The Book of Obadiah—Servant of the Lord

Obadiah’s message to Israel/Edom: To our enemies, God says—Vengeance is mine says the Lord, as you have done, it shall be done to you! To His people, God says—Entrust yourself to the Perfect Judge —The Kingdom will be the Lords!

722-721BC

612 606

597 586

536 516 457

445BC

Obadiah 21

“And the kingdom shall be the Lord’s!”

Setting: The prophecies of the Book of Obadiah are directed to the time of 586 BC when Nebuchadnezzar’s army laid siege on Judah, destroying Jerusa- lem, Solomon’s temple and deporting the Jews to Babylon. There is only speculation about the prophet Obadiah, very little is known about the one who wrote the shortest Book in the Old Testament (only 21 verses). The purpose probably wasn’t for Edom, but for the comfort of the surviving Judeans. Some have suggested that Obadiah follows the covenant-lawsuit format that would be presented when one nation violates their covenant with another nation. Obadiah describes 3 sentences (vs. 2-9) and 3 pronouncements (vs. 10-14) as well as a promise of vindication and restoration (17-21).

Structure of the Book of Obadiah

Vs. 1-9 Edom’s pride & judgment

Vs. 10-14 Edom’s sin against Judah

Vs. 15-21 Edom’s judgment and God’s restoration of Judah

“The pride of your heart has deceived you... You say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’” (vs. 3)

“For violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.” (vs. 10)

“As you have done, it shall be done to you!” (vs. 15)

“Then your mighty me, O Teman, shall be dismayed...” (vs. 9)

Edom’s sin against Judah:

1. 1)  Not defending Judah from Babylon (vs.

   11)

2. 2)  Rejoicing over Judah’s destruction (vs.

   12)

3. 3)  Shouldn’t have looted Judah (vs. 13)

4. 4)  Shouldn’t have slaughtered & delivered

   refugees to Babylon (vs. 14)

Judah’s restoration:

1. 1)  God will restore and reestablish Judah

   but not Edom (vs. 17-18)

2. 2)  Judah will possess all the nations’ land

   (vs. 19-20)

3. 3)  The kingdom will be the Lord’s!

   (vs. 21)

Samaria falls; Shal- maneser of Assyria dies and Sargon II reigns. Israel exiled by Assyria.

Fall of Nineveh (Assyria)

Nebuchadnezzar defeats Egypt at Carchemish; First deportation of Jews to Babylon (Daniel taken)

Second deportation of the Jews to Babylon (Ezekiel taken)

Jerusalem falls to Nebu- chadnezzar; 3rd deporta- tion. Judean refugees flee to Egypt—take Jeremiah

Cyrus of Persia issues His decree allowing Jews to return to Palestine. First return with Zerubbabel (70 years from first exile Jer.29:10; 2 Chro.36:21).

Temple completed 70 years after destruc- tion Jer. 29:10).

2nd return under Ezra (Revival of the People)

3rd return under Nehemiah (The Wall)

Themes & Message of Obadiah

Nahum (to Nineveh/Assyria) and Obadiah (to Edom) are the only two Prophets that are addressed completely to another nation other than Israel or Judah. Edom was the nation that grew from Jacob’s twin brother Esau and the brotherly rivalry continued for 1,500 years. They should have been help- ing their “kin” instead they were making matters worst: 1) gloating over the Israelites’ problems, 2) looting their homes, and 3) murdering the Judean refugees and handed them over to Babylon.

The Edomites were a prideful people. Their capital, Sela, was (what they thought) an impenetrable rock fortress city. It could only be reached by these narrow gorges. Very similar to the city of Petra that is also located in Edom and protected by towering rocks. They had presumptuous, deceitful hearts. They thought, “Who can bring me down to the ground!” God cares deeply about justice and the day will come when injustices is addressed in Edomites. “As you have done, it shall be done to you!” (vs. 15)God’s enemies will be punished. “Vengeance is mine says the Lord!” God is sovereign over all the nations whether they acknowledge it or not.

Edom is mentioned many times by Obadiah’s contemporaries. Jeremiah describes the same events as Obadiah, The LORD says to Edom, "I will certainly make you small among nations. I will make you despised by all humankind. The terror you inspire in others and the arrogance of your heart have deceived you. You may make your home in the clefts of the rocks; you may occupy the highest places in the hills. But even if you made your home where the eagles nest, I would bring you down from there," says the LORD. (Jeremiah 49:15-16). Ezekiel adds, “As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so will I deal with you– you will be desolate, Mount Seir, and all of Edom– all of it! Then they will know that I am the LORD.'“ (Ezekiel 35:15)

Mt.

Zion

in Jerusalem

Obadiah 21 “And the kingdom shall be the Lord’s!”

Mt. Seir capital of Edom

Obadiah 4

Even if you were to soar high like an eagle, even if you were to make your nest among the stars, I can bring you down even from there!" says the LORD.

How was this judgment on Edom realized? Often times in prophecy, there is a near future and distant future—two events. In the 2nd century, the Jews and Edom’s other enemies destroyed the Edomites and their identity as a nation. However, Edom, also symbolizes all of the Gentile powers that domi- nated and opposed Israel. In the last verse of Obadiah, we learn “the kingdom shall be the Lord’s!” (vs. 21). The history of civilization has been a power-struggle between nations and kingdoms. The King of kings and the Lord of lords will destroy all competing nations and will establish His kingdom on the only mountain that matters, not Mt. Seir of Edom, but Mt. Zion of Israel. God’s people will get the LAND again! The Lord Jesus Christ will reign over this Kingdom and it will endure forever. He will reign in solitary glory. Revelation 11:15 declares, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”