By Kenny Bruce
Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis
Focal Passage: Obadiah 1-4, 10-17
Though Obadiah is the most obscure of all the prophets, his message is potent and relevant.
1. The sin of all sins (vv. 1-4). Edomites were the descendants of Esau. Edom was bordered on the east by the desert and on the north by a deep canyon. The central area was characterized by cliffs that rose to heights over 5000 feet above sea level.
The configuration to enter Sela, the capital city, was so difficult to navigate that, according to the Edomites, just 12 men could defend it against an entire army. Their rallying cry was, “Who will bring me down?” (v. 3). The Edomites’ pride was in their geographical security. Pride is the sin of sins.
The root of pride is the idea that one can live without God. In verse 4, God says to Edom, “I will bring you down.” Historically, God has brought nations down whose sin was pride. Once there was mighty Egypt, but she was defeated. Babylon, too, passed away. Greece and Rome were once proud, but they are no longer world powers. One day, if pride persists in America, God will cause her to fall.
2. The proof of its validity (vv. 10-14). The lack of brotherhood by Edom proves they were guilty of pride. At one point in history, Jerusalem was overrun by enemies — either when the Philistines and Arabs ransacked Jerusalem during the reign of Jehoram around 850 B.C., or when the Babylonians overthrew Jerusalem in 587 B.C. Edom rejoiced and participated in the looting.
They even captured those who escaped and turned them over to their enemies. Such an injustice performed by one brotherly nation against another violated Deuteronomy 23:7: “Do not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother,” an obligation that conversely applied to the Edomites. Because of this sin of unbrotherliness, Obadiah prophesied that Edom would be destroyed (v. 10). We should never rejoice over our brother’s misfortune, nor should we take advantage of his downfall (v. 12). Our duty to other Christians is to build them up (Ephesians 5:12) and restore them if they have sinned (Galatians 6:1).
3. The declaration of God’s judgment (Obadiah 1:15-17). Obadiah has accused Edom of living with the sin of pride and proved the validity of his accusation. He now declares God’s judgment: “For the day of the Lord is near against the nations” (v. 15). “Near” means imminent, indicating that God’s judgment could occur at any time. God’s judgment came on Edom, and she is now a desolate wasteland.
If the United States does not repent of her pride, His judgment is near. Obadiah ends this section by promising to bless Israel: “There will be a deliverance on Mount Zion” (v. 17). This is a promise that one day Israel will again settle in the land once given to them. At least partially, that promise was fulfilled in 1948 when the Jews were gathered together to establish the nation of Israel. Just as God has shown compassion on Israel, we should show compassion on those less fortunate, including orphans, widows, those with special needs, the aged, the unborn, and any other person who is oppressed. B&R