OBADIAH---DOOMSDAY AND DELIVERANCE

INTRODUCTION

1.    Obadiah is the shortest book in the O.T.

2.    Though the prophecy is spoken about Edom, it is spoken to Israel, and was intended as a word of comfort for those who, loyal to Jehovah, were yet suffering with the whole nation.

3.    It is said to be a favorite book with the Jews because of the vengeance which it pronounces upon Edom.

OBADIAH, THE MAN

1.    His name means “servant of Jehovah”.

2.    He was a contemporary of Jeremiah.

3.    Nothing else is known of the prophet; not even his father’s name.

4.    It is impossible to identify him with any of the other Obadiahs mentioned in the O.T.

DATE

1.    The book was written after the fall of Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar, 586 B.C.

2.    It was written before the destruction of Edom 5 years later.

3.    The probable date of the book is about 585 B.C.

WHO WERE THE EDOMITES?

1.    The Edomites were Esau’s descendants and their country was Mount Seir. (Gen. 36:8,9)

2.    The name means “Red”, the same as Esau. This name was given to Jacob’s brother because he sold his birthright for Jacob’s red pottage. (Gen. 25:30)

3.    The people were rock dwellers, living in the rugged area of the territory of Mount Seir.

4.    In Obadiah’s day the capital of Edom (Idumea) was Sela, also called Petra.

A.   Petra was one of the wonders of the world. It was located about 50 miles south of the Dead Sea, and was perched like an “eagle’s nest” (v. 4) amid inaccessible mountain fastnesses. Its only approach was through a deep rock cleft more than a mile long with massive cliffs more than 700 feet rising on either side. The city was able to withstand any invasion.

B.   We are told that its temples numbered a thousand. They were cut out of the pink rock on the sides of the massive cliffs.

C.   Today the city is called by several descriptive names:

1)    “The silent city of the forgotten past”

2)    “The rose rock city of the dead”

REASON FOR JUDGMENT

1.    “Edom had done violence to his brother Jacob. In the day of Jacob’s struggle Edom stood aloof and subsequently joined the enemies.” --G. C. Morgan

2.    The cruelty of the Edomites in rejoicing over the fall of Judah and Jerusalem

3.    The attitude of Edom toward Jacob is made manifest in the warnings of the prophet:

A.   In the day of disaster---”Look not” (v. 12)

B.   In the day of destruction---”Rejoice not” (v. 12)

C.   In the day of calamity---”Enter not into the gate...Look not on affliction...lay not hands on substance” (v. 13)

D.   In the day of distress---”Speak not proudly (v. 12)...cut not off...deliver not up” (v. 14)

OUTLINE AND ANALYSIS

  I.    PRONOUNCED PERIL (vs. 1-9)

A.   Edom’s doom is certain. (vs. 1-4)

1.    The Lord has spoken it. (v. 1)

2.    The Lord will move the nations against Edom. (v. 1)

3.    The Lord moves against them because of pride. (vs. 2-4)

B.   Edom’s doom is complete. (vs. 5-9)

1.    There will be nothing left of her. (v. 5)

2.    Even her hidden treasures will be taken. (v. 6)

3.    Her wise and her mighty men will be destroyed. (vs. 8, 9)

4.    Her doom will be accomplished by the deceit of her allies. (v. 7)

 II.    PROSECUTED PEOPLE (vs. 10-14)

A.   Edom will be judged because she had wronged Israel. (v. 10)

1.    Refused the courteous appeal of Moses that Israel might be allowed to pass through the land on her way to Canaan (Num. 20:14-22)

2.    Became the adversary of King Solomon (I Kings 11:14-17)

3.    Led a consolidated attack against Judah during the reign of Jehoshaphat (II Chron. 20:1, 10, 22)

4.    In King Ahaz’ reign when Judah was attacked by Pekah and Rezin from the north, Edom assailed Judah from the south and carried away captives. (II Chron. 28:5-17)

5.    In the day of Jerusalem’s disaster, when Nebuchadnezzar took the city, instead of befriending Judah, the people of Edom looked on with gloating satisfaction:

a.    They “egged” on the Babylonian attackers.

b.    They actively aided the Babylonian cause.

c.    They “entered the gate” of the city. (vs. 11, 13)

d.    They robbed and despoiled Jerusalem. (v. 13)

e.    They barred the escape of the refugees. (v. 14)

f.     They delivered the remnant to the spoilers. (v. 14)

6.    Edom’s doom was partially fulfilled.

a.    To be revived during the latter days (v. 15; Isa. 11:14)

b.    To be completely and utterly destroyed during the Great Tribulation (v. 16; Amos 1:11, 12; Joel 3:19; Ezek. 35:1-15; Isa. 34:5, 6)

III.   PROMISED POSITION (vs. 15-21)

A.   Israel has drunk deeply of the affliction brought on them by the Gentiles---now the heathen must drink of His wrath. (vs. 15, 16)

B.   Israel shall be restored to the land. (vs. 17-20)

C.   Israel shall have help from heaven. (v. 21)