Obadiah: Wrath to Edom

Introduction

Obadiah is the shortest book of the OT (21 verses). It is a grouping of judgement poems against Edom.

Edom: What you need to know.

Edom was a nation South and east of the Israelites.

Edom is the nation of the Edomites, or the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother.

The Edomites belonged the the ancestry of Abraham and Isaac.

Abraham had Isaac, and Isaac had Esau and Jacob.

Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright, and he became the lineage of Jesus.

As they were older, God renamed both Jacob and Esau. Jacob was given the name, Israel, which means, “he who strives with Yahweh.” Esau was given the name, Edom, which means, “red.” Why was his name “red?”

When Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright, he asked Esau to trade for something? What? A bowl of red stew.

Prophetically, Jacob was named, Israel, “he who strives with the Lord.” And God would continue to walk with His descendents.

Prophetically, Esau was named, “red,” because his inheritance was a red stew, or possibly a stew with red meat.

Explanation

Obadiah 1-14: Obadiah levels accusations against Edom.

They are prideful. (Obadiah 3-4 “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.”)

They have exalted themselves and relished their fortified cities.

Obadiah 15—21 The Day of the Lord is coming.

The Day of the Lord comes for ALL nations.

Only those on Zion will escape the day of the Lord.

Yahweh has spoken.

God will gather all of the nations to Himself.

Invitation

Every prophetic word against a people has boiled down to pride.

Edom was exalting in their fortresses. Every nation can fall.

Edom was not special.

Only God’s covenant people are special.

God will gather his people to himself, and the greatest allegiance will be to Him forever.