Obadiah
Obadiah is one of the shortest books of the bible, with only 21 verses in the Old Testament. The book has a lot in it, even though it is short. The prophecy spoken by Obadiah was direct and to the point. God directs his Judgement on Edom because of their pride and mistreatment of Israel. I have provided the scriptures below found in the ESV Bible. I asked myself who Edom is. Remember the fighting that goes on all the time in Israel. Edom in Hebrew means red. Edom called Esau again, meaning red. Edomites were a very rebellious people, as you can read below in the scriptures.
[Oba 1:1-21 ESV] 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: "Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!"
God is judging Edom because they chose to attack and rob Israel. Instead of leaving her alone.
2. Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised.
Edom has been in turmoil ever since the conflict between Jacob and Esau. Jacob represents Israel and Esau represents Edom. Since this conflict, they have continued fighting between the two today.
3. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, "Who will bring me down to the ground?"
This verse shows the heart of Edom and describes very well the hearts of Edomites.
4. Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.
The Lord brought down EDOM just when they thought they were untouchable.
5. If thieves came to you, if plunderers came by night-- how you have been destroyed! -- would they not steal only enough for themselves? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings?
The very thing EDOM did to Israel and did not stop or fear the Lord. The same thing they did was now coming upon Edom.
6. How Esau has been pillaged, his treasures sought out!
The very things which Esau did were now coming upon EDOM.
7. All your allies have driven you to your border; those at peace with you have deceived you; they have prevailed against you; those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you-- you have no understanding.
Edom has lost peace and been deceived and was conquered. They had no understanding at all of what was going on.
8. Will I not on that day, declares the LORD, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau?
The wise men were destroyed and the understanding as well. This is the way it remains for Edom.
9. And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman, so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.
For the Edomites to be destroyed at that time, the Lord took away the discernment from their wise men, so they will not be able to help them. Teman was a grandson of Esau. You can find this in Genesis 36:11, Genesis 36:15, Genesis 36:40-42.
10. Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.
We read about the judgment of God over Edom again here. The Lord says two things explaining why the Edomites (EDOM) hate Israel. First, God says that shame will cover them, then we see something many people miss, God declares EDOM will be cut off FOREVER in the future.
11. On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them.
Edomites allowed the destruction of Jerusalem and forced the Jewish people to leave. Their wealth was taken, foreigners entered the gates, and they cast Lots just as they did when Jesus was crucified on the cross.
Key Sins Edom Committed see Below 12-14
12. But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress.
13. Do not enter the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; do not gloat over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not loot his wealth in the day of his calamity.
14. Do not stand at the crossroads to cut off his fugitives; do not hand over his survivors in the day of distress.
15. For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.
Edom will pay for its wickedness in the same way they made others pay, except their destruction will come from Israel.
16. For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow and shall be as though they had never been.
Edom will drink from the cup of God's judgment. God will judge the nations, where each nation will drink the "wine of judgment" made of the grapes of the nation's evil deeds. (Isaiah 51)
17. But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.
18. The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken.
Kingdom of the Lord, see 19-21
19. Those of the Negeb (South Country) shall possess Mount Esau, and those of the Shephelah (foothills) shall possess the land of the Philistines; they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
Israel will possess the land
20. The exiles of this host of the people of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the Negeb.
Part of Edom's judgment was shame. Despite all their arrogance, Edom was tricked by its allies and ruined. According to Obadiah, Edom will not only be shamed and destroyed but their territory will be occupied by the very people they hated. To the ancient Middle Eastern mindset, this adds insult to injury. Verses 19 and 20 give some details on these occupations. While the ruin of Edom occurred not long after Obadiah gave this prophecy, some aspects of this prediction will not happen until the end times.
21. Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the LORD's.
The deliverers will ascend to Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau, God will reign (future).
Obadiah 1:19–21 describes how Israel's territory will be divided during the end times. Many Old Testament prophets looked beyond the immediate judgment of God, to the day when all promises would be completely fulfilled. The book of Obadiah explains how Edom would be judged for their crimes against Israel. Historically, most of these punishments have already happened. Some results, however, will not be complete until the end times to finally end the fighting when Jesus returns to the earth. God said he would destroy Edom completely and that would no longer exist and be cut off. You can read this in verse 10 above. You can also see the Spiritual aspects where the nations that follow Edom will also be judged. I pray for the nation of Israel and that the Lord will come soon to destroy the works of a man-made culture which is full of death and deception everywhere we turn. Has the USA become an EDOM? Believers in Jesus Christ need to continue to pray the satanic strongholds will be brought down and the crooked ways made straight and the Glory of the Lord to be revealed to all nations.
May the Lord Jesus Christ be lifted and all the nations see the truth. Keep praying for the Peace of Jerusalem that she will prosper. We best be getting ready and prepared to meet Jesus (Yeshua). I say, Boi Yeshua Boi.
Come Jesus Come.