the book of the prophet obadiahwestsidecogic.com/files/85404139.pdfrecording. there is a multitude...

T h e B o o k T h e B o o k o f t h e o f t h e

P r o p h e t P r o p h e t O b a d i a hO b a d i a h

Lesson Taught At West Side Church of God in Christ

Rockford, Illinois

© Maurice A. West© Maurice A. West January 2012

Blessings upon you, people of the most high God! We conducted this very brief study as a request from one of our students. As you prepare to read this study, it is my prayer that it will be a blessing to you. I hope this study encourages you to dig deeper into the Word of God. Pastor Pastor Maurice A. West Maurice A. West –– January 13, 2012January 13, 2012

The Book of the Prophet Obadiah

© 2012 – Maurice A. West Page 1 of 10

THE LEGAL DISCLAIMERS

There will be various translations of the Scriptures used in our study. If we depart from the King James Version, which will be our standard, what follows are the typical translations used:

• Amplified Bible – The Amplified Bible. Copyright © 1965, Zondervan Publishing House.

• NIV – The New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

• NKJV – The New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

• NLT – The New Living Translation. Copyright © 1996.

At various times in this study, you may also find the following designations referring to reference material used to assist in putting together this study. Direct quotations will be shown in italicized text.

• {Adam Clarke} Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Whole Bible • {David Guzik} Pastor David Guzik. Enduring Word Ministries • {JF&B} The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary • {Matthew Henry} Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible in One Volume • {Dake} Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible

If other references, commentators, or Bible translations are used they will be identified in the text.

INTRODUCTION WRITER: The controversy in this smallest Old Testament book begins with verse 1. There are 13 men in the Old Testament named Obadiah but which of them wrote this book? We know Obadiah wrote it but we cannot distinguish which one of the 13 wrote this book.

{Adam Clarke} “Who was this prophet? where born? of what country? at what time did he prophesy? who were his parents? when and where did he die? are questions which have been asked from the remotest antiquity; and which, to this day, have received no answer worthy of recording. There is a multitude of opinions concerning these points; and their multitude and discrepancy are the strongest proofs of their uncertainty.”

{David Guzik} “There are 13 ‘Obadiah’s’ in the Old Testament, and one of these may the Obadiah who wrote this book.”

{Dake} “There are 13 men named Obadiah in the Old Testament:

1. The writer of this book 2. A man of Judah (1 Chron. 3:21) 3. A man of Issachar (1 Chron. 7:3) 4. A man of Benjamin (1 Chron. 8:38, 9:44) 5. A Levite (1 Chron. 9:16) 6. A man of Gad (1 Chron. 12:9) 7. A man of Zebulon (1 Chron. 27:9) 8. A prince of Judah (2 Chron. 17:7)



9. Another Levite (2 Chron. 34:12) 10. A returning exile (Ezra 8:9) 11. A priest (Nehemiah 10:3) 12. A Levite of the exile (Nehemiah 12:24) 13. Governor of Ahab’s house (1 Kings 18:3-16)

{Matthew Henry} “Who this Obadiah was does not appear from any other scripture. Some of the ancients imagined him to be the same with that Obadiah that was steward to Ahab’s household (1 Kings 18:3). But that is a conjecture which has no ground. This Obadiah, it is probable, was of a later date, some think contemporary with Hosea, Joel, and Amos; others think he lived about the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, when the children of Edom so barbarously triumphed in that destruction.”

DATE: Adam Clarke says the book was written “about five hundred and eighty-seven years before the commencement of the Christian era” or two years after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. You may ask, “If you don’t know who Obadiah is, how can he know when this book was written?” That’s a good question. Clarke came to this conclusion by looking at the text. Verse 11 implies that Jerusalem had already been taken by “foreigners” (Nebuchadnezzar) and that Edom was part of those that stood by and mocked as this occurred. Also, he looks at history and states “the destruction of [Edom] by the same monarch [Nebuchadnezzar], … took place a short time after [the fall of Jerusalem]; probably between 588 B.C. and 575 B.C., in the interval of the thirteen years which Nebuchadnezzar employed in the siege of Tyre, which he undertook immediately after the capture of Jerusalem.” The issue that many have is that Jeremiah in his 49th chapter used some of the same wording to describe the fate of Edom. It would make sense for him to repeat the words of a prophet that preceded him or even a contemporary but how could he repeat the words of one that has not yet prophesied? However, if verse 11 looks back to what has already occurred (and is not prophetic) then you have to conclude that Obadiah saw what Jeremiah saw and expanded on that.

STATISTICS: {Dake} Obadiah is the 31st book of the Bible. It contains 1 chapter and 21 verses.

BACKGROUND AND WHY THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN: This is not a long book so we don’t need to spend a lot of time figuring out what it’s about. {Adam Clarke} “Obadiah foretells the subduction of the [Edomites] by the Chaldeans, and finally by the Jews, whom they had used most cruelly when brought low by other enemies. These prophecies have been literally fulfilled for the [Edomites], as a nation, are totally extinct.” As we go further into our study, we’ll understand more clearly the things that Edom did and why this cruel judgment came upon them.

WHAT DOES THIS BOOK HAVE FOR US?: This book is not just a historical prophecy but speaks to many character issues (SINS!) that were present in the Edomites. Remember, they had the opportunity for a glorious future because God still regarded them as His because Esau (Edom), their



father, was the son of Isaac, the grandson of Abraham, and Jacob’s (Israel’s) twin. However, their heritage could not overcome their wickedness.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Throughout the text, I have added what I call “Saints’ Principles” (and “Saints’ Questions”) (key points and thought provoking questions directed to all Christians). The intention of these is to point out truths, strictly from my point of view, based on something that has occurred in the passage.



Chapter 1 (the only chapter) THE DESTRUCTION OF EDOM 1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumor from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. A “rumor”, according to Dictionary.com is a “story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts”. The key to the definition is “in general circulation”. This “rumor” didn’t start from those that gossiped in those days but it came “from the Lord” and was carried by an “ambassador” (angelic messenger) sent to the heathen nations. What’s fascinating is that Edom was sitting quietly, unnoticed (although filled with all manner of evil and a horrible history) until God sent this “rumor” causing those that heard the rumor to now notice them and hate them. I can see that He could use the same method to exalt one and bring down another. Psalm 75:7 NKJV But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.

SIDE ROAD: This entire book is about the country of Edom so let’s figure out who they were before we go forward. {Easton’s Bible Dictionary} “Meaning: red; red earth. [It was] the name of a biblical man and a land. The name of Esau, Gen. 25:30, ‘Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage [Hebrew: haadom, haadom, i.e., ‘the red pottage, the red pottage’] …Therefore was his name called Edom’, i.e., Red. The land of Edom (Genesis 32:3; 36:16) was mountainous (Obad. 1:8,9, 19, 21). It was called the land, or ‘the mountain of Seir,’ the rough hills on the east side of the Arabah. It extended from the head of the Gulf of Akabah, the Elanitic gulf, to the foot of the Dead Sea (1 Kings 9:26), and contained, among other cities, the rock-hewn Sela (q.v.), generally known by the Greek name Petra (2 Kings 14:7). It is a wild and rugged region, traversed by fruitful valleys. Its old capital was Bozrah (Isa. 63:1). At the time of the Exodus they churlishly refused permission to the Israelites to pass through their land (Num. 20:14-21), and ever afterwards maintained an attitude of hostility toward them…They took part with the Chaldeans when Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem, and afterwards they invaded and held possession of the south of Palestine as far as Hebron. The Edomites were Semites, closely related in blood and in language to the Israelites. The southern part of Edom was known as Teman.”

2 Behold, I HAVE MADE THEE SMALL among the heathen: thou art greatly despised. NKJV Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You shall be greatly despised. {Adam Clarke} “God ever attributes to himself the rise and fall of nations. If they be great and prosperous, it is by God’s providence; if they be low and depressed, it is by his justice.” God changed the perception of Edom to those around them – He “made them” small. No matter what their size was (and they actually were very small in comparison to other nations) they were going to be viewed as small (not a threat) and, for no apparent reason, they would be greatly despised. This



lack of fear toward them coupled with extreme hatred toward them and the rumor from verse 1 will make them a marked people.

SIDE ROAD: This verse continues to speak to a way in which the Lord intervenes in the affairs of men. If God makes you small in comparison to others, no matter how gifted, talented, or important you are, you WILL BE viewed as small. The opposite is also true. Therefore, it is important to seek the favor of God (accomplished by a life that is pleasing to Him) so that the way He sees us is how He’ll have others see us.

3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? NLT You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us way up here?’ you ask boastfully. {David Guzik} “The Edomites boasted in their natural defenses. The ancient city of Petra - once the capital city of Edom, known as Sela – had amazing defenses. It is a city carved into the rock, accessible by a narrow canyon almost a mile long. At the end of the canyon there is a spectacular city carved in stone, and seemingly incapable of being conquered by any army. The Edomites boasted in their wisdom. The men of Edom – especially of the city Teman – were noted for their wisdom. The phrase men of the East in the Old Testament often refers to men from Edom, and passages like 1 Kings 4:30 declare the great wisdom of the men of the East. As well, Jeremiah 49:7 says of Edom: Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? The Edomites boasted in their alliances and trusted in their allies – their confederacy, the men at peace with you (Obadiah 1:7). They thought that their alliances made them strong, and they were proud because of that strength.” Wow! These folks really had issues! That’s easy to say but these are the same issues seen inside and outside of the church today – pride, arrogance, glorying in our intelligence (our wisdom), glorying in who we know (our alliances), etc. If we’re not careful, God will send a rumor in our direction!

4 Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD. Isn’t the Scripture clear? Don’t we understand? Have we lost our ability to comprehend? Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. The precursor to the destruction of the Edomites, as the Scripture clearly stated, was pride. Those that would be “celebrity preachers” (How can you be a celebrity and a minister (servant) at the same time?) must catch this. Those that would abuse the flock must catch this. Those that feel that they are “above the law” must catch this. I’ll continue to focus on this and the results of that pride in this book.

5 If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grape gatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes? What an interesting illustration. Even the thief is only going take as much he can carry. Those that gather grapes are going to naturally drop some. However, the Lord promised to completely eradicate the Edomites beyond what a thief or a gleaner would do.



6 How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up! {JF&B} “Edom abounded in such hiding-places, as caves, clefts in the rock, etc. None of these would be left unexplored by the foe.”

7 All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him. {David Guzik} “When God brings judgment against Edom, they will know the sting of treachery against them. The alliances they once trusted in would come to nothing, and they would be double-crossed by their former friends.” This is the same treachery that Edom practiced against Israel. What they have done will come back to haunt them.

8 Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? The commentators agree that Edom was known for its great wisdom and knowledge even though it was a small country. JF&B says that what contributed to this was the “many caravans passing to and fro between Europe and India”. As we’ll see, they had no problem allowing complete strangers pass through their land but not their brother Israel during the Exodus (Numbers 20-21).

9 And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter. NLT The mightiest warriors of Teman will be terrified, and everyone on the mountains of Edom will be cut down in the slaughter. This verse finalizes the prophesied doom of this people – EVERYONE will be cut down in the slaughter. Now the prophet turns his attention to the reasons for this horrible prophesy.

THE SINS OF EDOM 10 For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever. {David Guzik} “The family lines of both Israel and Edom go back to a common ancestor – Isaac. Esau (Edom) was the brother of Jacob (Israel). This made Edom’s sin against Israel all the worse.” Let’s go further. Esau was not only the brother of Jacob, he was the TWIN brother of Jacob defying natural laws regarding the closeness of twins. Instead, there had been enmity (primarily with Edom toward Israel) going back to when Jacob stole Esau’s birthright. Because Edom kept this hatred going for so many CENTURIES, the Lord said, “THOU SHALT BE CUT OFF FOR EVER.”

11 In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them. NLT When they were invaded, you stood aloof, refusing to help them. Foreign invaders carried off their wealth and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem, but you acted like one of Israel’s enemies. The final straw with Edom occurred when Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem. Look how they behaved! Adam Clarke says they went so far as to take sides with Nebuchadnezzar against Israel. The lesson for us is this – we don’t know when our grace will come to an end. Perhaps you’ve been one that has always been before God for something that you should have conquered years ago. Now you’re beginning to justify your actions and you’re no longer asking



God for help but the sin is still there. When will He say, “Enough is enough!” and move to the next level with you – judgment? Our New Testament examples are Ananias and Sapphira. I don’t believe that this was the first time that they rebelled against leadership or the first time that their love of money raised its ugly head. (You don’t just decide to lie to the Holy Ghost in a church of that level of spirituality without having “pushed the envelope” earlier.) But, their grace ran out.

12 But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress. NIV You should not gloat over your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble. Over the last 50-75 years, we have become a country of people that don’t want to get involved when someone is in crisis. We’d rather sit on the sideline and shake our head in despair while the crisis continues. This is a horrible attitude and Edom had this but then took it further – they rejoiced in Israel’s calamity and, per David Guzik, used it as an occasion to exalt themselves. SAINT’S QUESTIONS: Before we condemn their actions, do we do the same thing? Do we see a minister or ministry in crisis and then speak of how much holier we are? Do we say, when a preacher falls publicly because of sin, “I knew he wasn’t right?” If you’re doing this, you have used their calamity to exalt yourself. SAINT’S PRINCIPLE: Be careful that God doesn’t look to you in judgment because of how you treated your brother!

13 Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity; NLT You should not have plundered the land of Israel when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have gloated over their destruction when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have seized their wealth when they were suffering such calamity. Not only did the Edomites rejoice at the calamity of Israel, they PARTICIPATED with the enemy against them. They entered into Jerusalem at the height of the crisis, they gloated over what had happened to them, and they even helped themselves to their substance. This reminds me of a noted television preacher who many years ago was instrumental in pulling down a fellow television preacher because of actions that HE felt were too sinful and unholy not to be dealt with. It wasn’t too many years later that he also suffered a fall for a similar sin but it was more public and more humiliating that what his fellow preacher went through. I shall have to repeat the principle from the previous verse: SAINT’S PRINCIPLE: Be careful that God doesn’t look to judge YOU because of how you treated your brother!

14 Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress. NLT You should not have stood at the crossroads, killing those who tried to escape. You should not have captured the survivors and handed them over in their terrible time of trouble. All of the things the Edomites had already done were horrible but then they went to the next level and



participated in KILLING God’s people. They also blocked their escape, killing some that tried to do so, and handed over refugees to the Chaldeans. There are problems in the church and there always have been (Ananias and Sapphira, again). We may think there are more problems but what we’re seeing is more scrutiny from the media due to more access to news. However, whatever the problem is, it is not our responsibility to act as the prosecutor and judge. GOD IS THE JUDGE!

THE DAY OF THE LORD 15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head. “The Day of the Lord” was a term used by the Old Testament prophets to describe a horrible time of judgment and punishment. THE Day of the Lord will occur at the end of time but there were other “days” of great punishment. This prophecy has not yet been totally fulfilled because it is addressed to ALL the heathen – those that have actively rebelled against the will of God. It is a time of divine retribution (payback!) and it comes back on them as they gave it out. It WILL come to all those that have turned against God and His people, however, it has already occurred to Edom.

16 For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been. NLT Just as you swallowed up my people on my holy mountain, so you and the surrounding nations will swallow the punishment I pour out on you. Yes, all you nations will drink and stagger and disappear from history. The latter part of the NLT passage is exactly what Edom did; they disappeared. Look throughout the New Testament. Do a word search. Do you find Edom mentioned? They were completely swallowed up for their sins.

17 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. Amplified Bible But on Mount Zion [in Jerusalem] there shall be deliverance [for those who escape], and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall possess its [own former] possessions. This is what those that hate God’s people just don’t get about the Lord’s love toward His people. Edom did a lot of horrible things to Israel thinking that they were at an end. However, now they see the rest of the story. Not only will the nation be restored but it will become a place of refuge for those that escape from the punishment to come. Why will it be a place of refuge? It is because HOLINESS will be there and holiness will not allow us to hold a grudge. Who wouldn’t serve such a merciful God like this who restored His people and gave a promise to the remnant of those that were so rebellious as the Edomites?

18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it. {JF&B} “[The tribes of Judah and Ephraim] shall form one kingdom, their former feuds being laid aside [after the Babylonian Captivity]. The Jews returned with some of the Israelites from Babylon; and, under John Hyrcanus, so subdued and,



compelling them to be circumcised, incorporated the [Edomites] with themselves that they formed part of the nation.”

THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL 19 And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. {David Guzik} “Obadiah looks forward to a coming day when Israel will occupy and possess the land that once belonged to Esau. Though the modern borders of Israel do not encompass the ancient lands of Edom, we can trust that they one day will, either in this age or in the age to come.”

20 And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south. It’s not over until God says it’s over. Through the prophet, the Lord told Edom that the same Jews that they ridiculed, killed, helped to go into captivity, and then stole from would return, be restored, and then be enriched. Let us learn from this book not only who we are but how the Lord views us and how He loves us!

21 And saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s. {David Guzik} “The idea isn’t that there are many saviors in an ultimate sense. Here, the word ‘saviors’ has the sense of ‘deliverers.’ The contrast is plain; Edom will be completely destroyed, and no saviors shall help her, but saviors shall come to Mount Zion.”

Postscript: The terror of this book is not in the prophecy but in the fact that it occurred just like Obadiah said. It means something to be called by His name. Let us LOVE one another! I speak blessings into your lives in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!



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