Series: Obadiah [#1]
THE RISE AND FALL OF A NATION
Obadiah 1:1-21
Introduction:
Obadiah wrote this shortest book of the Old Testament probably soon after the armies of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem. While the Babylonians were taking the Israelites into captivity, the people of Edom helped capture those Israelites who were running and turned them over to the Babylonians. After most of the Israelites were in captivity the Edomites took up residency in the Judean villages. This angered the Lord. The Edomites were descendants of Esau which were related to the Israelites. Instead of helping the Babylonians they should have been helping their relatives. Obadiah prophesied that Edom would be repaid for mistreating God’s people and that the house of Jacob would be restored.
Obadiah 1:1 (NLT)
“This is the vision that the Sovereign Lord revealed to Obadiah concerning the land of Edom. We have heard a message from the Lord that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say, "Get ready, everyone! Let’s assemble our armies and attack Edom!"
Edom’s False Sense
Of Security
God declared war on Edom. In the next verses God told them what He was going to do to them.
Obadiah 1:2-4 (NLT)
[2] The Lord says, "I will cut you down to size among the nations, Edom; you will be small and despised. [3] You are proud because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ’Who can ever reach us way up here?’ you ask boastfully. Don’t fool yourselves! [4] Though you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing down. I, the Lord, have spoken!
Edom prided herself in her great wealth. Edom’s 3 main areas of economy were trading, looting, and iron and copper mining in the region. Edom also prided herself in her secure geographical position. Yet God said He would cause her to be made small.
Edom’s pride would be the key to her fall. Because of Edom’s geographical location in the mountains of Seir, they were very secure. Edom trusted in the natural protection provided by the clefts of the rocks. Living in caves high above the ground Edom felt totally safe from enemy attacks. Some of the Edomites had settled
in such high caves and other places up in the mountains that it was as if they were soaring like the eagle and nesting among the stars.
Of Trust
Obadiah 1:5-7 (NLT)
[5] "If thieves came at night and robbed you, they would not take everything. Those who harvest grapes always leave a few for the poor. But your enemies will wipe you out completely! [6] Every nook and cranny of Edom will be searched and looted. Every treasure will be found and taken. [7] "All your allies will turn against you. They will help to chase you from your land. They will promise you peace, while plotting your destruction. Your trusted friends will set traps for you, and you won’t even know about it.
Obadiah now filled in details about Edom’s coming judgment. First, he spoke of thieves taking everything they have. Second, he compared their humiliation to field workers gathering grapes who leave a few grapes for the poor to glean.
Edom prided themselves in the alliances they had with neighboring countries; but those allies would become their enemies. They would pursue Edom to their borders and wipe them out.
Another point of irony is that Edom, who was known for its wise men, would be totally ignorant of their allies’ deceptive scheme. History tells us that in the late sixth or early fifth century B.C. the Nabateans went to the Edomites, who took them in for a banquet; and once they were welcomed inside, the Nabateans turned against their ally and killed the guards.
Of Wisdom
Obadiah 1:8-9 (NLT)
[8] At that time not a single wise person will be left in the whole land of Edom!" says the Lord. "For on the mountains of Edom I will destroy everyone who has wisdom and understanding. [9] The mightiest warriors of Teman will be terrified, and everyone on the mountains of Edom will be cut down in the slaughter.
God said He would knock Edom out of their national standing, He would bring them down from their pride, and He would destroy them. Now He said He would destroy the wise men of Edom and their men of understanding. Their wise leaders would not be able to rescue them.
Edom’s Evilness
Obadiah 1:10-12 (NLT)
[10] "And why? Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel. Now you will be destroyed completely and filled with shame forever. [11] For you deserted your relatives in Israel during their time of greatest need. You stood aloof, refusing to lift a finger to help when foreign invaders carried off their wealth and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem. You acted as though you were one of Israel’s enemies. [12] "You shouldn’t have done this! You shouldn’t have gloated when they exiled your relatives to distant lands. You shouldn’t have rejoiced because they were suffering such misfortune. You shouldn’t have crowed over them as they suffered these disasters. [13] You shouldn’t have plundered the land of Israel when they were suffering such calamity. You shouldn’t have gloated over the destruction of your relatives, looting their homes and making yourselves rich at their expense. [14] You shouldn’t have stood at the crossroads, killing those who tried to escape. You shouldn’t have captured the survivors, handing them over to their enemies in that terrible time of trouble.
Edom would be covered with shame and be destroyed because of their violence and cruelty against the Jews. They stood and watched as Jerusalem was divided up by its conquerors. They laughed and made fun of them.
To make things even worse, they captured those who were running away and handed them over to the Babylonians and once they were gone looted their homes.
Edom’s Destruction
Obadiah 1:15-16 (NLT)
[15] "The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge the godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads. [16] Just as you swallowed up my people on my holy mountain, so you and the surrounding nations will swallow the punishment I pour out on you. Yes, you nations will drink and stagger and disappear from history, as though you had never even existed.
Edom illustrates God’s judgment to come on all nations who rebel in arrogance against God. Edom’s humiliation foreshadows what the Lord will do to all nations who similarly mistreat Israel. Besides her past humiliation, Edom will be repopulated in the future with other nations who will again come under God’s wrath in the forthcoming day of the Lord when Christ returns to establish His reign.
Israel’s Deliverance
Obadiah 1:17-18 (NLT)
[17] "But Jerusalem will become a refuge for those who escape; it will be a holy place. And the people of Israel will come back to reclaim their inheritance. [18] At that time Israel will be a raging fire, and Edom, a field of dry stubble. The fire will roar across the field, devouring everything and leaving no survivors in Edom. I, the Lord, have spoken! [19] "Then my people living in the Negev will occupy the mountains of Edom. Those living in the foothills of Judah will possess the Philistine plains and take over the fields of Ephraim and Samaria. And the people of Benjamin will occupy the land of Gilead. [20] The exiles of Israel will return to their land and occupy the Phoenician coast as far north as Zarephath. The captives from Jerusalem exiled in the north will return to their homeland and resettle the villages of the Negev. [21] Deliverers will go up to Mount Zion in Jerusalem to rule over the mountains of Edom. And the Lord himself will be king!"
God promised that Israel would be delivered from their enemies. He also promised that the Northern and Southern Kingdoms would reunite as one Israel and they would wipe out Edom. They would get their land back!
Verse 21 reminds us that Jesus will rule as King of kings and Lord of lords during the Millennium.
Conclusion:
The short Book of Obadiah presents a powerful message. It shows what happens to those who reject God’s Word and His grace, rebelling in foolish pride. During Edom’s prosperity many in Israel could have asked, “Why do the wicked prosper?”; but the voice of Obadiah comes thundering through the pages of the Old Testament, and is echoed in the New: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Gal. 6:7). Obadiah’s words underscore the fact of God’s justice. “For we know Him who said, ‘It is Mine to avenge; I will repay.’… It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:30-31).
One who responds in obedience to the grace of God has everything to gain, but a person who spurns His grace in pride has everything to lose.
