Obadiah speaks not only of judgment on Edom but also of the “day of the Lord” (Obad. 15), which will bring judgment on all nations (Obad. 16) and deliverance for God’s people (Obad. 17). At first glance, it sounds as if these will take place at the same time. However, the biblical prophets regularly collapse together God’s acts of judgment and salvation, much like one takes an extended telescope and shortens it into a compact unit. This manner of speaking is often referred to as “prophetic foreshortening” or “telescoping,” and being aware of this technique can help the reader avoid confusion.

The prophecy of Obadiah can be easily overlooked since it is the shortest book in the Old Testament and tucked away among the Minor Prophets, which is unfamiliar territory to many Bible readers. The basic facts about the book of Obadiah can be learned quickly since it takes only a minute or two to read it.

The prophet proclaims the Lord’s judgment against the nation of Edom (Obad. 1–4, 8–10), a small country but one that lived with a sense of ease and security that had developed into boastful pride (Obad. 3, 12). The reasons for such confidence were twofold: It was a mountainous country that, from a human perspective, would have been easily defensible (Obad. 3–4). Moreover, Edom (often referred to by its chief city, Teman) had a reputation for possessing great human wisdom (Obad. 8–9; see also Jer. 49:7). In other words, Edom had all the strategic advantages that allowed its inhabitants to live securely. Yet the Lord proclaims that judgment will come upon the Edomites not only for failing to assist the Judeans when the Babylonians attacked them (culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile in 587/586 BC), but even more for providing active assistance to the invaders by capturing escaping Judeans and handing them over (Obad. 11–14; Ps. 137:8–9; Ezek. 25:12; 35:5). Along with these oracles of judgment, the Lord also promises that His people will be delivered and rise again through His kingly power (Obad. 17–21).

Understanding the following three things about the book of Obadiah can help us grasp its message more fully.

1. The prophecy of Obadiah displays the outworking of the Lord’s sovereign decree to Isaac concerning his sons Jacob and Esau that “the older will serve the younger” (Gen. 25:23).

The nations of Edom and Judea were descended from Esau and Jacob (Gen. 36:1–43; 49:1–28).

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