Obadiah

 

    Obadiah is a book in the Bible that only contains 1 chapter, but that one chapter holds four sections.  God never waste time or space.  The ministry of Obadiah may have been short, but it held purpose.  It parallels with Jeremiah 49.  It specifies more clearly God's calling about Edom.  

    God gave Obadiah a vision about Edom's judgment.  Edom was to become insignificant among nations.  Their arrogant hearts made others despise them.  They felt like they were on top of the world, but God was going to bring them crashing down.  God's judgment began near the end of the sixth century and was completed by 70BC. 

    They would go to war with their allies.  They would be driven into their borders and still be conquered.  The worse part is that they would not see their slaughter coming because all their wise people would be oblivious.  Their sins in which they were judged were violence, watching the suffering of others, cast lots on Jerusalem's land as it was being torn apart, arrogance, and they enjoyed the distress of others.

    The Day of the Lord is when God passed judgment on all, not just His nation.  For Edom, how they treated other nations would come back on them on this day.  As God's nation burned, Edom would turn to stubble.  God's fire would consume the nation completely.  There would be no survivors, which is confirmed in Amos 9.  God's judgment is severe.  

    Since the Edomites wanted God's national land for themselves and enjoyed His people suffering, they would lose their land to God's people.  Once Israel was exiled, the people needed somewhere to live.  That was the beginning of them getting Edom.  It reinforces how God ruled over all land and people, even if they do not believe in Him.

Obadiah