Synopsis: Obadiah


Organisation of the synopsis

The writer  

The author’s name means ‘servant or worshipper of Jehovah’. The date of this writing cannot be determined with much certainty but may possibly be written after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC as Obadiah mentioned this event in his writing. 

Key verse 

Obadiah 1:3
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? 

Earthly security is the reason for the pride of the Edomites. They dwelled in a high and secure land and in their hearts, they are self-sufficient and do not need any help especially from their relatives — the Israelites.   

The founder of Edom is Esau, who is the twin brother of Jacob. The Edomites hate the Israelites although the enmity between their forefathers Esau and Jacob have been amicably settled.


Main Theme 

The message of Obadiah was directed towards the Edomites. The Edomites in the past were never friendly to the Israelites. During the Israelites’ journey to their Promised Land, the Edomites refused to allow the Israelites to take a short cut by passing over their land (Numbers 20:14-21). 

God was not pleased with their hostility and pride. The punishment of this nation was quite severe and in AD 70 (at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem), Edom was also conquered by the Romans. It ceased as a nation thereafter. 


Spiritual and life lessons 

1) The sovereignty of God

In this brief book, we learn about the sovereignty of God. His promised to Abraham and Judah, mentioned in Gen 12:3 and Gen 49:10 shall surely come to pass. Today as Christians, we are reminded in the Bible about the imminent rapture of the Saints (1 Thess 4:16-17), after which within a short span of 7 years, the millennium kingdom of our Lord Jesus will be established. The Edomites' disdain of God’s selection of the Israelites as His representative on earth was the cause for their downfall.  

Whenever an individual or nation disregard God’s will (as mentioned in His words), it is akin to what God told Paul during Paul’s journey towards Damascus, “It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5). This is still a lesson for many people today. God is a righteous judge and if the Israelites sin, He will punish them Himself, and we should not adopt the attitude of the Edomites.

2) Do not dwell on earthly security

The Edomites thought highly about their security as they believe their country was impregnable in their high rocky habitation. Today, our security may be in our education, career, business, bank accounts or even physical endowments.  However, Christians should be dependent on the Lord Jesus in our daily affairs. The following verses are good guides: 

James 4:13  Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:  

James 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  

James 4:15  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 

3) Do not harbour hatred

Finally, we must take note of the Edomites’ hatred towards Israel. It is quite irrational and I believe it is a solemn reminder to Christians not to harbor hatred among fellow believers. We may have differences between ourselves but we are still more closely related to each other compared to our relationship with non-Christians. As mortals, let us not be like the Edomites who take pleasure in the fall of their brethren.  Contrary to it, we should render help. 

With God’s blessings, 

CL 

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