Introduction

What is the Book of Obadiah About?

Read this 3-minute introduction to help you find your bearings in the Bible story, and be inspired to read Obadiah!

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Historical Context

The prophet Obadiah, whose name means worshipper or servant of YHWH (Yahweh), is mentioned only here in Scripture (ten other Obadiah’s appear in the OT, but none is likely the book’s author). Nothing is known of him other than that he was a prophet.

—Daniel C. Timmer

Source: Timmer, Daniel C. Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2021.

Who Obadiah was, where he was born, of what tribe and family in Israel, his occupation, and the exact time in which he lived-all these are matters which God has not been pleased to reveal. There was Obadiah in the court of king Ahab, of whose care for the persecuted prophets of the Lord we have knowledge; but he is not to be confounded with the writer of the little book now before us. Other Obadiah’s are briefly mentioned in 1st and 2nd Chronicles; but whether any of them is identical with the prophet, we have no means of determining—nor is it at all important that we should know. It is the message, not the bearer of it, that God would occupy us with.

—H.A. Ironside

Source: Ironside, H. A. “Commentary on Obadiah 1“. Ironside’s Notes on Selected Books. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/isn/obadiah-1.html. 1914.

From Bibles.net: Remember that the ultimate author of every book of the Bible is the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). He has written this book to equip you for life, to help you know the true God, and to give you hope (2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 15:4). The Holy Spirit wrote Obadiah for your good and to lead you into joy.

The book of Obadiah records a prophetic “vision” given by the Lord to a man named Obadiah. The only thing known about this prophet is his name. The book was probably written in the first half of the Babylonian exile, after 586 BC (when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem) and before 553 (when Babylon attacked Edom).

Petra is one of the wonders of the world. It was a city unique among the works of humans. It perched like an eagle’s nest (see Obadiah 4), enclosed by towering rocks. Its only approach is through a deep rock cleft more than a mile long with massive cliffs more than 700 feet high rising on either side. The city was able to withstand any invasion. We are told that its temples numbered a thousand. They were cut in and out of the pink rock of the massive cliffs. The dwellings were mostly caves cut out of the soft red sandstone (see Obadiah 3,6) and placed where you can hardly believe it possible for a human foot to climb.  

South of the Dead Sea and on the western border of the Arabian plateau lies a range of precipitous red sandstone heights known as Mount Seir. Here Esau settled after he sold his birthright to his brother Jacob. Having driven out the Horites (see Genesis 14:5-6; Deuteronomy 2:12), he occupied the whole mountain. Sela, or Petra, “Rock,” was their capital. Today it is called the silent city of the forgotten past.  

The descendants of Esau were called Edomites. They would go out on raiding expeditions and then retreat to their impregnable fortress where they kept alive in their hearts a bitter enmity toward the Jews, which began with Jacob and Esau. They never failed to help any army who attacked the Jews. And in the time of Christ, through Herod, they obtained control of a portion of Judea. They disappear from the pages of history after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in AD 70.  

—Henrietta Mears  

Source: This content is from What the Bible Is All About, written by Henrietta Mears. Copyright © 1953, 2011 by Gospel Light. Copyright assigned to Tyndale House Publishers, 2015. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, this content is adapted from the ESV Global Study Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2012 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Books
Message Series

Eagle Edom Will Come Down by John Piper

In this short 26-minute message, Pastor John Piper leads us through the small book of Obadiah and provides us with five lessons that will change the way we live.

Obadiah Dictionary

As you read through Obadiah, you might come across words and ideas that are foreign to you. Here are a few definitions you will want to know! Note that this dictionary was created for the New International Version (NIV) Bible.

A son of Ham and a grandson of Noah. His descendants settled in and gave his name to the areas God promised to Abraham, which were later known as Judah (Judea) and Israel.

Pure; set apart; belonging to God. God is holy. He is perfect and without sin. Jesus is holy too. He is without sin and dedicated to doing what God wants. Because Jesus died to take the punishment for sin and then rose again, people who believe in him have the power to be holy too. God helps them to become more and more pure and loving, like Jesus.

Money, property, or traditions received from another person. Often a person receives an inheritance after another person’s death. The Bible tells us that everything that is God’s belongs to Jesus Christ. By his death on the cross, Jesus made it possible for us to share his inheritance with him.

The most important city of Bible times. Jerusalem was the capital of the united kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah. The temple was built in Jerusalem, so many people traveled to the city to worship God. In 587 BC, Jerusalem was captured and mostly destroyed by Babylonian armies. The city was rebuilt when the Jews returned after 70 years of exile in Babylon. Jesus taught in the city of Jerusalem, was crucified outside the city wall, was buried near the city, and then rose again. The first Christian church began in Jerusalem after the Holy Spirit came to the believers there.

(1) One of the sons of Jacob and Leah. (2) The descendants of Jacob and Leah’s son of the same name, who became the tribe of Judah. (3) The southern kingdom when the Israelites divided into two separate countries after the death of King Solomon. (The northern kingdom was called Israel.)

The people of Philistia, a region along the southeastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. During most of Old Testament history, the Philistines were major competitors with Israel for territory and power. The Philistines, whose origins may be traced to Crete or Greece, were far ahead of the Hebrews in technology, having mastered skills in working with metal. They adopted at least some of the Canaanite gods and often controlled much of ancient Israel, until a series of decisive defeats at the hand of David. Still, battles with Judah and Israel continued for centuries.

(1) To loot or rob, especially during a war. (2) The property taken by such looting or robbery.

Having authority and power over everything. God is sovereign.

Something seen during a trance or dream. A vision was a way God showed someone a truth that would otherwise not be known. Sometimes people were asleep when God gave them visions (see Ezekiel 8:1-4; Acts 10:9-29).

Dictionary Source

This content is from What the Bible Is All About, written by Henrietta Mears. Copyright © 1953, 2011 by Gospel Light. Copyright assigned to Tyndale House Publishers, 2015. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 

Tough Questions

We have found answers to some tough questions that we anticipate may arise as you read this book of the Bible. We know we can’t answer every question you will have; therefore, we have written this article, so you know how to find answers for your kids: How Do I Answer Tough Questions About the Bible?

Insights

The following insights are from pastors and scholars who have spent significant time studying the book of Obadiah.

In the book of Obadiah, God promises through his prophet to bring judgment upon Edom. When Babylon invaded Israel and carried off God’s people into exile, not only did Edom fail to help Israel—she helped Babylon instead. Moreover, Edom seemed to revel in the destruction of Israel. Therefore, God is bringing judgment against Edom, and that judgment in the book of Obadiah comes with a promise of final restoration for God’s people, when a Savior will ultimately deliver and rule over them. Obadiah anticipates the kingdom of the Lord by proclaiming judgment against Edom and the eventual salvation and restoration of Israel. 

—Kristofer Holroyd  

Source: Content taken from Joel, Amos, and Obadiah: A 12-Week Study © 2018 by Kristofer Holroyd. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

The message of Obadiah is that the Edomites would be inescapably and irrevocably exterminated. Because of their unrepentant, remorseless stubbornness about their terrorism against Israel’s non-combatants, God would wipe the globe clean of all Edomites and every trace of their bloodthirsty legacy. Have you eaten at any Edomite restaurants lately? Have you toured any holy sites in Edom? Are there any religious holidays observed by an Edomite remnant anywhere on the planet? The conspicuous absence of all things Edomite is passive but potent proof that God’s prophecy has been fulfilled literally. 

—Clint Archer 

Source: Archer, Clint. “6 Reasons You Should Preach Through Obdiah.” 9Marks (January 17, 2019).  

Obadiah’s oracle against Edom reveals God’s special and tender love for his people, because Edom’s judgment is specifically linked to Edom’s mistreatment of God’s people. Throughout the Bible we see this special love that God has for his people. For example, Deuteronomy 32:10–14 details God’s rescue of his people, his caring for them, and his keeping them “as the apple of his eye.” Hosea 11 describes God’s calling of his people out of Egypt in terms of a father teaching his son to walk. And Isaiah 43 notes God’s protective presence and deep affection for his people (Isaiah 43:1–7). Likewise, the New Testament revels in this same deep affection, the love that God lavishes upon his people through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:4; 3:14–19; 1 John 3:1), a love from which nothing can separate us (Romans 8:31–39). 

—Kristofer Holroyd  

Source: Content taken from Joel, Amos, and Obadiah: A 12-Week Study © 2018 by Kristofer Holroyd. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

1) The God of this book governs the nations. If it were not so, he couldn’t make promises to Israel and Edom both. God can only talk like that because he’s Lord of the nations.  

2) Pride deceives. It makes us think we can be invulnerable, self-sufficient.  

3) God opposes pride, and will oppose pride.  

4) Proud nations and proud individuals will reap what they sow. If we choose independence, God will give it to us on the last day.  

5) God has made a way of escape and salvation from his wrath [through Jesus Christ!]. 

—John Piper  

Source: By John Piper. © Desiring God Foundation. Source: desiringGod.org.

There are two general ways in which the New Testament takes up the Jacob-Edom dynamic.  

First, the descendants of Abraham, and therefore the rightful heirs to the promises to Abraham, are those who do the works of Abraham by believing in Jesus Christ (John 8:39–47). As such, followers of Jesus inherit the promises continued through Jacob/Israel (Galatians 3:7; Romans 2:28; 9:6–18; cf. Hebrews 12:15–17).  

Second, and foundational to the first, is that Jesus Christ himself is the promised Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16). Through him every divine promise has been, is being, and will be fulfilled (2 Corinthians 1:20). The blessings of the Abrahamic covenant come to believers in Christ (Galatians 3:14). Even though he was harassed by his brothers (Mark 3:21), he has led free a host of captives (Ephesians 4:8) and restored the fortunes of Judah. 

—Michael J. Glodo  

Source: Content adapted from The ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible by Crossway. This article first appeared on Crossway.org; used with permission.

Indeed, as Obadiah anticipates, a Savior would come who would defeat the true enemies of God’s people: sin, death, and the powers of darkness. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s people know victory over the enemies of sin, death, and darkness in this life; but ultimately, like the people in the time of Joel, Amos, and Obadiah, we await a future day of the Lord in which the Savior will return, vindicate his people, and establish finally his complete rule over all the nations. 

—Kristofer Holroyd  

Source: Content taken from Joel, Amos, and Obadiah: A 12-Week Study © 2018 by Kristofer Holroyd. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Anyone who knows about terrorism should know about Obadiah. As should anyone who feels frustrated that injustice sometimes goes unpunished. Obadiah teaches us about God’s long-term plan to bring closure to issues that military and judicial action struggles to accomplish. It’s a comforting book to read after hearing an unsettling news report of terrorism, racial injustice, genocide, or ethnic cleansing. Anytime the innocent are targeted en masse and we’re left waiting for justice to be done, the book of Obadiah reassures us that God never relegates unresolved injustices to a shelf of cold cases. He never forgets.

—Clint Archer

Source: Archer, Clint. “6 Reasons You Should Preach Through Obdiah.” 9Marks (January 17, 2019).  

Obadiah Playlist

Discover music inspired by the message and content of the book of Obadiah.

Judge of the Secrets
by Sovereign Grace Music | Contemporary  
King of Kings
by John Stratton | Praise & Worship
Imagine
by Margaret Becker feat. Kristyn Getty and Joanne Hogg | Chill & Relaxing
O God Do Not Be Silent
by Wendell Kimbrough | Acoustic
Psalm 137
by Sons of Korah | Contemporary
Christ Be All
by Grace Worship | Praise & Worship
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