Throughout scripture there are references to the The Day of the Lord with great anticipation. It is a day referring to the final judgement of this earth. For the Jewish nation it stands for a day when they are finally free from attack from other nations. They anticipate it with Joy, not fear; however, it involves their cleansing as well. It will be through the tribulation that they are ultimately cleansed and become a people who love the Lord with His laws written on their hearts. So, why in our studies do I bring this now? Well as we look at Obadiah, we recognize this truth. It is like looking through a progressive lens which sees near, mid-range, and distance. It is the same for nearly all of the prophets. They see near, a bit farther in the distance, and then in the far distance.
Joy, not fear because God has Ordained All that We See
It is glimpse into what Asaph saw in the distance as God judges all the rules and judges of this earth. Not much is known as to the time of the writing of Obadiah, but I tend to believe it was referring first to the battle between the Edomites and Judah. Furthermore, it does describe what will be the final judgement completed by Jesus Christ. None of this can complete the Jewish nation however without the seven years of tribulation occurring to as Daniel reports to us.
24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Daniel 9 (NKJV)
The tribulation is the final week of years to complete Israel preparing them that God will redeem them and write His laws upon their hearts.
Why the Edomites for final judgement?
Now the Edomites are the descendants of Esau. He was Jacob’s Older Twin Brother who nonchalantly sold his birthright for some red porridge. Then he was tricked out of the blessing by his brother Jacob. So, was Jacob a better person? No, except in this one thing—he worshipped God. On the other hand, Esau had no regard for God. He had gone off and married Hittite women to the dismay of his Isaac and Rebecca. Furthermore, it is believed by tradition that he worshipped idols. At any rate he had no regard for seeking God. Yet, it is noted then when the Israelite people were crossing the desert after their 400 years in Egypt the King of Edom would not allow them to cross his land. They were both nations descendants of Isaac.
We have an interesting turn of events when the Edomites join forces with Judah and Israel to defeat the Moabites in 2 Kings 3. The land of Edom was north of Israel where lay red mountain ranges. So, the story was that God told the Kings after assembling that they would win. He had them build large ditches in the valley. Then when the Moabites came for battle.
2 Kings 3 (NKJV)–Joy, Not Fear Because God IS
20 Now it happened in the morning, when the grain offering was offered, that suddenly water came by way of Edom, and the land was filled with water.
21 And when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, all who were able to bear arms and older were gathered; and they stood at the border. 22 Then they rose up early in the morning, and the sun was shining on the water; and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood. 23 And they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely struck swords and have killed one another; now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!”
24 So when they came to the camp of Israel, Israel rose up and attacked the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they entered their land, killing the Moabites. 25 Then they destroyed the cities, and each man threw a stone on every good piece of land and filled it; and they stopped up all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees. But they left the stones of Kir Haraseth intact. However the slingers surrounded and attacked it.
26 And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew swords, to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not. 27 Then he took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering upon the wall; and there was great indignation against Israel. So they departed from him and returned to their own land.
So, why the judgement on Edom?
John McArthur wrote this in his Study Bible as part of the introduction to Obadiah
The date of writing is equally difficult to determine, though we know it is tied to the Edomite assault on Jerusalem described in vv. 10–14. Obadiah apparently wrote shortly after the attack. There were 4 significant invasions of Jerusalem in OT history: 1) by Shishak, king of Egypt, ca. 925 B.C. during the reign of Rehoboam (1 Kin. 14:25, 26; 2 Chr. 12); 2) by the Philistines and Arabians between 848–841 B.C. during the reign of Jehoram of Judah (2 Chr. 21:8–20); 3) by Jehoash, king of Israel, ca. 790 B.C. (2 Kin. 14; 2 Chr. 25); and 4) by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Of these 4, only the second and the fourth are possible fits with historical data. Number two is preferable, since Obadiah’s description does not indicate the total destruction of the city, which took place under Nebuchadnezzar’s attack. Also, although the Edomites were involved in Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Jerusalem (Ps. 137; Lam. 4:21), it is significant that Obadiah does not mention the Babylonians by name (as with all the other prophets who wrote about Jerusalem’s fall), nor is there any reference to the destruction of the temple or the deportation of the people; in fact, the captives appear to have been taken to the SW, not E to Babylon (cf. v. 20).2
Edom was later controlled by Assyria and Babylon; and in the fifth century B.C. the Edomites were forced by the Nabateans to leave their territory. They moved to the area of southern Israel and became known as Idumeans. Herod the Great, an Idumean, became king of Judea under Rome in 37 B.C. In a sense, the enmity between Esau and Jacob was continued in Herod’s attempt to murder Jesus. The Idumeans participated in the rebellion of Jerusalem against Rome and were defeated along with the Jews by Titus in A.D. 70. Ironically, the Edomites applauded the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. (cf. Ps. 137:7) but died trying to defend it in A.D. 70. After that time they were never heard of again.3
Obadiah Speaks of Final Judgement against EDOM
As Obadiah does speak of even a final coming judgement my guess is they are still around or at least their spirit. Perhaps that is part of the reason several nations around Israel hate them so much today. Whatever happens, we know that God is ruling Supreme. Therefore, we can face any storm with Joy, not fear.
1 The vision of Obadiah.
Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom
(We have heard a report from the Lord,
And a messenger has been sent among the nations, saying,
“Arise, and let us rise up against her for battle”):
2 “Behold, I will make you small among the nations;
You shall be greatly despised.
3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,
You who dwell in the clefts of the rock,
Whose habitation is high;
You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’
4 Though you ascend as high as the eagle,
And though you set your nest among the stars,
From there I will bring you down,” says the Lord. Obadiah (NKJV)
He goes on to enumerate all the reasons for that judgement to come including their hatred of the brothers, their failure to help, and their mockery when Israel is defeated.
15 “For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near;
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.
16 For as you drank on My holy mountain,
So shall all the nations drink continually;
Yes, they shall drink, and swallow,
And they shall be as though they had never been.
18“But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance,
And there shall be holiness; Obadiah (NKJV)
At the final judgement, we will know Joy Not Fear
For all who are written in the Lamb’s book of life, we only know joy and not fear. We will be gone, raptured home, before the tribulation. This is a time to revive Israel as a people who truly know God and embrace their Savior. Then will come the time when Jesus judges all the nations. The final judgment is a time of joy, not fear as God establishes justice and destroys evil once and for all in the power of the risen Lamb.
Sing aloud to God our strength;
Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.
2 Raise a song and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute. Psalm 81 (NKJV)
1 Living Bible (TLB) The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
2 John McArthur Study Bible, NKJV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition Copyright © 1997, 2006, 2019 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
3 IBID
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
For Prayer or Comments
If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here
Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here
PREVIOUS
How to Make the Right Choices to Honor God Always ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba (myglorytoglory.com)
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)
The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.
New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New English Translation (NET)NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Amplified Bible (AMP)Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Picture licensed from Goodsalt.com