Obadiah, The Servant of God

By Dan & Brenda Cathcart

The video version of this teaching is available at: https://youtu.be/qagrIhd-st4

Obadiah is an obscure prophet who most likely lived in the Sothern kingdom of Judah. The author of this book is generally identified as the same Obadiah spoken of in 1^st Kings chapter 18, a contemporary of Elijah and a kind of chief of staff to Ahab the king of Judah.

1 Kings 18:2-4 NKJV 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria. 3 And Ahab had called Obadiah, who was in charge of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly. 4 For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.)

Jewish tradition says that Obadiah was a proselyte from Edom. It is quite interesting that the prophecy of Obadiah would speak of the destruction of Edom. However, judgement of Edom is often a biblical metaphor for judgement of the nations of the world as a result of their treatment of the nation of Israel.

Although a date for the writings of Obadiah cannot be determined from the contents of this, the shortest book of the Bible, most scholars agree as to his identity.  The name Obadiah means “Servant of God.” Biblical scholars, in disagreement as to the exact dating of this book, also question whether the author is relating a prophesy or recording a history in a prophetic and poetic style.

Edom is a perennial thorn in the side of the nation of Israel and appears throughout the entire Tanach. This relationship goes all the way back to the twins carried by Rebecca, Isaac’s wife.

Genesis 25:21-23 NKJV 21 Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, "If all is well, why am I like this?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger."

The remainder of Genesis 25 tells a brief account of the life and near constant contention between the twins and the fateful deed of Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a single meal.  For generations following, the descendants of Esau, the Edomites, have contended with the nation of Israel, often winning the battles and bringing God’s judgment on Israel in their disobedience.

The book of Obadiah opens with a different picture of Edom.  It speaks of judgment on Edom, the reasons for this judgment and its results, and ends with Israel’s final triumph over Edom.

Obadiah 1:1-4 NKJV 1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom (We have heard a report from the LORD, And a messenger has been sent among the nations, saying, "Arise, and let us rise up against her for battle"): 2 "Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You shall be greatly despised. 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?' 4 Though you ascend as high as the eagle, And though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down," says the LORD.

These opening verses of the book relate an indictment against Edom and an impending judgment. The word translated as “vision” in verse 1 is #2377 Chazown, meaning a dream, revelation or oracle.  Obadiah was given a revelation about the ultimate judgment and downfall of the nation of Edom. Verses 3 and 4 speaks of their pride which will be their undoing.

Geographicly, Edom was located in a mountainous region in what is today the nation of Jordan.  Living in the mountains, they perhaps had an attitude of pride as if they lived high up and next to God.  They “ascend as high as the eagle” and “nest among the stars.” God said that He would bring them down from their high places.  He would pull them down from their attitude, and from their land.

Pride in one’s nation and culture is not wrong in itself, but God must be given credit for granting and maintaining such achievements.  King David understood this principle.

Psalms 18:1-3 NKJV 1 <> I will love You, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

This was not the attitude of the Edomites.  As we see from the very beginning, with the attitude of Esau toward his brother Jacob, the Edomites were arrogant and thought they didn’t need God.  The apostle Paul teaches us about the dangers of this attitude in Romans.

Romans 8:5-8 NKJV 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

The late 17^th century Biblical scholar Matthew Henry also comments on this:

“Carnal security is a sin that most easily besets men in the day of their pomp, power, and prosperity, and does, as much as anything, both ripen men for ruin and aggravate it when it comes.”

Edom was headed for total disaster! When judgment came upon them, there would be nothing left.  Obadiah used three illustrations to make his point.

Obadiah 1:5 NKJV 5 "If thieves had come to you, If robbers by night-Oh, how you will be cut off! -Would they not have stolen till they had enough? If grape-gatherers had come to you, Would they not have left some gleanings?

Thieves and robbers generally leave the victim with something remaining, sometimes only the clothes on their backs.  Grape pickers were not to go over their vineyards a second time.  The Torah teaches about leaving certain portions for the poor and allowing the fallen grapes to remain on the ground.  But when judgment comes upon Edom, there will be nothing left.

Obadiah 1:6-7 NKJV 6 "Oh, how Esau shall be searched out! How his hidden treasures shall be sought after! 7 All the men in your confederacy Shall force you to the border; The men at peace with you Shall deceive you and prevail against you. Those who eat your bread shall lay a trap for you. No one is aware of it.

The Edomites thought themselves wise, but their wisdom was manmade.  Their wisdom did not recognize God as its source and did not even meet Solomon’s definition of wisdom.

Proverbs 1:7 NKJV 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

This wisdom of Edom flourished at a time in world history when human wisdom had reached a peak.  This was the beginnings of the age of Greek philosophy.  But even the Greeks, in all their foolishness, were often closer to God’s truth than the Edomites.  They were Esau’s descendants, they were Abraham’s offspring, yet they, like their father Esau, disregarded the revelation God had given to Abraham.

In Obadiah’s day the wisdom of Edom had reached, or would soon be, at an end. Like the builders of the Tower of Babel, they had built for them selves a dwelling place among the eagles and the stars. But by rejecting the promises given to Abraham and his descendants, Edom lacked the only protection that would keep them from the judgment of God.  Their fortress should have been built with the real rock and refuge.

Psalms 94:22 NKJV 22 But the LORD has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge.

Obadiah then says that all of Edom will face destruction, even the wisest among them.

Obadiah 1:8-9 NKJV 8 "Will I not in that day," says the LORD, "Even destroy the wise men from Edom, And understanding from the mountains of Esau? 9 Then your mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, To the end that everyone from the mountains of Esau May be cut off by slaughter.

Obadiah then lists five sins of Edom that result in this coming destruction the first of which harkens back to violence against Jacob.

Obadiah 1:10-14 NKJV 10 "For violence against your brother Jacob, Shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. 11 In the day that you stood on the other side-In the day that strangers carried captive his forces, when foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem-Even you were as one of them. 12 But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother in the day of his captivity; Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; Nor should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress. 13 You should not have entered the gate of My people in the day of their calamity. Indeed, you should not have gazed on their affliction in the day of their calamity, Nor laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity. 14 You should not have stood at the crossroads to cut off those among them who escaped; Nor should you have delivered up those among them who remained in the day of distress.

Esau may well have had reason to be upset with Jacob over the stealing of the blessings of their father Isaac.  But this sibling rivalry should have ended with the brothers themselves instead of being carried from generation to generation.  It should have ended with Jacob’s return from Paddan Aram.

Genesis 33:3-4 NKJV 3 Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

Even though there is no excuse for Jacob’s deception, only Esau can be blamed for not accepting God’s choice.  Esau’s hatred toward his brother was rooted in his rebellion against God.

The violence referred to in verse 10 could be a number of incidents in history, but the attack of Judah by the Philistines, which also involved the Edomites comes to mind.

2 Chronicles 28:16-17 NKJV 16 At the same time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him. 17 For again the Edomites had come, attacked Judah, and carried away captives.

Another occurrence where the Edomites inserted themselves into attacks on Judah was at the time of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem.

Psalms 137:7 NKJV 7 Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom the day of Jerusalem, Who said, "Raze it, raze it, To its very foundation!"

The use of the word “shame” in verse 10 should catch our attention. It is from the Hebrew word “boo-shaw” #955 which only means shame.  It’s use here is deliberate because it indicates a certain level of knowledge.  Esau, or Edom did not follow God’s revelation and accept God’s choice of Jacob, but he knew of it.  On the Day of Judgment, the level of Edom’s knowledge will be revealed in the level of judgment accordingly.  Perhaps this is why God’s judgment on Israel throughout history is so profound.

The fall of Jerusalem and the resultant exile of the people to Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar had been Judah’s punishment for their sins against God.  But that doesn’t give the victorious party license to do as they will and profit from their victory - A lesson the Israelites learned at Ai following the success at Jericho when they first entered the Promised Land.

At the siege of Jerusalem, Edom made no effort to assist his brother Jacob, on the contrary, he cheered and celebrated and joined the robbers and looters much like those who come in and loot after a natural disaster strikes a city; it’s human nature at its lowest.

What is the result of God’s judgment on Edom, and by extension, the nations of the world?

Obadiah 1:15-16 NKJV 15 "For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head. 16 For as you drank on my holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually; Yes, they shall drink, and swallow, And they shall be as though they had never been.

The use of the word nations here widens the scope of Obadiah’s prophecy.  The warning which Obadiah is directing to Edom is no longer limited to just one nation.  It is now a warning to all.  Judgment upon Edom is now symbolic for God’s judgment on all the nations of the world.

While Israel was on their journey to the Promised land, the king of the Moabites hired the prophet Balaam to curse Israel.

Numbers 24:17-19 NKJV 17 "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult. 18 "And Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession, While Israel does valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob One shall have dominion and destroy the remains of the city."

This links Obadiah’s prophecy to Messiah’s words found in Matthew 25. Look at verses 31 through 33 then skipping to 45.

Matthew 25:31-33 & 45 NKJV 31"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left… 45 "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'

Obadiah doesn’t leave his prophecy ending with judgment on Edom and, by extension, the nations.  There is redemption through Israel for Edom and all those who would repent and turn to God.

Obadiah 1:17-21 NKJV 17 "But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. 18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire, And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, and no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau," For the LORD has spoken. 19 The South shall possess the mountains of Esau, And the Lowland shall possess Philistia. They shall possess the fields of Ephraim and the fields of Samaria. Benjamin shall possess Gilead. 20 And the captives of this host of the children of Israel Shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath. The captives of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad Shall possess the cities of the South. 21 Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, And the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.

This is more than assurance to the people of Judah that the captives would return from Babylonian exile. This is an open door of escape for all those who would turn to God.  When these words of Obadiah are read alongside those of the prophets Joel and Zechariah, we again see the wider scope of Obadiah’s words.

Joel 2:32 NKJV 32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls.

And from the prophet Zechariah.

Zechariah 2:10-11 NKJV 10 "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming, and I will dwell in your midst," says the LORD. 11 "Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.

The Apostle Paul in Romans says that salvation through Messiah is open to all.

Romans 10:11-13 NKJV 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

In the broader context of scripture, Mount Zion has a meaning well beyond the residence of King David and the house of Jacob.  It is more than a gathering place in Jerusalem.  It is a place of judgment for the righteous and the unrighteous. Obadiah had and interesting way of expressing it in verse 18. Lets look at it again.

Obadiah 1:18 NKJV 18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire, And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, and no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau," For the LORD has spoken.

I would say that one lesson here is that sin is highly flammable. So those who live in sin and refuse to repent and turn to God should not stand too close to those who practice righteousness. The judgment by fire from the house of Jacob will consume them. But beyond this, the ultimate lesson to be gleaned from Obadiah’s short but profound prophecy is that God’s grace is open and available to all who are willing to humble themselves and receive it. And in the end the grace of God wins!

Study Questions:

1. Esau’s hatred of Jacob was rooted in his rebellion against God.  What other Biblical examples are there of hatred for a person or group of people rooted in rebellion against God?

2. Esau and his descendants, the Edomites, had a knowledge of God as demonstrated by Obadiah 1:10.  In judgment, they would be held accountable in relation to their knowledge.  How does this apply to God’s judgment of other nations mentioned elsewhere in the Bible?  How does it apply to Israel and Judah? What does Yeshua, the apostle Paul, or other apostles have to say about this concept?

3. Obadiah says that God will, in judgment, bring the Edomites down and make them small.  But Obadiah also says that God will show mercy if they repent, turn back to God and accept Jacob as God’s chosen.  What are other examples of God’s warnings of impending judgment but with the promise of grace and forgiveness with repentance? 

4. Compare Obadiah’s prophecy against Edom with Yeshua’s statements in Matthew 11:20-24 regarding the cities of the Galilee.  What was the “sin” of these cities?  How are they like, if not worse than Edom?

5. How is the book of Obadiah a story of the gospel message of salvation?

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