Postcards: Obadiah (Part 1)
Pastor Jefferson M. Williams
Chenoa Baptist Church
02- 04-2024
Obadiah?
If you have read the book of Obadiah, you get a million points. If you have heard a sermon on the book of Obadiah, you get ten million points!
Obadiah is the shortest book (only 291 words) in the Old Testament and commentators agree that it is one of the most neglected books in all the Bible.
Obadiah was one of the minor prophets. This doesn’t mean they are less important but simply shorter than the major prophetic books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.
We are continuing our Postcards sermon series on the shortest books of the Bible and after Obadiah we only have Jude left to study.
It is a unique book in that it is not written to the Jewish people but to the people of Edom.
It is a prophecy of doom and destruction for the descendants of Esau because of their behavior toward the Israelites.
Maxine and I spent the last week in Texas at her stepmother’s celebration of life.
And something you see everywhere, on bumper stickers, billboards, shirts, and hats, is the phrase “Don’t mess with Texas.”
This morning, we are going to see that the same thing can be said about God’s people.
The main lesson of this book is don’t mess with God’s people.
Turn with me to the book of Obadiah.
Prayer.
The Vision
The vision of Obadiah.
This is what the Sovereign Lord says about Edom—
We know nothing about this man named Obadiah except that his name means “worshipper of God.”
It was probably written around 586 BC with the ruins of Jerusalem still burning from the Babylonian invasion and conquest.
It is the Sovereign Lord who speaks through Obadiah. The God who is ruling and reigning over all nations and kings.
This book is directed toward “Edom.” Who is Edom?
Let’s do some Biblical review.
How many of you fought with your siblings?
My brother and I were playing video games and I was losing so I turned the game off. That started a fight that moved into the kitchen. He shoved me hard and my shoulders went through the glass door.
Our parents had just left and Mark ran down the street to tell them I had broken the glass. He didn’t even stop to see if I was okay!
Issac and Rebecca had twin boys named Jacob and Esau who even fought in the womb. God told Rebecca that two nations were in her womb and they would be in conflict with each other.
Esau was born first and Jacob was born holding on to Esau’s heel. That’s why he was named Jacob, “grasper of the heel” or more simply, “deceiver.”
Two incidents from their lives help us to understand the bitterness of the feud.
“Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom. Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.” (Gen 25:29-34)
The birthright meant that Jacob would receive twice the inheritance, the blessing of the firstborn, and at the death of their father, become the patriarch of the family.
Near the end of Isaac’s life, Rebecca encouraged Jacob to trick his father into giving him the firstborn’s blessing.
Esau was “red and hairy.” He probably drove a F-250 pickup, listened to Chris Stapleton, and had a gun in his truck.
Jacob probably played a lot of pickleball, loved Taylor Swift, and drove a Prius.
They couldn’t have been more different.
Issac was ready to give the boys their blessings and told Esau to go out and hunt some game, and prepare a meal for us to eat before he died.
While Esau was out on the hunt, Rebecca told Jacob to go get two young goats and she would prepare a meal for him to take to his father.
Jacob knew that his dad’s eyesight wasn’t good but Esau smelled like jerky and he smelled like fake Polo.
Rebecca had Jacob kill a goat and put the goat hair on his arms and neck and Jacob slipped into his father’s tent and pretended to be Esau.
It worked. When Issac felt the hair on his arms and smelled the “smell of a field,” he gave the blessing of the firstborn to Jacob instead of Esau.
Not long after, Esau came in with the meal that he had prepared and they both figured out that Jacob had stolen the blessing.
Rebecca understood that Esau was so mad that he wanted to kill Jacob so she sent him to live with his Uncle Laban in Haran unto his anger subsided.
In Genesis 33, Jacob and Esau met many years later and all was forgiven.
These two individual brothers buried the hatchet. But their descendants, the Israelites, and the Edomites continued the conflict for many years.
The Hatfield and the McCoys had nothing on these two groups of people.
Judgement Declared
We have heard a message from the Lord: An envoy was sent to the nations to say, “Rise, let us go against her for battle”—
Who is this “envoy?” From the context, it could very well have been an angel sent to announce the judgment on Edom.
Why fight Edom?
A city slicker went down to Texas to shoot ducks. A duck that he shot landed in a field and he climbed over the fence to retrieve the duck.
He was met by the farmer who owned the field, who pointed a shotgun at him and asked him why he was in the field.
The man answered that he had shot a duck and he was just trying to retrieve it. The farmer said, “My field. My duck.”
Then the farmer said there was only one way to settle this. He called it the three-kick rule. “I kick you three times then you kick me three times. We keep going until someone gives up.”
The city boy looked the older man over and thought that this would be pretty easy. He even let the old farmer go first.
The farmer kicked him square in the crotch. When he doubled over, he kicked him in the face, knocking him to the ground. Then he kicked him in the kidney.
The city boy tried to catch his breath. He finally made it to his feet and said, “My turn.”
The old farmer smiled and said, “You can keep the duck!”
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 (Numbers 20:14-21).
· The Edomites opposed Saul and were conquered under David and Solomon (1 Samuel 14:47, 2 Samuel 8:14, 1 Kings 9:26).
· 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 (see 2 Chronicles 20:1-27, which describes the famous battle that was led with praise).
· The Edomites successfully rebelled against King Jehoram of Judah (2 Kings 8:16-22).
· King Amaziah of Judah brought them back under subjugation (2 Kings 14:9-11).
· The Edomites again attacked Judah in the days of King Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:17).
What we will learn is that the Edomites kicked Israel when they were down and God is going to deal with them for that.
Judgement Described
“See, I will make you small among the nations; you will be utterly despised.”
The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’
Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah writes nearly the same thing regarding Edom:
For behold, I will make you small among the nations, despised among mankind. The horror you inspire has deceived you, and the pride of your heart, you who live in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as the eagle’s, I will bring you down from there, declares the Lord. (Jer 49:15-16)
You have to know something about the geography of the land to understand Edom’s pride.
The Edomites lived high in the mountains, carving cities into the cliff facings. You have probably seen pictures of Petra.
They considered themselves to be safe from any harm. It was nearly impossible for anyone to attack them because they always held the high ground.
Edom was known for trade. The King’s highway ran right through their land.
But their pride had deceived them. They thought that could live without God. They thought they were self-sufficient.
James reminds us that God “opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
In the years leading up to 1939, France built a series of fortifications on the border with Germany called the Maginot Line. It was 280 miles long and cost, in today’s dollars, over 9 billion dollars to construct.
It had fortresses, underground bunkers, and minefields, and 55 million tons of steel embedded deep in the earth. It was designed to withstand heavy artillery fire, poison gas, and whatever else the Germans could throw against it.
One author wrote:
“The Maginot Line was a technological marvel, far and away the most sophisticated and complex set of fortifications built up to that time.”
The French considered themselves safe and the line impregnable. But the German army just drove around it into Belgium and invaded France, much to their surprise and horror.
John Sedgwick was a Union army officer. At the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, he rode out into the open to challenge his men to not be afraid of the Confederate sharpshooter that were 1,000 yards away.
"What? Men dodging this way for single bullets? What will you do when they open fire along the whole line?" Although ashamed, his men continued to flinch and he said, "Why are you dodging like this? They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance.”
He was killed when a bullet struck him in the head right after saying this.
Solomon wrote to his sons:
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov 16:18)
Total Destruction
“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? If grape pickers came to you, would they not leave a few grapes? But how Esau will be ransacked, his hidden treasures pillaged! "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.”
(5-8)
If you have ever been robbed, you know how disorienting it is. In seminary, or apartment was broken into and they found my box with all the tips from the last week. They took that but didn’t take the TV, or computer, or anything else. Well, that’s not true. They took our new OJ container that we loved!
In the Old Testament, there were rules about picking grapes or harvesting any crops. The workers were not to cultivate the edges of the fields or vines. The grapes would then be available for poor people to pick and eat.
Obadiah announced that the destruction would be final, systematic, and total.
The phrase “set a trap” is a Hebrew word meaning “twist.” The countries that Edom thought would protect them would turn their back on them on the day of their trouble.
It will be an ambush they never suspected and they will be dumbfounded by the calamity.
Wisdom will be destroyed
“In that day,” declares the Lord, “will I not destroy the wise men of Edom, those of understanding in the mountains of Esau?
Your warriors, Teman, will be terrified, and everyone in Esau’s mountains will be cut down in the slaughter.
Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever.”
The very people who had the wisdom to deal with this difficulty would be destroyed. The men of Teman were known for their wisdom.
Jeremiah writes:
“Concerning Edom. This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed?” (Jer 49:7)
The wise will perish and the heroes will hide. The army that trusted in only themselves would quake in fear.
Jeremiah again:
"Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down, spreading its wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.” (Jer 49:22)
Ezekiel writes nearly the same thing about Edom’s doom and destruction:
“‘Because you harbored an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword at the time of their calamity, the time their punishment reached its climax, therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you.” (Ezekiel 35:5-6)
Edom will be covered in shame, which is a picture of losing status and prestige.
Amos also predicted God’s wrath against Edom:
This is what the Lord says:
“For three sins of Edom, even for four, I will not relent.?Because he pursued his brother with a sword and slaughtered the women of the land, because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked I will send fire on Teman that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah.” (Amos 1:11-12)
Now we are finally going to be given the reasons why God is so angry at Edom.
Judgment Defended
* They Refused to Help
On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them.
When the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem and razed it to the ground, the Edomites did nothing.
It becomes obvious that Obadiah was a witness to this scene.
They watched from the sidelines. They refused to help.
The story is told of a little church in the German countryside that was located right next to the railroad tracks.
The trains carrying Jewish men, women, and children would rumble by right in the middle of the service, disturbing everything.
They tried to drown out the whistle by singing louder but that didn’t work. They finally had a meeting and decided there was only one thing to do. They moved the time of the service so they wouldn’t be bothered by the train anymore.
Edmund Burke famously said,
“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is that good men do nothing.”
James writes of this kind of attitude:
“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (James 4:17)
Esau the brother becomes Esau the enemy.
* They rejoiced in their misfortune
You should not gloat over your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble.
Look at the words that Obadiah uses - gloat, rejoice, boast. This wasn’t just passive. They enjoyed watching the destruction and verbalized joy over the misfortune of their brothers.
David wrote:
“Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Tear it down,” they cried, “tear it down to its foundations!” (Psalm 137:7)
Ezekiel wrote:
"Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir, you and all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’” (Ez 35:15)
Job, who had reasons to be mad at his enemies, said,
“If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune or gloated over the trouble that came to him— I have not allowed my mouth to sin by invoking a curse against their life.” (Job 31:29-30)
Let’s face it. When someone we don’t get along with gets “what’s coming to them,” what’s our first response? Compassion? Probably not. Our first response is of the flesh. We secretly delight in their troubles because, of course, they “deserve it.”
But Jesus gives us another way to live.
I read about a pastor who was standing at the back of the church as people left. A man confronted him about the sermon, which had been on the Beatitudes.
The man yelled that he was sick of hearing political talking points from the sermon.
The pastor was caught off guard and said, “I simply preached Jesus’ words today. They are not political talking points. They point us toward the best life.
This is what the man said in reply, “That junk might have worked back in the day but we need to stop all the turning the other cheek nonsense.”
The pastor went home and probably ate a gallon of ice cream in the dark.
Paul gave us our marching orders:
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)
* They ran into to take advantage
"You should not march through the gates of my people in the day of their disaster, nor gloat over them in their calamity in the day of their disaster, nor seize their wealth in the day of their disaster.
They not only watched and rejoiced, but they went in after the Babylonians and divided the plunder.
Ezekiel wrote:
"…this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.” (Ezek 36:5)
But wait, there’s more!
You should not wait at the crossroads to cut down their fugitives, nor hand over their survivors in the day of their trouble.”
They set up roadblocks for the Israelites trying to escape and either killed them or delivered them to the Babylonians.
This is the progression of sin. James wrote:
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone, but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:13-15)
Edom did not come to the rescue and in AD 70, the Edomites were wiped off the face of the earth.
Do you know any Edomites? Have you ever eaten at an Edomite restaurant? Have you toured any Edomite ruins? No.
In verse 18, Obadiah explains:
“Jacob will be a fire and Joseph a flame; Esau will be stubble, and they will set him on fire and destroy him.?There will be no survivors from Esau.” The Lord has spoken.” (v. 18)
Why? Because, as God has made clear again and again, if you mess with His people you will feel His wrath.
If you align yourself against God and His people, you will be judged for your actions.
God promised Abraham that “those that bless you I will bless and those that curse you I will curse.” (Gen 12:3)
What can we learn?
The enemies of God will not escape justice, no matter how secure they may feel.
In Psalm 73, Asaph is complaining to God about the fact that the wicked seem to prosper and have no troubles.
“When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed completely swept away by terrors!” (Psalm 73:16-19)
We do not fight against flesh and blood…
Pastor Tonny Evans tells the story of his dad who got saved and started sharing the Gospel with his mom. He would get up early and pray on his knees for his wife’s salvation. She would come down and make fun of him. This went on for months.
One morning, she came and sat on the couch next to him and said, “Whatever you have I want.” And he led her to Christ right there.
The children of God will not endure suffering forever, no matter how hard life is right now.
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Cor 4:17)
The promises of God can be trusted and will occur at the right moment in time for His glory and our good.
For the people of God, there is a sure rescue and, in the end, we win!
Communion
We were dead in our sins and helpless, hopeless, and hell bound.
We deserved judgment. But, Jesus didn’t stand by and did nothing. He didn’t turn to the Father and say, “I told you that they would rebel. They deserve everything that’s coming to them.
Instead of being against us, while we were yet sinners, He died for us, in our place, to pay for our sins that separate us from God.
