Obadiah tells of the arrogance of Edom, their pride and refusal to recognize God. He tells of their refusal to help their brother Israel, and much worse, how they collaberated with Israel's enemies and celebrated the suffering of their brothers. For this reason Edom will be destroyed, their pride will be struck down. One day, the Jeiwsh people will return to Zion, and Edom and all the other nations who refuse to humble themselves before God will be destroyed.

Some traditions regarding who the prophet Obadiah was, and why he focused his prophecy against the nation of Edom. Why Edom? So many prophets singled out the treachery and evil of the people of Edom. In this introduction we trace the history of Esau's descendents and their enmity with the people of Israel. Their philosophical differences, their jealousy, and their constant fighting despite being the people closest to Israel ethnically and culturally.

The chapter starts with the frightening and total destruction coming to the people. No matter where you run, God will find you.  But the punishment will never be total, God promises. The people will survive, and the righteous will return one day to rebuild the land.

Amos is shown a vision of a basket of figs, the end of summer fruit. This is a vision of the days at the end of times God says, when I will no longer look past the sins of the people. Oppression of the poor, taking advantage of the underprivileged, this will not be tolerated or overlooked. The very land itself cannot tolerate the lack of justice. The days will come when the land will be overcome with a terrible hunger and thirst, but not for food or water, but thirst for the truth of God. People will wander and search for truth but they won't find it in their wanderings. God is right there inside our hearts, we need not exhaust ourselves searching to the ends of the Earth to find Him.

The High Priest reports the "rebellious" Amos to the King, and tries to banish Amos from the kingdom. Amos is not afraid, my message is from God, not from me, as I am just a humble shepherd. If you don't take heed to God's message, you will suffer the unfortunate consequences.

God shows Amos two visions of utter destruction, locusts and fure, but the prophet's prayer saves the people. Then God shows Amos a vision of measured justice, and appears as a worker constructing a wall with a plumb line. Measured justice will have to come, a constructive justice meant to build the nation, instead of destroy it.

God asks the people of Israel, look at the other nations, are you any better than they? You are living a lifestyle of luxury, which was obtained through injustice and oppression. You are not acting like the first among nations, rather you have turned yourselves into a corrupt and immoral society. As such I have no reason to treat you any different than the others.

The path to God includes two steps, a demonstration of remorse for the evil ways, and a committment to the path of God. But the path of God is not a path of prayer, sacrifices and rituals. Not even songs and gatherings for God and holidays. Rather, what God wants is for justice and righteousness to pour in torrents, this is what God has always wanted from His people.

The people have fallen to the point where they can no longer help themselves, they can no longer repair their corruption on their own. But if they seek God, love good, hate evil, establish justice and righteousness, there is hope for them to reestablish their relationship with God.

The people rebelled out of arrogance when God gave them everything, so He tried to punish them. They still did not listen, so He made it worse and worse. Nothing worked, they still turned away. God sarcastically tells them to go ahead and worship their idols, but warns of the inevitable consequences. The prophets ends by beseeching the people, please prepare ypourselves to meet God. The way you treat Him, will be the way He treats you.