Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction - Background

With only 21 verses to its length Obadiah is the minorest of the minor prophets but his message is no less important and no less applicable for us this morning.

For many this book remains obscure and the most interaction you have had with it comes from the short video we just watched.

While you may have heard the name before the book is unknown.

The message of Obadiah is primarily doom and gloom of judgment and it is not quoted in the New Testament.

However this book merits careful study due to its powerful message about the justice of God.

This book speaks to the real danger of the sin of pride and arrogance.

Obadiah graphically illustrates through the nation the truth of Proverbs 16:18.

Obadiah is the prophet sent to the nation of Edom to pronounce God’s judgment for their treatment of Israel.

His name means “servant or worshiper of Yahweh”.

Though Obadiah was a common name throughout the biblical period in Israel, I see it as poetic justice God sent Obadiah - worshiper of Yahweh to Edom - who had largely ignored Yahweh and were guilty of great sin against Israel as we will see.

The date of his writing is difficult to determine, though we know from versus 10-14 it is tied to the Edomite assault on Jerusalem.

Obadiah wrote shortly after that attack.

There were 4 significant invasions of Jerusalem in the Old Testament.

Shishak king of Egypt circa 925 B.C. during the reign of Rehoboam - 1 Kings 14:25-26 2 Chronicles 12.

Philistines and Arabians between 848-841 B.C. during the reign of Jehoram of Judah 2 Chronicles 21:8-20.

Jehoash king of Israel circa 790 B.C. 2 Kings 14 and 2 Chronicles 25.

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

Out of these four only 2 and 4 could possibly fit.

Number two is most preferable since Obadiah does not detail the total destruction of Jerusalem, and since Babylon is not specifically mentioned as other prophets do when speaking of the fall of Jerusalem.

Obadiah gives a warning to Edom not to repeat the sins of their past, if Jerusalem were destroyed this admonition would have been meaningless.

Lastly there is no reference to the destruction of the temple or the deportation of the people.

If correct this puts Obadiah as the earliest of the writing prophets and contemporary to Elisha.

Judgment against Edom is mentioned in more Old Testament books than it is against any other foreign nation.

Possibly due to their historical background.

The animosity between the Edomites and the Israelites is one of the oldest examples of discord in human relationships.

Edom is the nation from Esau as Israel is the nation from Jacob.

Years later Esau was so hungry he sold his birthright to Jacob for red stew (Edom means red)

Jacob would steal the blessing from Esau also and Jacob would flee to escape the wrath of his brother.

Edom is a trouble to Israel throughout the history of the nations.

Edom refused to let Israel pass through their land on their way to the Promised Land

Opposed King Saul

Fought with David and Solomon and was subjected

Fought against Jehoshaphat

Rebelled (successfully) against Jehoram

God spoke to Israel in Deuteronomy 23:7

Of all human conflict the most painful and difficult to resolve are those between blood relatives.

History shows that just about every nation has had a civil war.

Civil wars are family feuds on the national level in which brother is killing brother.

These disputes are bitter long and deep.

Usually at the root of it all is pride.

There are two key verses I see in Obadiah

The Lord is speaking out to Edom specifically detailing that their sins were against their very own brother.

The second key verse is also the verse dividing this book

“As you have done it will be done to you”

This message to Edom is specifically against them for how they treated their brother and so what they have done they will have done to them.

Deceived By Pride

Obadiah received a message that came directly from the Lord concerning Edom.

Using the name Lord (Adonai) GOD (Yahweh) Obadiah is connecting the sovereignty of the Lord over all nations to His covenant name with Israel.

We have heard a message from the LORD - an envoy (diplomat or messenger) has been sent among the nations.

This is what that envoy proclaimed “Rise up and let’s go to war against her.”

The LORD sent a message or report concerning Edom to the nations calling for them to act and come together to unite and war against Edom.

The Lord said to Edom - I will make you insignificant among the nations you will be deeply despised.

You will be nothing among the other nations and deeply despised.

God then tells Edom that their arrogant (presumptuous or prideful) heart has deceived them.

Their heart thought they were better than they were and more secure.

They thought because of their location they were safe and secure.

They live in the clefts of rock and their home is in the mountains.

Their hearts said who could bring us down - no one can touch us.

God then answers their prideful rhetorical question - you think you soar like an eagle and are safe with your nest (your home) among the stars (with how high up) - but your arrogant heart deceives you.

Even from their I will bring you down - this is the Lord’s declaration.

God is bringing judgment against Edom because of their pride.

They are filled with it and it has deceived them and even emboldened them to act and behave as though they are secure.

It is precisely Edom’s pride that became their undoing as they thought no one could conquer them.

A prideful heart forgets or worse ignores the LORD God.

Obadiah now fills in the details concerning Edom’s fall.

Edom would be utterly ravaged - even thieves and marauders would only take what they wanted, but Edom would have everything taken.

Further depicted by the example of grape harvesters who usually leave some grapes behind, but Esau will be utterly pillaged and have his treasure searched out.

This would not be accounted to anything else but the judgment of God bringing total and complete destruction.

Edom’s pride also sat in the alliances and treaties they had.

The Lord God declares that those alliances would provide no protection or security but again precisely the source of pride becomes their undoing.

These nations would push them out of the land, those at peace would deceive and conquer them.

Those who eat your bread will set a trap.

What calamity not even from a known enemy, but an ambush from a trusted friend or ally.

The Lord declares in that day He will eliminate the wise ones, those with understanding as well as terrify the warriors.

There would be no resuce from wise men, leaders or even from their warriors.

Edom’s arrogance would be brought down by their complete humiliation.

Security, wealth, wisdom, leadership and soldier would all fall at the hand of God.

Pride only gives false hope that one could stand in their own strength against God.

Everyone who stands opposed to God in pride will be brought down low.

Forms of Pride

God prophesied that Edom would be covered with shame and destroyed forever.

The shame to cover their pride and the destruction as judgment and fulfillment of His promise with Israel.

The sins of Edom were particularly awful in violence towards their brother.

The fact that Edom commited these sins is bad enough but to have commited them against their own family made it all the worse.

Sins become worse depending upon who they are commited against.

It is sin to mistreat someone, it is worse to mistreat brother or sister in Christ badly.

It is sin to speak harsh to anyone it is worse to do it to your spouse.

Edom had many sins they commited against Israel.

The day in which Israel was attacked Edom stood aloof and indifferent.

Edom sinned in doing nothing.

They did nothing to help at all.

Doing nothing can be a great sin.

While Israel was attacked and Jerusalem ransacked and foreigners invaded Edom did nothing.

In doing nothing to stop it however the Lord declares they were just like one of them who invaded - they were just as guilty.

The sin that will find you out specifically is the sin of doing nothing.

Worse than doing nothing Edom then did something; they gloated at the misfortune of Israel and the people of Judah in the day of their destruction.

They boastfully mocked

God didnt spare Israel but He did send judgment to Edom.

Edom’s sin started with indifference and doing nothing and progressed to gloating over Judah’s distress.