[:en]SCRIPTURE: OBADIAH
INTRODUCTION:
The name “Obadiah” means “servant of Jehovah”. It is a short book of prophecy against the nation of Edom. The ancestor of Edom was Esau. who had an ancient conflict with his brother Jacob. When the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem, the Edomites helped the enemy and rejoiced over their fall. God promised judgment against them and prophesized that their kingdom would be destroyed.
“You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah nor boast so much in the day of their trouble. You should not march through the gates of my people in the day of their disaster, nor look down on them in their calamity in the day of their disaster, nor seize their wealth in the day of their disaster. You should not wait at the crossroads to cut down their fugitives, nor hand over their survivors in the day of their trouble” (Obadiah vs. 12-14)
“The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. your deeds will return upon your own head” (Obadiah vs. 15)
SINS OF EDOM:
- Pride (v. 3)
- Violence (v. 10)
- Indifference (v. 11)
- Rejoice over the destruction of the Jews (vs. 12)
- Looting (v. 13)
- Cutting down fugitives and handover the survivors of Israel.
God warned that “as you have done, it will be done to you” Your deeds will return upon your own head” (v., 15). One day, Israel will be delivered and possess its inheritance. The horns of Jacob and Joseph will be a fire and flame to burn and consume Esau and Esau will have no survivor.
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