Obadiah - Sermon (11-2-12)

This prophecy, this vision that the Lord gave to Obadiah is unique in several different ways. For one, this is the shortest book in the Old Testament with only 21 verses. The eleven books which we call the minor prophets, Hosea through Malachi, are so called in contrast to the major prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. Their message is no less important than that of the major prophets. The title "minor prophets" simply refers to the length of the prophecy and has nothing to do with the importance of the message. The power of a message has nothing to do with its length. This is clear from the second chapter in Acts when Peter preached a sermon that couldn't have lasted longer than five minutes and yet around three thousand people were saved as a result. So the power of a message is not in its length and we certainly see that in the book of Obadiah, the minorest of the minor prophets, if you will.
We know next to nothing about the prophet himself. There are several Obadiahs throughout the Old Testament, and whether or not this is one of them or not, we're not told. His name means "Servant of the LORD" which is interesting in contrast to the people to whim Obadiah was sent. This is another thing that makes this prophet and prophecy unique. Obadiah was sent, not to the nations of Israel and Judah, but to a people called the Edomites. There are other prophets who prophecy to Israel and Judah concerning Edom, but Obadiah was actually sent to prophesy directly to these people and tell them of their coming judgment.
So who in the world are the Edomites? The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, Jacobs older twin brother. You'll remember back in the book of Genesis that God chose a man through whom He would pour out His blessing on the world. In Genesis chapter 12 the Lord said to Abraham - "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." Abraham had a son named Isaac, and Isaac had a son named Jacob. Jacob, however,  had a twin brother. When Jacob and Esau were still in their mother's womb they were already fighting. We read in Genesis 25 - "But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why then am I this way?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; and two peoples will be separated from your body; and one people shall be stronger than the other; and the older shall serve the younger.”" Before they were even born God chose Jacob to inherit the blessing of Abraham, and carry on His promise. This is a principle often seen throughout the book of Genesis, the setting aside of the elder and giving the birthright to the younger. This is an illustration of what we read in 1 Corinthians 15:46. God sets aside the first man, the natural man, to establish the second man, the spiritual man. God is ever setting aside the first man to make room for the second. We see this in the cases of Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob, Reuben and Joseph, and Manasseh and Ephraim.
So even while Jacob and Esau were in their mothers womb, the Lord chose the younger. When they were born Esau was first and he was "hairy all over like a garment" so they named him Esau, which means "hairy." Then Jacob was born, grabbing his brothers heel, and he was named Jacob, which means "one who takes by the heel or supplants." And he lived up to his name. We read in Genesis 25:27-34 - "When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents. Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?”And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of red stew so his name was changed to Edom, which means "red." This is the first mention of Edom in the Bible. In Genesis 26 we read that Esau married foreign wives that brought grief to his father and mother. In Genesis 27 Jacob, aided by his mother, stole the blessing of the firstborn from Esau, and when Esau sought for a blessing this is what his father said to him - "Behold, away from the fertility of the earth shall be your dwelling, and away from the dew of heaven from above. By your sword you shall live, and your brother you shall serve; but it shall come about when you become restless, that you will break his yoke from your neck." So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him.
After Jacob and Esau were reconciled, we read in Genesis 36, Esau, and all who belonged to him, moved to another land, away from the land of Canaan and his brother Jacob. He moved out to the hill country of Seir, which is present day Jordan. A very rocky and hilly country. Jacobs name was changed to Israel and his descendants were the Israelites, and Esaus name was changed to Edom and his descendants were called the Edomites. There was constant friction between Jacob and Esau. They struggled in the womb, they were at odds with each other as adults, and their descendants, Israel and Edom, were always at enmity with one another.
In the hill country of Seir the Edomites developed three main cities, Bozrah, which was prophesied about in Isaiah 63, Teman, which was known as the center of knowledge, and the capital city, Petra. This is where the Edomites dwelt, in this rock city. The location of Petra was unknown for centuries. The Bible alludes to it, there were legends and songs about it, but it was a lost city and considered, by many, to be a myth. It wasn't rediscovered until 1812. In order to get to the city you have to pass through a huge ravine that's only forty feet wide at its widest point, and much narrower in many places. The cliffs at the side of this pass stand anywhere from two hundred, to one thousand feet high, and are red in color. The path is so narrow that horses have to pass through in single file, and the path stretches on for a mile. You can go to Jordan today and take tours of the rock city of Petra. Once you pass through this narrow canyon you come to a city that's carved out of and built into the side of these cliffs. This city was considered the safest place in the world at that time. It was considered impregnable against attack. Because of the seclusion of the city, built into the cliffs, and the fact that there was only one narrow entrance, we're told that it would've only taken about twenty men to defend this city which could house up to a million people. Because of the greatness of their city and their security they thought that they were invincible. They became very proud, and these are the people to whom Obadiah, the servant of the Lord, was sent.

This book can be divided into two parts. In verses 1-16 we see the predicted destruction of the Edomites. And in verses 17-21 we have the predicted restoration of the nation of Israel. So we begin reading in verses 1-4 - "The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom— we have heard a report from the Lord, and an envoy has been sent among the nations saying, “Arise and let us go against her for battle”— “Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you are greatly despised. The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in the loftiness of your dwelling place, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to earth?’ Though you build high like the eagle, though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord." In these first four verses God declares to the nation of Edom that they will be destroyed. Their great cities aren't going to be enough to save them. Notice in verse three, God tells them that they've been deceived by their own pride. They built and lived in this great fortified city, in the clefts of the rock, high in the mountains of Seir, they said to themselves, 'Who will bring me down?' And God answers that question in verse four by saying 'I will bring you down.' It doesn't matter how high they built, how fortified and protected they were, God says "Though you build high like the eagle, though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down." They weren't out of Gods reach, and He is the one who declared their destruction.

Verses 5-6 - "If thieves came to you, if robbers by night— O how you will be ruined!— Would they not steal only until they had enough? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings? O how Esau will be ransacked, and his hidden treasures searched out!" Because Petra was considered the safest place in the world, the Edomites and their allies would store all their treasures in these huge storehouses, what we would call banks, in that great city. But God says in verse 6, "O how Esau will be ransacked, and his hidden treasures searched out!" God said that everything they had would be taken. If a thief comes into a house he doesn't take everything. And when the grape gatherers go into the vineyard, they don't get every last grape, they leave some gleanings. But God says to Edom, in spite of that, Edom will be completely ransacked and completely picked clean. And that's exactly what happened. In 1812, when the city was rediscovered, in all those buildings, enough buildings to house a million people, in that great city they didn't find one thing. That makes Petra unique in archeology. Everything that was formerly in those homes and buildings and temples was gone. Not one thing was found, just like God had said.

And not only were their treasures stolen, but verses 7-9 go on to say - "All the men allied with you will send you forth to the border, and the men at peace with you will deceive you and overpower you. They who eat your bread will set an ambush for you. (There is no understanding in him.) Will I not on that day,” declares the Lord, “Destroy wise men from Edom And understanding from the mountain of Esau? Then your mighty men will be dismayed, O Teman, so that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter." Gods says in verse 7 that their allies would turn against them. We also read that Edoms wise and mighty men would be destroyed and cut off. As well as being known for military capability, the Edomites were known to be very wise people. Petra is one of the great mysteries of the ancient world. The area in and around the city of Petra gets only a few inches of rainfall every year, and yet the Edomites were tremendous farmers. They were able to irrigate their crops and feed their livestock enough to provide food and water for all the people living in the city. We study the great architecture of Petra and the ruins of their aqua ducts and reservoirs, but to this day it's a mystery. They were able to do things in architecture and agriculture that are unparalleled. They were smart people, and yet God says "I will destroy wise men from Edom and understanding from the mount of Esau." Your wise men and your mighty men will be destroyed. The Edomites could not be saved by their wisdom or strength.

In verses 5-9 we see the description of Gods judgment on Edom. Their treasures would be stolen, their allies would turn against them, and their wise men and mighty warriors would be destroyed. This is a great judgment that God has pronounced against these people, but what did they do to deserve it? The next seven verses answer that question.

Verses 10-11 - "Because of violence to your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame, and you will be cut off forever. On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth, and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem— You too were as one of them." The first reason given for Edoms destruction is that they encouraged and aided Israels enemies. God reminds them in verse 10 that they're brothers with Jacob, they were twin brothers, but God says that the first reason He is judging them is "because of violence to your brother your brother Jacob." They stood to the side when Israel was being attacked. The attack spoken of here could be one of two attacks on Jerusalem. It could be by the Philistines around 840 B.C. Or it could be by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. We don't know what event is being spoken of here, but the point is that when Israel was being attacked Edom stood by and encouraged Israels enemies. In Psalm 137:7 the psalmist says - "Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom the day of Jerusalem, who said, “Raze it, raze it to its very foundation.”" When Jerusalem was being attacked Edom was standing by cheering on those who were attacking. And the psalmist calls out to God to remember this against them.

The second and third reasons are given in verses 12-13 - "You should not have gloated over your brother’s day, the day of his misfortune.And you should not have rejoiced over the sons of Judah in the day of their destruction; yes, you should not have boasted in the day of their distress. You should not have entered the gate of My people in the day of their disaster. Yes, you should not have gloated over their calamity in the day of their disaster. And you should not have looted their wealth in the day of their disaster." The second reason for Edoms downfall is because they rejoiced over Israels destruction. When Israel was under attack the Edomites enjoyed it. And the third reason is because they plundered Israel when they were under attack.

They encouraged Israels enemies, they enjoyed Israels fall, they plundered Israels goods, and the fourth reason, given in verse 14 is that they captured Israels fugitives. Verse 14 - "You should not have stood at the fork of the road to cut down their fugitives; and you should not have imprisoned their survivors in the day of their distress." When Jerusalem was under attack Edom blocked their exit. Those who escaped the attack were captured by Edom and sold into slavery. The Edomites were very cruel to their brother Jacob. But this enmity isn't something that was new, it goes all the way back to Jacob and Esau still in the womb. They struggled together in the womb, Jacob stole Esaus blessing, Esau was enraged against Jacob, and it seems that this attitude continued through the centuries. You'll remember back in Numbers chapter 20, after the Israelites came out of Egypt, Edom would not even let them pass through their land. These two nations were at odds with one another, and at last God pronounces judgment against Edom and lists the reasons for their coming judgment.

Verses 15-16 - "For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head. Because just as you drank on My holy mountain, All the nations will drink continually. They will drink and swallow and become as if they had never existed." God tells them that as they have measured, so it will be measured back to them. As they have treated others, so they'll be treated. Their harshness and cruelty is going to return on their own heads.

Now we come to the second section of the book, the promised restoration of the nation of Israel. We've seen Edoms predicted destruction, now we're going to see Israels predicted restoration.

Verse 17-21 -  "“But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. And the house of Jacob will possess their possessions. Then the house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; but the house of Esau will be as stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them, so that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau,” For the Lord has spoken. Then those of the Negev will possess the mountain of Esau, and those of the Shephelah the Philistine plain; Also, possess the territory of Ephraim and the territory of Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead. And the exiles of this host of the sons of Israel, who are among the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the cities of the Negev. The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau, and the kingdom will be the Lord’s." Notice what it says in verse 17 about Israels future restoration, "Then the house of Jacob will possess their possessions." God has given Israel so much. He has promised Israel so much, and it's theirs because He has given it to them, but they are not possessing a great deal of it right now. But rest assured, that God will fulfill His promises to the nation of Israel. In that day, the day of the Lord, Jacob will possess their possessions. They're going to steadily possess what's already theirs.

In verse 18 we're told that Esau will be consumed, burned like stubble, and as history records it, that's exactly what happened. In A.D. 70, hundreds of years after this prophecy was recorded, when the Romans were conquering the world, the Roman General Titus was coming up against the city of Jerusalem. And in a surprising turn of events, the Edomites, who had rejoiced previously when Jerusalem was attacked, now came to Jerusalem to fight against the Romans. By this time the Edomite civilization had been reduced to about twenty thousand people, due to warfare and plagues, and they could not effectively resist the Romans. And when General Titus came up against Jerusalem there were some Jewish zealots who stood up to fight against them, to oppose the Roman army. And hearing of this resistance, the remnant of the Edomites left Petra in mass, all twenty thousand, and they came and fought with the Jewish zealots. The historian Josephus tells us that when the Romans came up against Jerusalem to destroy it they trapped eight thousand of the Edomites inside the temple and they burned it with fire, and killed the rest of the opposition in the streets as they destroyed the city. So when verse 18 says - ""the house of Esau will be as stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them, so that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau,” For the Lord has spoken." This was fulfilled quite literally. God said that Edom would be completely destroyed, completely wiped out, and it was done according to His word. Gods word is true, whether it's happened yet or not makes no difference. The things that we read in Gods Word concerning the end times are just as certain as the words "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Gods Word is true whether I believe it or not, whether it has come to pass or is yet future, Gods Word is forever settled in heaven. This passage says that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau, "For the Lord has spoken." God said it, that makes it so. True to His word, the Edomites have been completely and utterly wiped off the face of the earth. The present condition of the land of Edom is a standing testimony to the inspiration of these prophecies. After an existence as a people for above seventeen hundred years, they have utterly disappeared.

This is the entire message of Obadiah. The predicted destruction of the Edomites, and the restoration of Israel. The book ends in verse 21 by saying - "And the kingdom will be the Lord’s." In this small book we see very clearly that the Lord cares about His people, the nation of Israel. God promised way back in the book of Genesis "Those who bless you I will bless, and those who curse you I will curse." God tied Himself to the nation of Israel in a very special way, and this book shows us that when a nation opposes Israel God is opposed to that nation.

But there is also a personal lesson in this book that we would do well to heed. Verses 3 and 4, again, say - "The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in the loftiness of your dwelling place, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to earth?' “Though you build high like the eagle, though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord." This book is a stern warning against pride. This prophecy against the Edomites is a clear example of Proverbs 16:18 - "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling." and the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 23:12 - "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." In Proverbs chapter 6 we're given a list of seven things that the Lord hates. And number one on that list is a proud look, pride. God hates pride. If we were to list seven things that we hate we would probably have something like abortion or murder at the top of the list, but the number one on Gods list is pride. We tend to think that pride really isn't all that bad. We say, "yeah, he's a little proud, but he's such a good man." You never hear someone say "He's a murderer, but he's such a good man." but God hates pride. He despises it. Think about it, pride is the sin that started the dominoes falling as it pertains to the fall of creation. In the book of Ezekiel we read of Satan's fall. Pride entered his heart and he sought to exalt himself rather than God. God says this about Satan in Ezekiel 28:17 - "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground." The language here is similar to what God said about Edom. Satan's heart was lifted up and God cast him down. No wonder God hates pride. It's the first sin that was ever committed. It's not to be treated lightly. The Scripture states very clearly that God is opposed to the proud. We're told in 1 Peter 5:5 to - "clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Satans heart was lifted up and He said, "I will exalt myself, I will be like the Most High." Edom was deceived by the pride of his heart and he said in his heart "who will bring me down to earth." Contrast that with the Lord Jesus, the most humble man who ever lived. If anyone ever had a right to exalt themselves He did, but He did just the opposite, He humbled Himself, and we're told to follow His example. Philippians 2:5-11 - "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." This is our pattern. Christ humbled Himself and God exalted Him. We're told to humble ourselves and we will be exalted.