Obadiah: Be Careful How You Treat God’s Children
By Joe Mack Cherry
I. Introduction
A. Facts
1. Obadiah is the shortest book in the OT
2. Obadiah means “worshipper or servant of Yahweh”
3. He doesn’t tell us anything about himself.
4. Scripture refers to 11 people with the name Obadiah.
5. Prophecy was solely against Edom for their treatment of Judah when they were overtaken.
6. Edom was ultimately destroyed about the same time Jerusalem was in AD 70.
7. In Acts 3:18, Peter declares that all the prophets spoke of Christ.
a. If the “all” in this verse is literal, then Obad. 17-21 would be a dual prophecy.
b. Actual Jerusalem restored first and the coming of Christ second.
B. Edomites-Who were they?
1. Descendants of Esau, Jacob’s twin brother
2. Just as there was enmity between brothers there was enmity between their offspring.
3. They were the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s of the OT.
a. Num. 20:14-21 – as the Children of Israel were traveling from Egypt to Canaan the Edomites would not let them pass through their land.
b. Their strengths were their downfall as we will see shortly.
4. They lived in the rocky, mountainous areas that were considered impossible to breech.
C. History – Two schools of thought
1. Circa 845 BC
a. This would make him the first of the prophets.
b. Joel and Jonah would be contemporaries.
c. Some scholars that hold to this timeline believe Joel and Jeremiah quoted Obadiah in their prophesies against Edom.
d. At this time:
i. Edom had broken free from King Jehoram and Judah. II Kings 8 & II Chr. 21
ii. Jerusalem was invaded by strangers (Philistines and Arabs). Side bar: Because the Children of Israel did not annihilate their enemies when they took over Canaan, God used the remnant to chastise the Children of Israel when they strayed.
iii. II Chr. 21:17 – tells us many captives were taken which helps to verify this period.
iv. It is foretold that Edom would once again be under Judah’s rule.
2. Circa 586 BC
a. Here the destruction would be attributed to the Babylonians.
b. The prophecy was fulfilled either way.
c. The one thing that cannot be corroborated if it is to have happened in this time is that Judah would again rule Edom. In 506 BC, the Nabataeans (nomadic Arabs) overtook Edom.
d. John Hyrcanus placed Edom back under Jewish rule until it falls to Rome in AD 70.
D. Three Main Themes
1. Edom will be destroyed because of their cruelty.
2. Israel will be restored.
3. God rules in the affairs of nations.
II. Body
A. Downfall of the Edomites
1. Pride – From where did this pride originate?
a. Vs 4 – Their defenses
i. Cities were carved into the side of a mountain
ii. The paths leading up to them could be blocked by one horse turned sideways.
iii. The cities had two levels. The bottom being the common area and the top where the families lived. The ropes that were used for climbing between floors were simply taken up so if an enemy penetrated the first floor, they had no means of reaching the second.
b. Vs 6 – Their riches
i. They controlled most of the water in the area.
ii. Major trade routes ran through Edom so there was much trade.
iii. They also levied taxes on those who were transporting merchandise through the area.
c. Vs. 7 – Their confederacies
i. Edom itself was a small country so it needed bigger allies to help them fight from time to time.
ii. They were very diplomatic out of necessity.
iii. Being rich they were good allies themselves for poorer countries.
d. Vs 8 – Their wisdom
i. Edomites were very intelligent
ii. It is believed that the Magi were Edomites.
iii. Job’s friend Eliphaz was an Edomite.
e. Vs 9 – They were mighty men
i. God’s greater than any man
ii. Nothing can protect us or hide us from God. Jonah finds this out a few years later.
iii. Revisit vs 4 & also look at Psa. 139:6-10. Jonah remembered he couldn’t hide from God
2. Sin of Violence and Silence – Vss 10-14
a. They stood aloof and watched their brothers be ransacked Jerusalem and kidnapped many of its inhabitants. This was the same as being on the enemies side. Vs 11 confirms this
b. The Edomites rejoiced in the demise of Jerusalem. Vs 12
c. They took part in the pillaging (taking of the spoils). The idea was that someone was going to get the spoils, it might as well be them. Much like greedy bankers waiting on a farmer to lose a farm so they can take advantage of the situation and but the ground at a discount. Reminds me of Boss Hogg on the Dukes of Hazzard. Vs. 13
d. They stood in the way of the fleeing inhabitants and thus helped in the capture. This was another passive way of helping the enemy.
3. Vs 16 says they drank down on God’s holy hill which refers to them getting drunk and mocking God. Not a good thing!
4. The Nature of the Fall of Edom
a. Go back to vs 5 and we see that nothing would be left of Edom.
b. Scriptures says that even thieves would leave something behind but not so here.
c. Even the hidden treasures would be found and taken. This refers to valuables stored in the upper level in their living quarters that was supposed to be impregnable.
d. Vss 19-21 tell us who will take over the different parts of Edom.
B. Mt Zion is Exalted vs 18-21
1. Mt Zion
a. The hill in Jerusalem where David built his house.
b. At 2,500 ft above the city was a very strategic location.
c. It was to Jerusalem what Mt Seir was to Edom.
2. All the land taken around Jerusalem was returned to the Jews. What God took away in punishment he always gave back.
III. Close
A. Four Practical Lessons
1. Human defenses are no match for God.
2. Ridicule shows no respect for those in trouble or brotherly love.
3. You can’t hide from God.
4. Eternal judgment will prevail.
B. In the book, The Prophets of Israel the author Cadman says of hate
1. Silences the voice of compassion
2. Blinds the soul’s vison
3. Corrupt the social fabric
4. Inflicts needless pain and dismay on innocent multitudes
5. Confines the political systems founded by it to self-destruct
6. “No nation is defensible if it presumes to either limit God’s love and righteousness or our own moral obligation.”
