Why the Old Testament Matters: Lessons from Obadiah

Why the Old Testament Matters: Lessons from Obadiah

As the shortest book in the Old Testament, and the only one written primarily to non-Jews, the book of Obadiah is unique. We know very little about Obadiah, other than his name, which means “servant of the Lord.” But in a single chapter, the prophet condemns the actions of a neighboring nation, announces soon-coming justice, and promises redemption for God’s people. Obadiah likely wrote this book in Jerusalem around 586 B.C., just after Babylon invaded and destroyed most of the city. That event serves as the backdrop for Obadiah’s message. However, instead of addressing Babylon, Obadiah focuses on the nation of Edom, their participation in the attack, and the repercussions they will face for their actions. Then, he contrasts the fate of Edom with that of Israel, begging the question: who will we serve? Like many of the other books in the Old Testament, Obadiah invites us to wrestle with God’s justice while reminding us of His faithfulness. 

For many of us, the name Edom is unfamiliar. We have never heard it in the news, and we cannot point to it on a modern-day map, but its history goes all the way back to the very first book of the Bible. In Genesis, God promised to make Abraham into a “great nation” (Genesis 12:2). He would give him descendants as numerous as the stars, and those descendants would one day live in the Promised Land (see Genesis 15). In his old age, Abraham had a son named Isaac, and Isaac had two sons of his own: Jacob and Esau. Before they were even born, the brothers struggled with each other, and when they grew up Esau famously sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew (see Genesis 25:19–34). Later, Jacob also deceitfully took Esau’s blessing, which infuriated Esau to the point of plotting murder. Eventually, Esau relocated to the land of Edom, and the brothers reconciled. However, Esau’s descendants (the Edomites) and Jacob’s descendants (the Israelites) followed the pattern of the brothers’ early lives—and throughout history, they struggled to get along. 

Even though the nation of Edom no longer exists, the choice its people faced still remains: who will we serve?

During the Babylonian invasion, Edom sided with Israel’s enemies. Though Edom should have come to the aid of their “brothers,” they sided with their enemy instead. As Israel was destroyed, Edom watched, celebrated, and even joined in on the attack. In the harsh words of Obadiah, the Lord holds them accountable for their deeds. He declares, “Look, I will make you insignificant among the nations; you will be deeply despised,” then goes on to say, “Though you seem to soar like an eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down” (1:2, 4). After spending nine verses announcing Edom’s impending judgment, Obadiah spends five verses explaining the reasons behind their impending doom. In short, as verse 10 states, they will be “covered with shame and destroyed forever because of violence done to [their] brother Jacob.” Because of their hostility toward God’s people, Edom will be punished. 

From there, Obadiah expands the scope of the Lord’s judgment—not only will Edom be punished, but so will all the nations that have opposed God’s people. On the “day of the Lord,” people will face the consequences of their actions—or, in the words of Obadiah, “As you have done, it will be done to you; what you deserve will return on your own head” (1:15). Fortunately, the book does not end on that sobering note. In the final three verses, Obadiah offers a message of hope. He reminds the audience of the Lord’s promise to restore His people to their land, pointing to the day when a Savior will come and “the kingdom will be the Lord’s” (1:21). God’s plan will not end with judgment; it will end with restoration. 

The hope we find at the end of Obadiah carries through into the Gospels. In Mark, we find Jesus proclaiming the good news in Galilee, saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe!” (1:15). Then, in Luke, He shares a similar message, adding this beautiful reminder: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (21:32). Even though the nation of Edom no longer exists, the choice its people faced still remains: who will we serve?  Will we be like the Edomites, who faced destruction? Or will we serve a just God whose words endure forever?

With that, we conclude our series, Why the Old Testament Matters. To catch up on any articles you may have missed, visit our website, experiencecc.com, or scroll through our episodes on your favorite podcast platform. To get notified every time we post a new article, download our app and subscribe to push notifications for Experience Commentary. Thanks for joining us!