Introduction
Obadiah is the fourth book associated with the twelve minor prophets in the Bible. The name Obadiah denotes ‘the worshipper of Yahweh’ while it also serves as a counterpoint to Edom’s judgment. Prophet Obadiah stayed in Betheran and was a steward linked to King Ahab. During Ahab’s reign, the Israelites abandoned God and worshipped gods like Baal. Nevertheless, Obadiah was faithful and served God with humility. He depicts a true pillar of faith and is the most considerate when studying exilic prophets (StrzaLkowska, 2021). The purpose of the essay is to investigate Obadiah’s background, the book’s theme, the core argument, lessons learned, and even the book’s relevance in the modern world.
Author of the Book
The book of Obadiah is the shortest in the Bible as it encompasses just one chapter. The chapter significantly revolves around the prophecy of destruction towards Edom. Obadiah got written in 587 B.C.E after the destruction of Jerusalem, with prophet Obadiah being the author. It got written at a period when Edomites had forsaken God and did not heed to God’s messengers like prophets. Conversely, Obadiah still delivers God’s judgment and message of destruction against Edom despite serving as an enslaved individual. The book, therefore, delves into the linkage between Israel and Edom (current-day Negeb) (Collins, 2018). The journey from Egypt entailed going through Edom before finally settling in Cannan.
Background of the Prophet
Obadiah is stated to be a descendant of Eliphaz, one of Job’s friends. He got chosen to prophesy against Edom, which was cruel to God’s people. Initially, Obadiah’s prophesy faced challenges due to Jezebel’s persecution, and during this period, Obadiah had to hide in the caves (Collins, 2018). While Obadiah was rich, he typically used wealth to feed the poor prophets, ensuring that they remained in good health as they served God and society. Obadiah was, therefore, unique as he always obeyed God, and his faith can be likened to that of Abraham. (Goldingay, 2021) asserts that numerous Eastern churches view Obadiah as a saint. For instance, the orthodox churches celebrate the Coptic month linked to Obadiah. The book has 21 verses, with the first 18 occurring in a lyrical version while the other three are in prose form. Nevertheless, Obadiah was a renowned author that utilized stylistic devices, including parallelism, imagery, repetition, rhetorical questions, and irony.
Purpose and Theme
Hostility and conflict emerge as the core yet recurrent themes in the Bible. Focusing on Obadiah, the prophet illustrates the emergence and thriving of malice, hatred, hostility, and bitterness between Jacob and Esau. These were brothers; the former is linked to Israel, and the latter Edom. Notably, Jacob attained his father’s blessings through deception, and consequently, the Israelites ended up suffering in Egypt and during their escape to the promised land in the wilderness (ESV Study Bible, 2008). Obadiah, therefore, delves into generational vengeance, bitterness, unforgiveness, and anger. The prophet emerges as God’s messenger and delivers the prophecy of God’s wrath against Edom. Unlike conventional prophets, Obadiah does not give Edom a turn-or-burn notice. Instead, he recounts the destruction of Edom, which is perceived to be self-inflicted through its aggression toward Israel (Swindoll, 2022). Verse two to nine describe the destruction, while Edom’s sins are described in verses ten to fourteen. Overall, deuteroministic theology is prevalent in the book, whereby the reader grasps that God’s judgment can apply even to siblings.
Argument
According to contemporary scholars, Obadiah’s vision is associated with eschatology’s fulfillment. The eschatological and earthly context of the book ensures that Obadiah plays an active role in God’s wrath over the enemies of His people (Collins, 2018). Obadiah is unique as his works revolve around the relationship between God and humanity. Through him, God reminds the Edomites of the cruel treatment they made the Israelites pass through, and therefore punishment was inevitable (Hassler, 2016). Edom would pay for its pride. Besides, Obadiah prophesies that Jews would end up possessing the promised land encompassing Edom, Samaria, Philistia, and Ephraim. Therefore, Obadiah’s role is to redeem God’s promise and face among His people.
Lessons
Most prophetic books are difficult to interpret. Still, most of the prophetic books are linked to an impending judgment. The overarching theme in Obadiah is that pride comes before a fall and that when people oppose God’s word, they attract judgment and destruction instead of restoration. Edom was proud and viewed itself as strong enough to mock, steal from and even harm the Israelites. However, the Lord is powerful and strived to avenge His people (Alewine, 2022). The implication is that in the same way pride deceived Edomites, people in the modern day should be weary not to be deceived by pride. Having humility before God amidst varying challenges ensures that one receives His blessings.
Another lesson learnt is that God alone has the right and authority to choose whoever He wishes for His purpose. Through Obadiah, the reader understands that God can bring a nation in whichever way He pleases. He chose Israel through Jacob despite Jacob being the youngest son of Isaac. This way, Jesus becomes a descendant of Jacob, and He is the Messiah of the world. It is clear that Edom’s pride, jealousy, and hatred are linked to the unwillingness to accept God’s choices. The arrogance, jealousy, and hatred got passed from one generation to another until God’s judgment in Edom got passed by Obadiah (Alewine, 2022).
The final lesson is that God’s judgment is greater than physical might or even mental intelligence. The Edomites thought they were intelligent and possessed physical might due to their militaristic resources and strategic location (StrzaLkowska, 2021). If though they had overcome other armies of the day, they forgot that God was the overall authority. His judgment would get fulfilled whatsoever, and their advantages could not save them. In the modern world, individuals try to outsmart God and trust their intelligence or even physical strength. The implication is that individuals should not perceive God’s silence as a weakness, especially when they are sinning. Instead, they should remain humble and be grateful that God offers them time for introspection and repenting. Besides, people should not rejoice when enemies fall, as this does not please God. It means that if one does not forgive their enemies, God will not forgive, but being merciful to others translates to God being generous and merciful by an equal measure.
Reflection of the Book
The themes of devastation and conflict are prevalent in Obadiah. While they may foster a gloomy tone for the reader, they ensure that the reader enjoys vast amounts of knowledge that resonate even in the 21st century. An epitome is that God has the power to protect and restore His people. The Edomites knew that the Israelites were struggling and did not strive to offer any help. Nevertheless, God uniquely restored Judah while Edom got destroyed. In the contemporary world, Christians can, at times, feel like they are deep into sin and that they are unable to make any amends. Conversely, God can restore them as He did for the Israelites. Moreover, sin always has repercussions. The Bible asserts that the wage of sin is death. The implication is that people should strive to be humble and not be self-serving. Pride has been a facet of human nature, contributing to Adam’s fall in Eden. The book of Obadiah reminds modern Christians to always be under God’s authority, and they should strive to subject their wishes or desires to His purpose.
Conclusion
The paper aimed to investigate the book of Obadiah regarding the background, argument, themes, lessons, and even implications in the modern world. It is evident that the book revolves around pride and how it can attract God’s wrath. Christians in modern times should be wary about living in a proud or self-serving manner. Instead, they should live in humility while respecting God and others.
Bibliography
Alewine, Sheila. “5 Powerful Lessons from the Little Book of Obadiah – Topical Studies.” Biblestudytools.com, 16 Feb. 2022, www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/powerful-lessons-from-the-little-book-of-obadiah.html.
Collins , John J. “Introduction to the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible).” Introduction to the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) | Open Yale Courses, 2018, oyc.yale.edu/religious-studies/rlst-145
ESV Study Bible. “ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version.” ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version, Crossway Bibles, 1 Jan. 2008, annas-archive.org/md5/7514c69ca94e8c351a8822db28e080b2
Goldingay, John. Hosea-Micah (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Prophetic Books). Baker Academic, 2021.https://www.pcabookstore.com/samples/15195.pdf
Hassler, Mark A. “The Setting Of Obadiah: When Does The Oracle Concerning Edom Transpire?.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 59.2 (2016): 241. https://www.academia.edu/download/46743743/Setting_of_Obadiah_JETS_2016_Hassler.pdf
https://metropolitantabernacle.org/sermons-online/portrait-of-the-prophets-2-the-earliest-writer
StrzaŁkowska, Barbara. “The Book of Obadiah in the Septuagint.” Collectanea Theologica 91.5 (2021): 63-116. https://bibliotekanauki.pl/articles/2029025.pdf
Swindoll, Chuck. “Obadiah.” Book of Obadiah Overview – Insight for Living Ministries, 2022, https://insight.org/resources/bible/the-minor-prophets/obadia
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