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<h2><a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,'1-');">Obadiah</a> - Judgment Against Israel's Brother</h2>
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<p>A. Judgment against Edom.</p>
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<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,'1-4');">1-4</a>) Obadiah announces judgment against Edom and her pride.</p>
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<p class="c2">The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord <span class="c6">God</span> concerning Edom (We have heard a report from the <span class="c6">Lord</span>, and a messenger has been sent among the nations, <i>saying,</i> "Arise, and let us rise up against her for battle"): "Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be greatly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, <i>you</i> who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; <i>you</i> who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?' Though you ascend <i>as</i> high as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down," says the <span class="c6">Lord</span>.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">The vision of Obadiah</span></b>: The Hebrew name <b><span class="c3">Obadiah</span></b> means "Worshipper of Yahweh" or "Servant of Yahweh." There are 13 "Obadiahs" in the Old Testament, and one of these may the Obadiah who wrote this book.</p><ul class="c6"><li>An Obadiah was an officer in King Ahab of Israel's court and hid God's prophets in a cave (<a onclick="return mV('1Ki',18,3);">1Ki 18:3</a>)</li><li>An Obadiah was sent out by King Jehoshaphat of Judah to teach the law in the cities of Judah (<a onclick="return mV('2Ch',17,7);">2Ch 17:7</a>)</li><li>An Obadiah was one of the overseers who helped repair the temple in the days of Josiah, King of Judah (<a onclick="return mV('2Ch',34,12);">2Ch 34:12</a>)</li><li>An Obadiah was a priest in the days of Nehemiah (<a onclick="return mV('Neh',10,5);">Neh 10:5</a>)</li></ul>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">Thus says the Lord <span class="c6">God</span> concerning Edom</span></b>: Obadiah's prophecy is unique because he doesn't deal with Judah or Israel much at all. His focus is on the sin of Edom and the judgment coming upon them. Who were the Edomites?</p><ul class="c6"><li>The Edomites are the people descended from Esau, the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the brother of Jacob (<a onclick="return mV('Gen',25,'19-34');">Gen 25:19-34</a>). Esau was nicknamed "Edom" (which means, "red") probably because he had red hair</li><li>Esau eventually settled in the area of Mount Seir and absorbed a people known as the Horites (<a onclick="return mV('Gen',36,'8-43');">Gen 36:8-43</a>, which refers to Edomite rulers as <i>dukes</i> in the King James Version; <a onclick="return mV('Deu',2,12);">Deu 2:12</a>)</li><li>When Israel came out of Egypt and wanted to pass through the land of the Edomites to enter into the Promised Land, the Edomites wouldn't let them (<a onclick="return mV('Num',20,'14-21');">Num 20:14-21</a>)</li><li>The Edomites opposed Saul and were conquered under David and Solomon (<a onclick="return mV('1Sa',14,47);">1Sa 14:47</a>; <a onclick="return mV('2Sa',8,14);">2Sa 8:14</a>; <a onclick="return mV('1Ki',9,26);">1Ki 9:26</a>)</li><li>In the days of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, Edom joined with Moab and Ammon to attack Judah, but the Lord fought for Judah and defeated them (<a onclick="return mV('2Ch',20,'1-27');">2Ch 20:1-27</a>, the famous battle that was led with praise)</li><li>The Edomites successfully rebelled against King Jehoram of Judah (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',8,'16-22');">2Ki 8:16-22</a>)</li><li>King Amaziah of Judah brought them back under subjugation (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',14,'9-11');">2Ki 14:9-11</a>)</li><li>The Edomites again attacked Judah in the days of King Ahaz (<a onclick="return mV('2Ch',28,17);">2Ch 28:17</a>)</li><li>Centuries later, King Herod the Great (<a onclick="return mV('Luk',1,5);">Luk 1:5</a>) was an Edomite</li><li>They fought side by side with the Jews the rebellion against Rome in 66-70 <span class="c6">a.d.</span> and were crushed by Rome, never to be heard of as a people again. The predictions of <a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,10);">Obadiah 1:10</a> and <a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,18);">1:18</a> were proven true</li></ul>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">Concerning Edom</span></b>: Because of what this book says of Edom and Jerusalem, we can gather a date for Obadiah's ministry. The only time markers we have in the book are the attack against Jerusalem (<a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,'10-14');">Obadiah 1:10-14</a>) and the fact that this passage also seems to indicate that Edom was not under Judah's rule at the time.</p><ul class="c6"><li> <a onclick="return mV('2Ch',21,'16-17');">2Ch 21:16-17</a> describes an attack against Jerusalem during the reign of Jehoram (848-841 <span class="c6">b.c.</span>) by the Philistines and the Arabians.</li><li><a onclick="return mV('2Ki',24,'1-');">2Ki 24</a> and <a onclick="return mV('2Ki',25,'1-');">25</a> describe the attack of the Babylonians against Jerusalem in 586 <span class="c6">b.c.</span></li></ul>
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<p class="c5">i. Probably the better choice is the earlier attack, because <a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,'10-14');">Obadiah 1:10-14</a> doesn't seem to indicate that Jerusalem was totally destroyed, as it was under the Babylonian attack. If Obadiah's prophecy considers this time period under Jehoram (848-841 <span class="c6">b.c.</span>), it makes him a contemporary of the prophet Elisha and also makes him the earliest of the prophets, probably beating Joel by a few years. It also means that this Prophet Obadiah <i>may</i> be the same man mentioned in <a onclick="return mV('2Ch',17,7);">2Ch 17:7</a>.</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <b><span class="c3">A report from the <span class="c6">Lord</span> . . . Arise, and let us rise up against her for battle</span></b>: Obadiah receives a "news bulletin" from the <span class="c6">Lord</span>. "This just in - God is bringing nations against Edom in battle." As a result of the coming battle, God will <b><span class="c3">make</span></b> Edom <b><span class="c3">small among the nations</span></b> and <b><span class="c3">greatly despised</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">e. <b><span class="c3">The pride of your heart has deceived you</span></b>: This helps explain <i>why</i> God is bringing judgment against Edom. They are filled with <b><span class="c3">pride</span></b>, and it <b><span class="c3">has deceived</span></b> them.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. <b><span class="c3">Pride</span></b> is very <i>deceptive</i>. It makes us think things about ourselves and others that simply are not true. The Edomites were not the last people <b><span class="c3">deceived</span></b> by <b><span class="c3">pride</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">f. <b><span class="c3">You who dwell in the clefts of the rock</span></b>: The Edomites didn't have all that much to be proud about. They were a small, relatively poor and insignificant nation. Yet what they could be proud about, they were - they lived in an area of great natural fortifications and strength, so they boasted in the <b><span class="c3">clefts of the rock</span></b> around them.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. <b><span class="c3">Though you exalt yourself as high as the eagle</span></b>: And boast they did! Pride is so ingrained in fallen human nature that even if we don't have much to be proud about, we'll find <i>something</i> to exalt our self. This also reminds us that we don't have to be rich or powerful or great to be filled will pride. Sometimes those who have the least reason for pride have the most of it.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. The Edomites boasted in their natural defenses. The ancient city of Petra - once the capital city of Edom, known as Sela - had amazing defenses. It is a city carved into the rock, accessible by a narrow canyon almost a mile long. At the end of the canyon there is a spectacular city carved in stone, and seemingly incapable of being conquered by any army.</p>
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<p class="c5">iii. The Edomites boasted in their wisdom. The men of Edom - especially of the city <b><span class="c3">Teman</span></b> - were noted for their wisdom. The phrase <i>men of the East</i> in the Old Testament often refers to men from Edom, and passages like <a onclick="return mV('1Ki',4,30);">1Ki 4:30</a> declare the great wisdom of the <i>men of the East</i>. As well, <a onclick="return mV('Jer',49,7);">Jer 49:7</a> says of Edom: <i>Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?</i> This was another source of pride for the Edomites.</p>
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<p class="c5">iv. The Edomites boasted in their alliances and trusted in their allies - their <i>confederacy</i>, the <i>men at peace with you</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,7);">Obadiah 1:7</a>). They thought that their alliances made them strong, and they were proud because of that strength.</p>
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<p class="c4">g. <b><span class="c3">From there I will bring you down</span></b>: The sobering truth about our pride is that God can <b><span class="c3">bring</span></b> us <b><span class="c3">down</span></b> anytime. He can shatter our proud deception and bring us low.</p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,'5-9');">5-9</a>) God's judgment against Edom will be complete.</p>
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<p class="c2">"If thieves had come to you, if robbers by night; Oh, how you will be cut off! - Would they not have stolen till they had enough? If grape-gatherers had come to you, would they not have left <i>some</i> gleanings? Oh, how Esau shall be searched out! <i>How</i> his hidden treasures shall be sought after! All the men in your confederacy shall force you to the border; the men at peace with you shall deceive you <i>and</i> prevail against you. <i>Those who eat</i> your bread shall lay a trap for you. No one is aware of it. Will I not in that day," says the <span class="c6">Lord</span>, "Even destroy the wise <i>men</i> from Edom, and understanding from the mountains of Esau? Then your mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that everyone from the mountains of Esau may be cut off by slaughter."</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Would they not have stolen till they had enough?</span></b> Obadiah says that the judgment coming upon Edom will be far worse than what happens when <b><span class="c3">robbers</span></b> come and steal, because they usually stop when they have <b><span class="c3">enough</span></b>. The judgment coming against Edom will be far more complete (<b><span class="c3">everyone from the mountains of Esau may be cut off by slaughter</span></b>).</p>
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<p class="c5">i. The Edomites were proud of their great natural defenses, but God would break their pride and bring them low.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">Men at peace with you shall deceive you</span></b>: When God brings judgment against Edom, they will know the sting of treachery against them. The alliances they once trusted in would come to nothing, and they would be double-crossed by their former friends.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. The Edomites were proud of their political alliances, but God would break their pride and bring them low.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">Destroy the wise men from Edom, and understanding from the mountains of Esau</span></b>: The Edomites were renowned for their great wisdom, but God would bring such great judgment that even their wise men would be destroyed.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. The Edomites were proud of their reputation for wisdom, but God would break their pride and bring them low.</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,'1-9');">Obadiah 1:1-9</a> is paralleled remarkably in <a onclick="return mV('Jer',49,'7-22');">Jer 49:7-22</a>, so Jeremiah probably had Obadiah's prophecy before him as he wrote and ministered.</p>
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<p class="c1">3. (<a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,'10-14');">10-14</a>) Why judgment is coming against Edom.</p>
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<p class="c2">"For violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. In the day that you stood on the other side; in the day that strangers carried captive his forces, when foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem; even you <i>were</i> as one of them. But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother in the day of his captivity; nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; nor should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress. You should not have entered the gate of My people in the day of their calamity. Indeed, you should not have gazed on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor laid <i>hands</i> on their substance in the day of their calamity. You should not have stood at the crossroads to cut off those among them who escaped; nor should you have delivered up those among them who remained in the day of distress."</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">For your violence against your brother Jacob</span></b>: The family lines of both Israel and Edom go back to a common ancestor - Isaac. Esau (Edom) was the <b><span class="c3">brother</span></b> of <b><span class="c3">Jacob</span></b> (Israel). This made Edom's sin against Israel all the worse.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. Some sins become worse depending on whom we sin against. It is sin to treat someone else badly; it is <i>worse</i> to treat <i>a brother or sister in Jesus</i> badly. It is sin to speak harshly to anyone; it is <i>worse</i> to speak harshly to your <i>husband</i> or<i> wife</i>.<b><span class="c3"></span></b></p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">In that day you stood on the other side</span></b>: What did Edom do when <b><span class="c3">strangers</span></b> attacked Judah and <b><span class="c3">foreigners entered his gates</span></b>? <i>Nothing</i>. They stood by and cheered for Judah's misery (<b><span class="c3">nor should you have rejoiced</span></b>).</p>
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<p class="c5">i. Sometimes doing <i>nothing</i> is a great sin. <a onclick="return mV('Num',32,23);">Num 32:23</a> speaks of the sin that <i>will find you out</i>, and the sin it speaks of is the sin of doing <i>nothing</i>.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. Edom actually did worse than nothing; they <b><span class="c3">rejoiced</span></b> over another's misfortune and suffering and used it as an occasion to exalt themselves (<b><span class="c3">nor should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress</span></b>).</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">Nor laid hands on their substance</span></b>: Edom's sin started with doing <i>nothing</i>, then progressed to <i>pride</i> over Judah's distress. Soon, they took advantage of their brother Judah's misfortune and <b><span class="c3">laid hands on their substance</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <b><span class="c3">You should not have stood at the crossroads to cut off those among them who escaped</span></b>: The final progression of Edom's sin was worst of all - they joined in the attack against vulnerable Judah. When they encountered people from Judah fleeing southward from the attacking army, they killed them (<b><span class="c3">cut off</span></b>) or gave them over to the enemy as prisoners (<b><span class="c3">delivered up those among them who remained</span></b>).</p>
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<p class="c5">i. "Sin proceeds by degrees; neither is any man at his worst at first." (Trapp)</p>
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<p class="c4">e. <b><span class="c3">In the day of his captivity . . . in the day of distress . . . in the day of calamity</span></b>: All in all, Edom treated God's people terribly when <b><span class="c3">distress</span></b> and <b><span class="c3">calamity</span></b> came upon them. For all this, God's judgment was coming upon them.</p><ul class="c6"><li>First they did nothing</li><li>Then they rejoiced in their distress and calamity</li><li>Then they took advantage of their vulnerable state</li><li>Then they joined in the violence against God's people</li></ul>
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<p class="c5">i. Are we guilty of the same - or worse - when we see others in <b><span class="c3">distress</span></b> or <b><span class="c3">calamity</span></b>? If so, God sees it as sin and He must deal with it in our life.</p>
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<p>B. Deliverance on Mount Zion.</p>
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<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,'15-16');">15-16</a>) A promise of judgment against Edom.</p>
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<p class="c2">"For the day of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> upon all the nations <i>is</i> near; as you have done, it shall be done to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head. For as you drank on my holy mountain, <i>so</i> shall all the nations drink continually; yes, they shall drink, and swallow, and they shall be as though they had never been."</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">The day of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> upon all the nations is near</span></b>: God wants Edom to know that though distress and calamity came upon Judah, it can and will come upon Edom also. That day is <b><span class="c3">near</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">As you have done, it shall be done to you</span></b>: God will give simple <i>justice</i> to the Edomites, no more and no less. What they did to the people of Judah will also be done to them. The same principle is true for us, so if we want mercy from God, we do well to give mercy to others.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. There is a sense in which God's judgment against Edom was just the fulfillment of His promise to Abraham in <a onclick="return mV('Gen',12,3);">Gen 12:3</a>: <i>I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you</i>. The Edomites cursed Israel, so they were cursed. If we want to be blessed, we should bless the Jewish people.</p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,'17-20');">17-20</a>) God will use Israel to bring judgment against Edom.</p>
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<p class="c2">"But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame; but the house of Esau <i>shall be</i> stubble; they shall kindle them and devour them, and no survivor shall <i>remain</i> of the house of Esau," for the <span class="c6">Lord</span> has spoken. The South shall possess the mountains of Esau, and the Lowland shall possess Philistia. They shall possess the fields of Ephraim and the fields of Samaria. Benjamin <i>shall possess</i> Gilead. And the captives of this host of the children of Israel <i>shall possess the land</i> of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath. The captives of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the South.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">On Mount Zion there shall be deliverance</span></b>: The trials and burdens among God's people are only temporary, because among them <b><span class="c3">there shall be deliverance</span></b>. However, the attack coming against Edom will be different - Israel will be the <b><span class="c3">fire</span></b> and they will be the <b><span class="c3">stubble</span></b>, and Edom will be completely devoured.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. The word of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> through Obadiah proved true. The Edomites fought side by side with the Jews the rebellion against Rome in 66-70 <span class="c6">a.d.</span> and were crushed by Rome, never to be heard of as a people again. The predictions of <a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,10);">Obadiah 1:10</a> and <a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,18);">1:18</a> were precisely fulfilled. You just won't meet an Edomite today.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">The South shall possess the mountains of Esau</span></b>: Obadiah looks forward to a coming day when Israel will occupy and <b><span class="c3">possess</span></b> the land that once belonged to <b><span class="c3">Esau</span></b>. Though the modern borders of Israel do not encompass the ancient lands of Edom, we can trust that they one day will, either in this age or in the age to come.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. <b><span class="c3">The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions</span></b>: Possessing these other lands can only happen when we first possess what is ours. God has given us a rich heritage of <i>every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Eph',1,3);">Eph 1:3</a>), but how much do we actually <b><span class="c3">possess</span></b>? God wants His people to <b><span class="c3">possess their possessions</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c1">3. (<a onclick="return mV('Oba',1,21);">21</a>) Saviors come to Mount Zion.</p>
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<p class="c2">Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the <span class="c6">Lord</span>'s.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Saviors shall come to Mount Zion</span></b>: The idea isn't that there are many <b><span class="c3">saviors</span></b> in an ultimate sense. Here, the word "<b><span class="c3">saviors</span></b>" has the sense of "deliverers." The contrast is plain; Edom will be completely destroyed, and no <b><span class="c3">saviors</span></b> shall help her, but <b><span class="c3">saviors shall come to Mount Zion</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">To judge the mountains of Esau</span></b>: They will <b><span class="c3">judge the mountains of Esau</span></b> in at least three ways:</p><ul class="c6"><li>The presence of deliverers is a judgment against Edom, because Edom will have no deliverers</li><li>The judges will rule over the territory of Edom</li><li>The judges will actually sit in judgment over Edom and their sins</li></ul>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">And the kingdom shall be the <span class="c6">Lord</span>'s</span></b>: The brief prophecy of Obadiah ends on this high note. The Edomites seemed to have their day against God's people but at the end of it all, <b><span class="c3">the kingdom shall be the <span class="c6">Lord</span>'s</span></b>. He knows how to take care of God's people and to advance His kingdom in a glorious way.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. This note of encouragement may be the central purpose for this prophecy of Obadiah. We wonder if it ever had much of a reading in the streets or palaces of Edom; but it certainly was received as welcome encouragement among the suffering people of God. Obadiah tells all God's people: "Don't worry about those who ignore your need, those who rejoice at your problems, those who take advantage of your crises, those join their hands with others in attacking you. I will take care of them."</p>
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