It is bad enough to do something wrong, to make a big mistake in front of many people. It is worse to be laughed at or ridiculed by the others. It is worse still when there is a streak of meanness in the laughter and ridicule, when those watching hope you never recover from your error. Unfortunately, this sort of thing is played out in homes, schools, and businesses all around the world every day. That is the very reason Obadiah wrote this book.
The Edomites, Judah’s neighbors to the south, were reveling in the troubles Judah was going through. Judah had made a terrible mistake. They had abandoned God. Now the army of Babylon had marched into their land and captured them as God’s judgment for their sins. Edom thought this was just great. The Edomites were descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob, from whom the nations of Israel and Judah descended. Edom and Judah had never gotten along well, even though they were neighbors.
When the armies of Babylon attacked Judah, the Edomites encouraged Babylon, not Judah. They cheered at the fall of Jerusalem, and even captured and turned over Judeans to Babylon. And after the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem, the Edomites went into the city and helped themselves to what remained. The message of Obadiah is that the Edomites would not get away with ridiculing and persecuting God’s people.
We must be careful that we do not follow the path of the Edomites, cheering when God’s people falter or fail, hoping for the downfall or destruction of those who claim his name. We must be careful not to plunder or profit from our brothers and sisters. Edom did these things, and it is no more. All that remains is their empty city, Petra, now merely a tourist attraction.
If you are a believer, one of God’s people, what can you take away from this short book of prophecies against Edom? Certainly comfort and confidence that God is in control and that he is loving and loyal to those who are his. Ultimately, justice will prevail. Attacks on God's people do not go unnoticed.
But reading this book can also help us reflect on how we treat God’s people. Are we quick to criticize when something doesn’t go our way? Do we shoot arrows of blame at other believers, damaging their feeling or causing them to stumble in their walk with God? Do we take fellow Christians to court in order to get our own way? Do we secretly cheer when another Christian whom we don’t like runs into adversity?
Are these attacks on God’s people any different from what the Edomites were doing? The words of Obadiah have an application for us, too. All believers are special to God. We must treat them with the same love and loyalty with which God treats us. May the book of Obadiah help us renew our commitment to God’s people in whatever place or circumstance we find them. (Touch Point Bible)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us be better Christians! Help us be compassionate, loving, and loyal-to-one-another Christians. For we will always reap what we sow. And, Lord, thank you for giving us another opportunity to study another one of your books. Help us embrace all of its teaching. Lord, we love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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