03.31. Obadiah
Walking Thru The Bible
OBADIAH
INTRODUCTION
The book of Obadiah is not well known but it contains some powerful lessons for our day. It is the only one-chapter book in the Old Testament and contains only 21 verses. The occasion of the book is some recent sack of Jerusalem by the Philistines and Arabians in which Edom had aided and abetted. She had encouraged Judah’s foes, enjoyed Judah’s fall, and enslaved Judah’s fugitives. The book warns Edom of her own coming destruction for her sins against her brother.
BACKGROUND
The Edomites were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s twin brother, and hence a "cousin" nation to Judah and Israel. Yet the Edomites were in constant conflict with them. Edom was a narrow strip of mountainous country to the south of the Dead Sea. So rugged is the terrain that the valley in which Petra, one of their capital cities, is located can only be reached through a narrow canyon guarded by towering mountain walls 200-500 feet high (Obadiah 1:3-4).
EDOM’s SIN
Edom is condemned for her pride and her cruelty. Her crimes are described in progressive stages: (1) Edom stood by while Jerusalem was invaded Obadiah 1:11; (2) She rejoiced over the captivity of sons of Judah Obadiah 1:12; (3) She actively participated in looting Jerusalem Obadiah 1:13; and (4) Edom set up road blocks to prevent the citizens from escaping Obadiah 1:14 and sold them into slavery. She is condemned for her cruelty and unbrotherliness: (1) cruelty of the feet, Obadiah 1:11 "she stood afar off"; (2) cruelty of the eyes, Obadiah 1:13 "looked on in his disaster; (3) cruelty of the heart, Obadiah 1:12 she rejoiced in Jeru.’s destruction; (4) cruelty of the tongue, Obadiah 1:12; she spoke proudly; (5) cruelty of the hands, Obadiah 1:13, laid hands on Judah’s substance and cut off escape.
OUTLINE OF EDOM 1. The Doom of Edom -- Obadiah 1:1-9 2. The Denunciation of Edom -- Obadiah 1:10-14 3. The Destruction of Edom -- Obadiah 1:15-21
EDOM AND THE PRIDE OF NATIONS Introduction:
Background on Edom: The Edomites were a rough and tough group of mountain people. They lived in the desert-mountain region of Mt. Seir, reaching from south of the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Arabah. They carved great protective fortresses in the rock mountains and canyons. One of their principle cities was Sela (Hebrew), or Petra (Greek), which simply meant "The Rock" and was carved out of the side of the mountains. The rose-red, orange and yellow mountain wall made Petra a colorful stronghold.
I. EDOM TRUSTED HER FORTIFICATIONS (Obadiah 1:3-4)
Nestled in the cliffs high above the plains they likened them-selves to the eagle which made its next in the heights of the mountains. They thought their city was impregnable and that they could never be brought down.
II. EDOM TRUSTED IN HER TREASURES (Obadiah 1:5-6) At this time Edom was the center of caravan routes from south to north and east to west. The caves in Petra were used as storehouses for merchandise.
III. EDOM TRUSTED IN HER ALLIES AND FRIENDS (Obadiah 1:7) Edom trusted her confederates and peace treaties but God warns they would deceive her and turn against her.
IV. EDOM TRUSTED IN HER WISDOM AND WISE MEN (Obadiah 1:8) The Edomites were known for their wisdom and cunning. But the time was to come when such would be destroyed among them and they could not be counted on for deliverance.
V. EDOM TRUSTED IN HER "MIGHTY MEN" (warriors Obadiah 1:9)
Edom trusted that her mighty army of strong warriors would be able to defend her against any and every foe. But when God was ready to bring her down it didn’t matter what size army or how brave they were.
CONCLUSION:
No human effort can save the guilty nation from God’s destructive power. Rock fortresses, impregnable mountains, narrow mountain gorges, dependable allies and proud warriors cannot avail. When the Lord has decreed a nations’ humiliation nothing will change that except repentance. We must remember that our hope is in God. Proverbs 16:18; Proverbs 29:23.