we began a new study in the one-chapter Old Testament book of Obadiah. Historians do not know anything about him personally other than he wrote this prophesy.
It is a little odd that this book is included in the OT writings, because it is not written to the nation of Israel, but to Edom. The descendants of Edom are from Esau. This means they are Jews or Israelites, but not children of the promised covenant with Abraham or the Messiah. Scholars believe it is included for two reasons:
1. It declares God’s judgment on Edom for the sins they committed against Israel.
2. It does reveal a message of hope and promise to the Israelites being restored to their homeland.
Last week we only covered the introduction and two verses. Tonight, we shall cover verses 3 -9.
Verses 3 and 4 reveal Edom false sense of security:
3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rocks
and make your home on the heights,
Verse 3 the “pride of your heart has deceived you”. Instead of pride NAS and Holman call it “arrogance”. It is a stronger word for the way the Edomites felt about themselves.
What gave the Edomites their arrogance and false sense of security? Their geographical location.
Obadiah points out that they lived in the clefts and caves of the rocks. Where they were was like a rock fortress. The second key word is “heights”. These naturally formed rocks were up high. Unlike man made forts and walled cities that could be penetrated, the Edomites lived in a seemingly impenetrable fortress of solid rock. The city of Petra.
I don’t know if any of you watched the Indiana Jones 3 movie “Last Crusade”. Indiana and his father played by Sean Conerly were searching for the Holy Grail. At the end of the movie the place the film was made was this area. You see narrow passes and high solid rock walls.
(I found pictures on the internet of this location)
you who say to yourself,
‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’
The Edomites confidence came because no army had ever been able to successfully attack them. Up until this point, they had never been attacked by God. Obadiah knew the pride and arrogance of the Edomites, their attitude was “who can bring Edom down to the ground? Obadiah’s answer was God can!
Look at what God promises in verse 4.
4 Though you soar like the eagle
and make your nest among the stars,
from there I will bring you down,”
declares the LORD.
I have been looking for style in Obadiah’s presentation and here we find use of hyperbole “make your nest among the stars”. There mountains were high, maybe 5,000 feet, but that is not star worthy. The hyperbole is used to exaggerate the pride and confidence of the Edomites in how high up they were.
Not only did the Edomites have a false sense of security, but they also had a false sense of trust in their wealth – verse 5, 6
5“If thieves came to you,
if robbers in the night—
oh, what a disaster awaits you!—
would they not steal only as much as they wanted?
• Thieves not only would steal the best you have; they would take everything
If grape pickers came to you,
would they not leave a few grapes?
• Grape pickers normally would take the best and leave some for the poor. NAS/ESV has gleanings. The gleaners were the poor people who were allowed to come into the harvest fields after the hired workers had picked over it and they could have whatever they could find left.
You may remember in the story of Ruth; she was a gleaner and Boaz told his pickers to leave her extra.
Scholars believe Obadiah is using a contrast of grape pickers to the wrath of God on Edom – God will leave nothing. There is no city or anyone living at Petra anymore except for tourist.
6 But how Esau will be ransacked,
his hidden treasures pillaged!
• What NIV calls “ransacked”; KJV “searched out” and ESV “pillaged”. NLT - Every nook and cranny of Edom will be searched and looted. Every treasure will be found and taken.
• The judgment of the Lord God will be so complete, so through nothing will be left. Even hidden treasures! The hidden treasures may refer to the iron and copper mining in their region – iron and copper are hidden in the earth or to gold and silver and valuable artifacts they have collected and stored deep in the caves.
Interestingly, Obadiah switches to the name who began the nation Esau in verse 6.
7 All your allies will force you to the border;
your friends will deceive and overpower you;
those who eat your bread will set a trap for you, but you will not detect it.
Edom’s leaders were making alliances with other nations for protection. This was not an uncommon practice. Verse 7 Obadiah informs them your allies will become your enemies. Notice particularly “but you will not detect it.” History records that the Nabateans invited Edom’s leaders to a banquet and when they arrived, they killed them. God fulfilled the prophesy of Obadiah and it was the judgment of God done through the Nabateans.
8 “In that day,” declares the LORD,
Verse 8 “on that day” or “in that day” – is a variation of “day of the Lord” reference for judgment. The word “day” as a metaphor for judgment is used 12 times in the book of Obadiah.
You will notice the word Lord with all capital letters, this is the proper name of the Lord God Yahweh. It is used 7 times in this prophesy.
“will I not destroy the wise men of Edom,
those of understanding in the mountains of Esau?
Shall I not or will I not – is God talking – God promises to destroy the nation of Edom and He did.
Obadiah refers to “wise men and those of understanding”. This is the third way the Edomites had a false sense of security was through their wise leaders and those who counsel them Whether the President, Governor or a Pastor – leaders are limited or helped by their advisors and counselors.
Edom false hope by trusting in her military.
9 Your warriors, Teman, will be terrified,
and everyone in Esau’s mountains
will be cut down in the slaughter.
We know Obadiah is talking about the military because of the word “warriors”.
• NLT – he mightiest warriors of Teman will be terrified,
• KJV – And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed
Why does Obadiah say Teman? He was a grandson of Esau and later one of the principal cities within the land of Edom was named in his honor.
What will happen to these mighty warriors? They will be terrified, dismayed and cut down. The defeat will be complete and through.
Those of you old enough to remember the Gulf War against Iraq, may remember the famed group of soldiers called the Republican Guard. They were the best equipped and trained soldiers in Iraq’s army and the allied forces were supposed to fear them. These warriors of Teman I believe were that kind of army. In our American military I would guess it would be equivalent to the Navy Seals.
Spiritual application:
1. Be careful about a possible false sense of security in your life – in addition to locks on your doors ask the Lord to protect your family. Jane prayed that we wouldn’t get the flu virus going around and we have been spared so far.
2. Be cautious about trusting too much in your wealth or finances. They could all be gone quickly. In addition to having saved for retirement and living on a budget, trust God to help you bring glory to Him through your finances by giving to bless others.
3. Obadiah also expressed concern about Edom trusting in their wisdom. Human wisdom can only go so far. When you need to make important decision claim James 1:5 and ask God for wisdom.
Prayer
