The Book of Obadiah

Obadiah Outline

Chapters & Genres

The book of Obadiah is a minor prophetic book in the Old Testament of the Bible. It has only one chapter, which comprises of 21 verses. Obadiah is believed to have been a prophet during the reign of King Jehoram of Judah, which places him around 845 BC. Although there is not much known about Obadiah, his name means “servant of Yahweh” or “worshipper of Yahweh”.

The book of Obadiah is unique in that it is the shortest book in the Old Testament, but it conveys a powerful message that is still relevant to us today. The book is a message of judgment against Edom, a neighboring nation of Judah. This judgment is due to the Edomites’ pride, arrogance, and violence towards their brothers, the Israelites. The Edomites were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother, and were a constant thorn in the flesh of the Israelites.

The book of Obadiah can be divided into three main sections. The first section, verses 1-9, describes the pride and arrogance of Edom. The second section, verses 10-14, describes the judgment that is coming upon Edom. The third section, verses 15-21, describes the restoration of Israel and the ultimate victory of the Lord over all nations.

In the first section, Obadiah begins by proclaiming a vision that he has received from the Lord. The Lord tells Obadiah that he has raised up a nation, Edom, to be powerful and proud, but that their pride has deceived them. They have built their homes in the heights of the mountains, believing that no one can touch them. However, the Lord declares that he will bring them down from their lofty heights and they will be brought low.

Obadiah then goes on to describe the wickedness of Edom. They have not only been proud and arrogant, but they have also been violent towards their brothers, the Israelites. When Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians, the Edomites stood by and watched, even rejoicing in the destruction. They even helped the Babylonians capture the Israelites who were trying to escape. This was a great betrayal of their brothers and the Lord was not pleased.

In the second section, Obadiah describes the judgment that is coming upon Edom. The Lord declares that he will destroy them completely. He will send his armies against them and they will be cut off from the earth. Their pride and arrogance will be their downfall and they will be brought to nothing.

Obadiah then goes on to describe the reasons for this judgment. The Edomites had not only been violent towards their brothers, but they had also been guilty of other sins. They had stolen from the Israelites, and had even taken over their land. They had also been guilty of pride and arrogance, believing that they were invincible. The Lord declares that they will be repaid for their wickedness and that they will be brought down to nothing.

In the third section, Obadiah describes the restoration of Israel and the ultimate victory of the Lord over all nations. The Lord declares that he will restore his people and that they will possess the land of the Edomites. The house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame, and together they will consume Edom. The Lord will also come to judge all the nations and their wickedness.

The book of Obadiah is a powerful message of judgment and restoration. It shows us that the Lord is a God of justice, and that he will not let the wicked go unpunished. It also shows us that the Lord is a God of mercy, and that he will restore his people and bring them back to himself.

In conclusion, the book of Obadiah is a short but powerful message that still speaks to us today. It reminds us that pride and arrogance are sins that we must guard against, and that we must always be careful to treat our brothers with love and respect. It also reminds us that the Lord is a God of justice and mercy, and that he will ultimately bring judgment and restoration to all nations.