Bible Commentaries
Obadiah

Edom Will Be Humbled -- Obadiah--

The book of Obadiah is the shortest book among the "minor" prophets. Obadiah is, in fact, the shortest book in the Old Testament. It contains only 21 verses. Obadiah was written after the Jews had returned from their exile in Babylon. The name Obadiah means "servant of the Lord." God announced through His prophet Obadiah that the Edomites would be destroyed because of (1) Their pride, (2) Their sins against God, and (3) Their sins against Israel. The Edomites descended from Esau and the Israelites from his twin brother, Jacob. Their quarrels of a thousand years before had continued to affect their descendants.

The pride of Edom had brought them to the point where they would face judgment from the Almighty. The kingdom of Edom would be destroyed completely. God said, "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." ( Oba_1:4 ) God also told them, "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." ( Oba_1:12 ) They were filled with pride and had failed to help Israel in her time of misfortune. God promised, "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." ( Oba_1:15 )

The chapter closes with the promise concerning the Savior for spiritual Israel and concerning His kingdom. Pride is a very destructive sin. Our pride must be only in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.