Shalom 🙏
Blessed to be a Blessing to the Blessed People 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦

📖 The Book of Obadiah 📖

Reap what you have sown 🌾

📝 “As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head” (v 15)

OBADIAH is the shortest book in OT. Nothing is told about his father’s name and the place of his birth.

📌 What can a prophet say in just one chapter when other prophets writes at great length ? The length of prophecy is not a criterion for its validity. All prophetic books irrespective of length are God’s Word and should be heard and read in truth and in spirit

📌 It is said that a good preacher is the one who knows the congregations. Know your congregations; their spiritual condition and feed them accordingly. Proverbs 27:23 – “Be sure to know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds”.

📌 Obadiah knew his recipient (Edomites and Judah). While speaking on the Day of the Lord Obadiah writes, “As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own heads” (v 15)

📝 Obadiah begins with the name of the Sovereign Lord (v 1). He deals with Edom’s atrocities against Judah his brother:

1️⃣ HE WARN THE EDOMITES ABOUT THE COMING JUDGEMENT (v 2,8-9,15-16)
2️⃣ HE EXPOSED EDOM’S SIN (v 3-4): PRIDE – A Tamil proverb Azhivukku munnaanatu akanthai which in English states Pride goes before a fall has its origin in the Bible (Prov 16:18)
They are proud of their:
✔ Location: naturally secured and protected (v 3,4)
✔ Wealth and Richess (v 6)
✔ Wisdom (v 8)
✔ Great army (v 9)
🎯 Edomites says Who can bring me down? v 3b

3️⃣ RELATE THE HISTORY: v 10. Obadiah refers the long history of conflict between Jacob and Esau:
✔️ Enmity between the two brothers
✔️ Their peace and understanding
✔️ But hostilities resumed when Edom blocked the road for Israelites to pass on to Canaan
📌 But Israelites regard them as relatives (Deut 23:7; Amos 1:11-12)
📌 Now Edom is reminded about the violence they have done against Jacob and the consequences they would received (v 10)

4️⃣ EDOM’S SERIES OF ATROCITIES AGAINST JUDAH.
Edom did not act like brother at the time of destruction of Judah by the Babylonian:
✔ They stood aloof (v 11)
✔ They looked down on Judah (v 12a, 13b)
✔ They rejoice at Judah’s destruction (v 12b)
✔ They boast (v 12c)
✔They seize their wealth (v 13b)
✔ They killed the fugitives (v 14)

5️⃣ THE DAY OF THE LORD (v 15-21)
A) Judgement will fall not only on Edom but all the nations who rebelled against God (15-18).
🎯 The Lord said, “as you have done, it will be done to you; Your deeds will return upon your own head (v 15)
🎯 “..there will be no survivors from the house of Edom” (v18)

B) Establishment of God’s Kingdom (v 19-21)
..and the kingdom will be the Lord’s (v 21)

💞 Beloved Church, we are reminded with this short but a powerful message that our God is just and He will judge the nations.
Never rejoice at the fall of others.
But rejoice that He has prepared a kingdom for his people 🙌

Glory to God 🙏
✍🏽 Mark Boje, ArP 🇮🇳