Connection to Christ
Humbling the exalted
Obadiah 2-4, ‘See, I will make you small among the nations; you will be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, “Who can bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord.’
Matthew 23:12, “those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Unwinding “wisdom”
Obadiah 8, ‘“In that day,” declares the Lord, “will I not destroy the wise men of Edom, those of understanding in the mountains of Esau?”
1 Corinthians 1:18, “ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
A metric for judgment
Obadiah 15, “The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.”
Matthew 25:44-46, ‘They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?” He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.’
Deliverance coming at Zion
Obadiah 17, “But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy, and Jacob will possess his inheritance.”
Revelation 14:1, “Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”
The spread of the Lord’s kingdom
Obadiah 21, “Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will be the Lord’s.”
Matthew 28:18-20, ‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”’
Truths to Remember
The deep-nature of conflict
Genesis 25:21-23, ‘Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
Numbers 20:17-18, ‘“Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.” But Edom answered: “You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword.”’
Natural bonds are to be honored not abused
Obadiah 10-11, “Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever. On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them.”
Mourn with those who mourn
Obadiah 12, “You should not gloat over your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble.”
Vengeance is the Lord’s
Obadiah 15, “The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.”
The Lord vindicates His people because they are His people
Obadiah 18, ‘“Jacob will be a fire and Joseph a flame; Esau will be stubble, and they will set him on fire and destroy him. There will be no survivors from Esau.” The Lord has spoken.’
Romans 9:10-14, ‘Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”’
Connection to rest of Scripture
Likely yet another book on the fall of Jerusalem
Could also be from the time of 2 Kings 8:20-22, 2 Chronicles 21:8-10
Continues the theme of Jacob and Esau
Themes Overview
Treachery and fidelity Genre: Later prophets - minor
Vengeance Author: Obadiah
Pride and humility Date: After 587 BC although perhaps 850-840 BC
Outline
1-9 Judgment announced
10-14 Judgment explained
15-21 Judgment expanded