October 6, Obadiah 1
For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.
- Obadiah 1:15
Obadiah means "servant of the Lord." The Old Testament calls at least 12 different people by this name. God related his message to Obadiah in a vision, and Obadiah’s record of that vision comprises this shortest of all the Old Testament books.
Obadiah saw that God was sovereign over all the nation. God would judge and punish those nations that had made themselves the enemies of Israel, and he would keep his promises to bless the descendants of Abraham. Edom was headed for judgment and extinction at the hand of God, and that same hand of God would bless and renew the remnant of Israel and Judah in Messiah's kingdom. The same coming "day of the LORD" would bring just judgment to Edom and deliverance to the remnant of Israel returned from captivity.
The double emphasis of Obadiah's message reminds me of the first line of David's song in Psalm 101: "I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music." God demonstrated his steadfast love by delivering and renewing Judah. God’s justice was evident in the complete ruin of Edom. Obadiah, like some other prophets, paired a warning of judgment with promises of blessing. But this book is unusual in that God gave Obadiah no word of warning for Israel. He declared judgment and destruction, but only to Edom, Israel’s perpetual enemy.
By the time that the last vestige of national Israel fell to Babylon, Edom had celebrated and assisted Israel's enemies at least four times. The animosity between these two peoples goes all the way back through the centuries to their respective fathers, Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom). The Edomites had opposed the people of Israel from the time of the Exodus. They refused to grant Moses and the new nation peaceful passage across their land as Israel journeyed toward Canaan. Israel and later Judah fought against Edom in at least four conflicts during the reign of four different kings. And when the Babylonians came and destroyed Jerusalem, the Edomites did nothing to oppose the Babylonians. Instead they cheered them on and joined in with the looters of the fallen city.
The Edomites’ own pride deceived them. They imagined themselves invincible in their mountain fortress. But those same Babylonians they had cheered during the fall of Judah would take Edom down as well. Pride blinded them to the fact that no strategic stronghold, no ally, no wisdom and no strength could save them from the hand of God when he extended it against them. They were guilty of violence, indifference and cheering for the enemies of Judah. The Edomites took unfair advantage of the Israelites when Israel faced calamity. And God assured them that what they had done would be repaid. God himself would avenge their wrongdoing against his people.
In contrast, the day of the Lord would bring blessings to the house of Jacob. They would share with other nations in the blessings of Messiah's kingdom, while the Edomites would go out of existence.
By New Testament times, surviving Edomites were known as Idumeans. The Herods were Idumeans. But when Jerusalem fell to Rome in 70 A.D., the Edomites/Idumeans vanished from history. Obadiah foretold that God would humble the proud and destroy the violent. But God would bless the faithful ones in Messiah’s kingdom.
This little book teaches some big lessons. God is absolutely sovereign over all nations. We need to remember that when we watch the news. God will punish those who persecute his people. Like Jesus told Saul when he appeared to him on the Damascus Road, he takes persecution against his people personally. God is both faithful and loving to his covenant people. Not one escapes the justice of God. Pride is deceptive and leads people to commit other sins. Israel had its own share of unrighteousness and suffered punishment for it. But God gave his faithful ones hope with promises of restoration and forgiveness for those who would return to him. That message should encourage all of us who have sinned and deserve judgment. We worship and serve Jesus, the promised One through whom forgiveness and restoration will come to all who surrender to him as their King.
Copyright © 2024 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—October 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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