Obadiah

(Read the book of Obadiah)

Theme: The theme of Obadiah can be clearly seen at the first reading of the book. It is: Edom's great sin-violence against Judah; their punishment-national extinction. Edom was descended from Esau, and Israel, from Jacob. The antagonism between them is patent throughout the Bible.

In the book of Genesis occurs a simple and yet most suggestive declaration, "The children struggled within her" (Genesis 25:22, 23). From that hint of the consciousness of Rebekah the story of the antagonism continued. The antagonism obtained in the family circle and continued when the descendants of each had expanded into a nation. The Edomites were a proud, bitter, resentful people, ever seeking an opportunity to harm Jacob's descendants.

Israel and Edom were perpetually at war. When Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem, Edom rejoiced over Israel's downfall, and cruelly took part in the plundering and massacre (Psalm 137:7). In days gone by GOD had commanded His people to treat Edom kindly (Deuteronomy 23:7), but now their atrocious conduct had filled up their cup of iniquity, and sentence of condemnation and annihilation was passed upon them.

After Israel's restoration, Cyrus, king of Persia, overcame them, slaughtering thousands of them. They received another crushing defeat by the Jews under the Maccabees (109 B. C.). The antagonism of Edom and Judah came to a head in the time of CHRIST.

JESUS CHRIST was a Jew, a descendant of Jacob; Herod, an Edomite. a descendant of Esau. To him CHRIST never spoke (Matthew 14:6-9; Luke 23:9). After the siege of Jerusalem, 70 A. D., the Edomites are lost sight of. Verses 10-14 indicate that the book was written after the destruction of Jerusalem.

Author: Absolutely nothing is known concerning Obadiah. There are many of that name mentioned in the Old Testament.

CONTENTS:

I. The Sin of Edom: Pride (vv. 1-9).

II. Their Greatest Sin: Violence against Judah in the Day of Their Calamity (vv. 10-14).

III. Their Punishment: National Destruction (vv. 15-21).