The prophecies of Obadiah have ties back to the hostility that began with enmity between Esau and Jacob (Gen. 25:22-34; 27:1-46 NKJV). Esau was called “Edom” because of the red stew he ate (Gen. 25:30). Edom descended from Esau and was therefore related to Judah. Edom was one of Judah’s closest neighbors, but their relationship was less than friendly – stemming back to refusing Israel to pass through Edom on their way to Canaan (Num. 20:14-21). This hostility intensified in 2 Sam. 8:13-14 when David conquered Edom, and constant wars between the Edomites and the Judean kings resulted from this mutual hatred.
God is the God of all nations, and He calls each out for their unrighteousness wherever they are located. God condemned the foreign nations because of their mistreatment of His people and their failure to recognize Him as the only true God. Valuable lessons imply that no one is exempt from the judgment of God, and all will be held accountable in the judgment. No cleft will hide you nor any height where He cannot reach you (vv. 3-4). It is not to say that the Edomites were unaware of their faults, but Obadiah specifically lists their violent actions. The nation had done violence to Jacob (v10) and had stood with the oppressors in Jacob’s/Judah’s time of need (v11). Rather than showing concern, the Edomites boasted and rejoiced over the children of Judah in their day of distress (v12). It wasn’t that the Edomites were just an enemy, but they took pride in watching their neighbor fall. They snatched up any who fled Judah and seized the opportunity to pilfer their belongings in their calamity (vv. 13-14).
Obadiah recognizes that those who fail to act brotherly toward others are displeasing to God and states, “As you have done, it shall be done to you” (v17). Christianity today is more than how we treat our friends and neighbors; it is about how we continue to extend Christ’s love to those we call our enemies (Matt. 5:43-45). The golden rule in Matthew 7:12 is, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” The book of Obadiah is the shortest of the Minor Prophets, the shortest book in the Old Testament, and the only one-chapter book in the Old Testament. Nevertheless, the Minor Prophet had a major message for the Edomites that applies to us just the same today. Edom was to be destroyed because of how wickedly the nation had treated its brother Jacob/Judah.
By: Jerrod Hammond