By: Bro. Godwin Eyiangho
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INTRODUCTION
This book, the shortest of Old Testament’s books, is authored by Obadiah for the Sovereign Lord has spoken through him in Judah, 587 B.C.
Obadiah is, derived from two Hebrew words, Obad – Servant and Yah – Sent from for Yahweh/God and it means the servant of Yahweh/God or the worshipper of God.
Prophet Obadiah was mentioned among those appointed by King Jehoshaphat to teach the law in the cities of Judah [2 Chronicles 17:7].
The theme of his prophecy is the destruction of Edom and other heathen nations that shared in her hostility against God and His people and the restoration of Israel [verse 10,17; Ezekiel 25:12-14].
Edom (Hebrew word for red earth) was the land, Mount Seir of the descendants of Esau, the elder brother of Jacob [Genesis 36:8a].
The Edomites were perpetually antagonistic to the Israelites but God commanded the nation of Israel to be kind to them [Numbers 20:14-30; Deuteronomy 2:4-5].
Edom is no longer in existence but its territory is between the Dead Sea and modern-day Jordan with some parts in southern Israel.
For the purpose of our study, the passage is divided into three sections – Verse 1–9, 10-16 and 17-21.
EDOM’S DOOM PREDICTED Verse 1-9
The Sovereign Lord pronounced judgment on Edom through prophet Obadiah that He would bring other heathen nations against her in battle that the Edomites were proud-hearted and as a result they had been deceived.
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 (KJV).
For this cause, God would make her politically irrelevant and despiteful among the nations [verse 2].
They boasted of their security because they live in the clefts of rocks and on high mountains – nobody would touch them [verse 3].
“…except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Psalm 127:1b (KJV).
Unless God protects us, our security is in vain. The Lord said that even if they lifted themselves high like eagles or make their dwellings in the stars, He would bring them down [verse 4].
God then used thieves and grape pickers as illustrations that if thieves gain entrance into a house, they will steal almost everything and if grape pickers enter grape garden, they will pick almost everything [verse 5,6]
That is how the men of Edom would be dealt with. In the day of the Lord, all the wise men of Edom would be destroyed and Teman would be amazed asking where are the men of wisdom and understanding in Edom?
Teman was a city in southern Edom that was well known for their wisdom. Eliphaz, Job’s friend hailed from there and perhaps Job also lived there [Job 15:1; 1:1].
THE REASON FOR EDOM’S DESTRUCTION Verse 10-16
In verse 10, God categorically stated that Edom’s disaster was consequent to her violence against her brother, Israel.
He went further to warn the Edomites that they must not rejoice when their brother [Israel] would be taken away to captivity, they must not help the invaders, they must not take their body and so on [verse 11-14].
Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that rejoice and weep with them that weep
That the day of the Lord was coming upon heathen nations who despised His holiness and His people. He would recompense them according to their deeds [verse 15,16].
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:19 (KJV).
POSSESSING POSSESSIONS Verse 17-21
The most significant aspect of prophet Obadiah’s prophecy, verse 17 in particular has been misinterpreted and misapplied by some especially the premillennialists.
According to them, this passage will be fulfilled at the second coming of Christ when He will establish His kingdom on earth and reign one thousand years (Revelation 20:1-10) and the Israelites will conquer all their enemies and possess their possessions or inheritance.
This is a falsehood for Christ Himself has said that His kingdom is not of this world and when He comes back, we will meet Him in the air [clouds] and there live with Him forever [John 18:36; 1 Thessalonians 4:17].
Nonetheless when the Israelites returned from Babylonian captivity, they rebuilt the temple and possessed their lands and some of their neighbours as indicated in verse 18-20.
But this was temporary because the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem by the Roman empire in 70CE was absolute as Christ confirmed the prophecy and warned this disciples about it [Matthew 24:15-18].
Now, the analysis of the passage in controversy.
Obadiah 1:17 (KJV): “But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.”
Obadiah 1:17 (NIV): “But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy, and Jacob will possess his inheritance.”
Mount Zion here refers to the gospel church – for out of Mount Zion shall go forth the law – teachings or laws of the New Testament given by the Holy Spirit through the apostles [Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2].
The preaching of the gospel brings salvation – deliverance from evil [Mark 16:15,16].
Remember Christ said salvation is of the Jews [John 4:22].
When the gospel is preached and people believed and are baptized for salvation, they possess their inheritance. Verse 17b says and there shall be holiness.or it will be holy…
At the point of baptism, people received the Holy Spirit that sanctifies them and make the church holy [Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 6:11,19; Ephesians 5:26,27].
Salvation and sanctification [sacred, make holy and set apart for God’s use] go together to produce holiness and it is only in the church that holiness is practised [1 Peter 1:15,16; Hebrews 12:14; Ephesians 4:23,24, Romans 6:25)
The house of Jacob and the house of Joseph as fire and flames that will consume respectively, means when the gospel is preached and people are convicted in their hearts, the power of the gospel consumes the power of sin and Satan from the hearts of men and the Holy Spirit occupies such hearts – conversion of multitudes – for the gospel is the power of God unto salvation [Romans 1:15,16; Acts 2:37-41].
If salvation is of the Jews by the work God wrought through Christ, they are possessing their inheritance through salvation in Christ.
In verse 21c, the text says and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.
Christ is the reigning King in His kingdom on earth, the church is everywhere through the preaching of the gospel (Mathew 16:18,19, 24:14).
CONCLUSION
The Sovereign God’s divine judgment is on all peoples – the Jews and Gentiles then and now Christians and non-Christians.
When the church began on the Pentecost day, Israel as special and chosen people of God ceased, and Christians are the true Israel of God today [John 3:16; Ephesians 2:14-16; Galatians 3:27-29; Galatians 6:16].
In the church, we possess our inheritance, eternal life which is the essence of Obadiah’s prophecy [1 Peter 1:4, verse 17] and we possess our possessions, physical and material blessings [Matthew 6:33].
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