Key Themes in Obadiah

The name Obadiah literally means ‘one who serves the Lord’. So it is possible that Obadiah is the anonymous title of a prophet who wanted to remain unknown, and to emphasise the message rather than the messenger. However, it is also true that Obadiah was a common enough name in Israel and Judah. So a prophet of that name might well have prophesied in Jerusalem or even among the exiles. We cannot learn much about him from such a short prophecy; but he possibly belonged to a group of prophets, suggested by the phrase, we have heard a message from the Lord (1), and Obadiah’s emphasis on the restoration of Zion and its temple (17, 21) suggests that they located themselves in the temple.

The most likely background for Obadiah’s ministry was the attack on Jerusalem and its destruction in 586 bc. This was carried out by the Babylonians and their allies, with the Edomites playing a major part. This certainly fits Obadiah’s description of the fall of Jerusalem in his prophecy, and his dismay at the role that the Edomites, their own kinsfolk, played (11-14). Obadiah’s prophecy foretells the future wiping out of the Edomites as a nation (8-10). So it is highly likely that Obadiah focused on such a message only after a calamitous event such as the destruction of Jerusalem, and the heavy involvement of the Edomites in siding with the enemies of Judah. We do not know whether Obadiah remained in Jerusalem or sat with the exiles in Babylon. But we do know that he shared the grief of those who mourned for Jerusalem and longed to see God’s name and reputation honoured and vindicated; and it is clear that the part that the Edomites played was deeply embedded in the collective memory of God’s people and in the heart of Obadiah.

Who exactly were the Edomites? Edom and Judah both traced their roots back to Jacob and Esau, the children of Isaac and Rebekah, and the grandchildren of Abraham and Sarah. Jacob and Esau were twins, Esau being the older. However, God had said before the birth of the twins, that ‘the elder will serve the younger’ (Ge 25:23). The twins drifted apart and their families grew, later becoming two neighbouring nations. Esau had been called ‘Edom’ (Ge 36:19) and Jacob became known as ‘Israel’ (Ge 32:22-32). So these names were adopted by the nations of which these two persons were the ancestors. Sadly, the animosity which had begun with Jacob and Esau continued through the years between these two nations, and in particular with the southern kingdom of Israel, namely Judah.

Themes and relevance

The tensions between Judah and Edom were ongoing problems which seemed to be incapable of any lasting solution – just as many of our international, national, ecclesiastical and personal problems seem incapable of resolution for us today. The destruction of Jerusalem, which involved the Edomites, would have been devastating for those who survived it. The loss of their homes, their property and possessions would have been bad enough; but that would have been compounded with fears about the future. Would they become refugees or prisoners? Would they be allowed to remain in Judah, and under what conditions? What would become of them if they were taken into exile? Furthermore, the fall of Jerusalem and the dismantling of the monarchy appeared to undermine the promises of the Lord with respect to the dynasty of King David (2Sa 7:12-13).

There are many people in today’s world who face similar traumatic situations. There are war zones where refugees move from camp to camp without proper food, water or security. They are vulnerable to rape and other forms of aggression, including murder. Many have lost hope in the goodness and greatness of God. Sometimes Christians find themselves asking, ‘where is God in all this?’

Obadiah addresses a similar situation, and his vision (1) is badly needed today. We must ask what it was about Obadiah’s message that had the potential to lift the hearts of his hearers, and equally our hearts in today’s world. As we read through this short book we find that Obadiah encourages us through three great themes: the sovereignty of God (1, 15, 21), the judgments of God (2-15) and the triumph of God (15-21).

This blog post is extracted from the study notes of the NIV BST Bible, ahead of the publication of Obadiah, Jonah and Micah, the new Tyndale Old Testament Commentary by Daniel C. Timmer.