard and non-standard, Obadiah falls into the non-standard category because it does not follow the same structure as most of the prophetic books, and Obadiah does not give his spoken message to Israel or Judah it is only to Edom.

Before we dive into the text we need to look at a little bit of history so we can understand the message Obadiah is preaching. The nation of Edom stems from Esau, (remember he sold his birthright for red lentil stew to Jacob, Edom means red). Esau settled in the land of Seir, the country of Edom (Gen. 32:3). The sons of Esau became chiefs of Edom, and they became enemies of Isreal. In Exodus 15 Moses wanted to travel through Edom toward the promised land but the king of Edom would not let them, it is from this time on that they were enemies of Israel. Remember Isreal split into two kingdoms after the death of King Solomon, Isreal in the North and Judah in the South. Before Obadiah’s prophecy Edom would be Judah’s ally at times, but during the Babylonian’s destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC (this was God’s judgment on Judah for their disobedience) Edom turned against Judah and helped the Babylonians plunder Judah. It is this act of treachery that God pronounces judgment on Edom through the prophet Obadiah, and that is what we are going to look at this morning.

So now we know the history between Judah and Edom we can dive into the text and see what it has for us. Remember God’s word is just as relevant today as it was in 586 BC. Verses 15-18 are about God’s judgment on Edom and then Verses 19-21 are about God restoring His people.

Obadiah 15-21

Obadiah 15–21 LEB

15 “For the day of Yahweh is near against all the nations! Just as you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return on your own head. 16 For just as you have drunk on my holy mountain, all the nations will drink continually. They will drink and they will slurp, and they will be as if they had never been. 17 But on Mount Zion there will be an escape, and it will be holy, and the house of Jacob will take possession of their dispossessors. 18 And the house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; and they will set them on fire and will consume them. And there will not be a survivor for the house of Esau,” for Yahweh has spoken. 19 Those of the Negev will take possession of the mountain of Esau, and those of the Shephelah will possess the land of the Philistines, and they shall take possession of the territory of Ephraim and the territory of Samaria, and Benjamin will take possession of Gilead. 20 And the exiles of this army of the people of Israel will possess Canaan up to Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will take possession of the cities of the Negev. 21 And those who have been saved will go up on Mount Zion to rule the mountain of Esau. And the kingdom will belong to Yahweh.

Obadiah 15–21 (LEB)

15 “For the day of Yahweh is near against all the nations! Just as you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return on your own head.

“The day of Yahweh” or “the day of the LORD” is a common theme in Old Testament prophesy. This phrase points to a future time when God’s judgment will come and the faithful remnant will be delivered. This is a purging or purifying judgment that even Israel and Judah face for their disobedience. There deed will return on them, they will be punished for their sins for there constant rejection of God. We live in a sinful world today and there is a day coming when mankind will be judged for their sin, and for those who do not know Christ they will face the same judgment. We serve a righteous and holy God, there is a price that must be paid for sin. Jesus paid that price but we have to be willing to accept Him and submit to Him.

16 For just as you have drunk on my holy mountain, all the nations will drink continually. They will drink and they will slurp, and they will be as if they had never been.

Here Obadiah is speaking of God’s judgment, they will drink the cup of God’s wrath. Judah drank temporarily from this cup (the Babylonian Exile), but Edom will drink continually from it. There is no end in hell it is eternal punishment.

17 But on Mount Zion there will be an escape, and it will be holy, and the house of Jacob will take possession of their dispossessors.

“Mount Zion” refers to Jerusalem. Those who escape are those who have given themselves to God. They are His children, saved by their faith in God. “the house of Jacob” this phrase refers to God’s children, they are representatives of Abrahams seed. God will use the nation of Israel to bring His judgment to Edom, just as He used Babylon to bring His judgment to Judah.

18 And the house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; and they will set them on fire and will consume them. And there will not be a survivor for the house of Esau,” for Yahweh has spoken.

Verse 18 describes God’s judgment on Edom, they will be destroyed. “for Yahweh has spoken” God’s words will come to pass, no matter how long it takes His promises whether of blessing or judgment will happen. The Old Testament shows us time and time again the faithfulness of our LORD.

Now we move to the restoration of Yahweh’s people in verses 19-21. This is where I got the title for this message. Yahweh’s provision will come. We all may not see the ultimate fulfillment of His plan from this side, but you can be certain it will happen.

19 Those of the Negev will take possession of the mountain of Esau, and those of the Shephelah will possess the land of the Philistines, and they shall take possession of the territory of Ephraim and the territory of Samaria, and Benjamin will take possession of Gilead.

The places that are listed here are the areas originally given to the nation of Israel after they conquered the promised land. After God’s judgment comes His kingdom will be restored. This can be seen for us when Christ will set up His millennial kingdom.

20 And the exiles of this army of the people of Israel will possess Canaan up to Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will take possession of the cities of the Negev.

Remember the nation of Israel split in two, and both nations are spoken of here “army of Israel”, and Judah as “the exiles of Jerusalem”. God’s people will have there day, a day when they will no longer long for things to be restored, a day when God has set things right.

21 And those who have been saved will go up on Mount Zion to rule the mountain of Esau. And the kingdom will belong to Yahweh.

Some translations say “saviors go up to Mount Zion” This is the LORD’s provision for His people. He has provided a way of escape, salvation through Christ. We must put our trust in God, we have so many examples of Yahweh providing for His children, the Bible is a history book of God's redemptive plan in action.

Closing

No matter how long it takes, God's provision will come. The Babylonian captivity lasted around 60 years. God’s people had to wait sixty years to be rescued. The nation of Israel was under Egyptian control for 430 years before God rescued them. We serve an all knowing God who’s timeline may not always match up with ours, but He knows better. And no matter how long a time of trials or a time of unrest may last Yahweh’s provision will come.