The Twelve Minor Prophets: Obadiah
Dr. James Smith
Obadiah
25 September 2005
Listen to this sermon.
The book of Obadiah is one of the least read books in the entire Bible. People even have a hard time finding this 1 chapter prophetic writing sandwiched between Amos and the far better known book of Jonah.
And yet this small book consisting of only 21 verses contains some important things that are very applicable for our spiritual lives.
Very simply stated, the book of Obadiah offers a clear message of judgment against the people of Edom; a small nation located just east of Judah.
By way of a quick “refresher,” you will recall the story of Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25 & 27. They were twin brothers whose parents were Isaac and Rebekeh. Esau was the oldest and when he was born, it is said that he had thick red hair, therefore, he was called “Esau” which means “red.”
His younger brother was named “Jacob,” meaning “deceiver” or “trickster.” And we all know that Jacob tricked his older brother into selling his birthright to him for a bowl of soup, which was the greatest scam in the history of commerce.
Esau settled in the region just east of Judah; a small area just 70 miles long by 15 miles wide. The land was dubbed, “Edom,” which also means “red” referring to the reddish color of the rocks and mountains of this land.
Over history, the people of Israel and the people of Edom displayed a great deal of mutual hostility toward one another.
In fact, if we turn to Numbers 20, you’ll find that when the Israelites left slavery in Egypt to return to the promised land, they requested permission to pass through Edom on their way, but the Edomite king refused.
The resentment between these two peoples reached its height in the dark and deadly days when Jerusalem was besieged and captured by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. and the holy temple of God was burned to the ground.
This is where the oracle of Obadiah against Edom comes into the picture. Obadiah condemns the actions of the Edomites against their brothers, the people of Judah.
Evidently, the Edomites gladly aided the Babylonians and caught and turned over God’s people to them, who were in turn either executed or sold into slavery.
After the people of Judah went into exile, the Edomites took over land in southern Judah and this area would later be called, “Idumea;” the place where King Herod the Great was from.
The Book of Obadiah then, picks up a theme that we see in other Old Testament prophetic books; the message of God’s judgment against other nations.
In fact, if we compare Obadiah with Jeremiah 49, we will see two very similar oracles against the Edomites.
This has led many scholars to conclude that either Jeremiah or Obadiah borrowed or adapted material from the other. In addition, we find parallels in the books of Ezekiel, Amos and Joel.
Verses 2-9 speak of God’s judgment against the Edomites who lived in red & high rocky clefts where they believed they would be safe from all danger.
They believed that that gave them superior eyesight like that of the eagle to see everyone and everything that might approach them.
But Obadiah also reminds us that eagles are also opportunistic and will attack weakened animals and pick the flesh from their bones, but God will not stand for such behavior and that such eagles will be shot out the sky and their high nests destroyed.
The Edomites were also known for and very proud of their wise men who lived in the wealthy trade & caravan towns of Sela and Teman.
Obadiah also declares that such worldly wisdom would be of no advantage to the Edomites and that God would judge and destroy their wealthy towns as well as their educated classes.
As you may know, alliances or covenants between individuals and nations were considered sacred, not only in ancient times, but even into our modern era.
Ask any old man and he will probably tell you that “back in his day,” “a man’s word was his bond,” and a simple handshake would seal a deal.
Today, we want legal documents and everyone has to sign on the dotted line.
Just when God’s people in Judah, needed assistance and help the most, the Edomites showed an appalling lack of solidarity and withheld the sacred custom of hospitality.
They not only sold out the people of Judah to the vicious Babylonians, they helped to enslave them, steal their worldly goods and well as occupy their land.
Verses 12-14 offer a list of serious offenses of Edom that God would judge. In fact, the NRSV translation offers a list of 8 crimes in the form of, “you should not have.”
You should not have gloated over your brother, you should not have rejoiced in the day of their ruin, you should not have boasted in their distress,
you should not have entered their gates, you should not have joined in their disaster, you should not have looted, you should not have cut off the fugitives, you should not have handed over survivors.
Repeating the often used phrase in the O.T. prophetic writings, verse 15 declares that the “day of the Lord is near” and that “as you have done, so it will be done to you.”
This is an important Scriptural principle that we see running throughout the Bible and even through the Lord Jesus Christ’s lips Himself.
The house of Esau and the land of the Edomites would be judged and destroyed. Later on in history, Arab peoples would take over the land and absorb the people. In short, the land of Edom no longer exists today.
There are a number of spiritually applicable principles that we can derived from the short Book of Obadiah, but let me just touch on a few.
As Christians and inheritors of the Biblical tradition, we must remember that we are called to meet human needs.
It is part and parcel of our calling in Christ Jesus, that we concretely help and bring aid to those who are in need and excluded from society.
We live in the city of Chicago and there is need all around us. We all have just witnessed the devastation and long-term destruction brought on by hurricane Katrina and the question that each one of us must ask is, “how can I practically assist others in their time of great need?”
Some of you have designated funds for hurricane relief here at the church and those have been sent, but the need will continue for months ahead, long after the media interest has died down.
Deb is organizing a Christmas relief project for some of our Alliance churches and pastoral families that have been devastated in New Orleans. Talk with her about that.
Several years ago, I started a church food pantry downstairs next to the greeter’s table. We have homeless people that come fairly regularly for ready to eat food items as well as paper products.
Consider regularly bringing items for that. In fact, I would love to have someone who would regularly oversee that small, but significant ministry.
You may be unaware, but our church has a special category of giving called the Benevolent Fund. You may designate and place funds in the offering envelopes found in the hymnals or write it on your check memo.
This goes to people both within the congregation as well as outside the congregation who have special financial needs. Recently we’ve sent monies to a local Alliance church who had some young people who tragically died while on a missions trip.
Finally, we have a young lady from our congregation, Amber Harris, who was attending school at Xavier University in New Orleans. She got out alive, but lost everything. Would you consider designating funds in your giving so that she can get back on her feet?
The Edomites are an example of how not to act towards our neighbors. Our actions are very important to God.
The Epistle of James practically reminds us that “how can we say we have faith, when our brother, sister or neighbor has basic and practical needs of life that remain unfilled?”
Now is the moment for us as a congregation, to rise up and help to meet these needs, so that we may hear those words when each of us stand before God on that day, “Well, done my good and faithful servant.”
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