The vision of Obadiah.  Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!” 

Obadiah 1-2

“The vision of Obadiah” (1a) “serves as a title to the book,” according to commentator Homer Hailey.  Regardless of whether the ancient Israelites actually titled the book as “The Vision of Obadiah,” it is clear that the prophet’s message from the Lord to the country of Edom came to him by means as a vision.

The “we” in “We have heard a report from the Lord” (1b) could refer to the country of Israel as a whole, or Obadiah could be referring to himself and his fellow prophets having received a report from above concerning Edom.  The “messenger” (ṣîr in Hebrew) in “A messenger has been sent among the nations” (1c) points to the concept of an envoy or ambassador (cf. Jer. 49:14; Prov. 13:17; 25:13; Is. 18:2; 57:9) going among the nations with the battle cry to fight against Edom (“Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!” – 1d).  It is possible that the “messenger” in question is meant literally, in that God might have literally sent a prophet or prophets among the nations as envoys on his behalf to stir them up against Edom.  However, I believe it more likely that Obadiah is referring in a figurative sense to God working providentially among the nations of the world to fight against Edom.

To illustrate, consider that the prophet Habakkuk spoke of God “raising up the Chaldeans” to fight against Judah (Hab. 1:6).  “The Chaldeans” is another name for Babylon, a pagan and polytheistic empire who clearly did not know the one, true God (Dan. 2:46-47; 3:15-29; 4:28-37) and thus would likely have not heeded actual messengers from God.  However, the providence of God works in the affairs of men in such a way so that his will is carried out by unsuspecting man.  God worked in the affairs between the Jews and the Chaldeans to bring about his will of using the Chaldeans to punish the Jews for their apostasy.  In all likelihood, Obadiah is referring to a similar working of God by referring to “a messenger (being) sent among the nations” with a rally to fight against Edom.

The prophet warns Edom that the Lord “will make you small among the nations” and that Edom “shall be utterly despised” (2).  This would be a fate worse than death for a nation as prideful as Edom (3a) who erroneously thought that no one could bring them down (3c).  They “live(d) in the clefts of the rock, in (their) lofty dwelling” (3b).  Commentator Kyle Yates wrote about one of Edom’s cities, Petra:  “With massive cliffs more than seven hundred feet high sheltering a narrow ravine a mile in length, the city was able to repel any invasion.”  Hailey wrote that Edom “lay south of the Dead Sea in a rugged region known as the Arabah.  The mountainous area on either side of the Arabah was noted for its steep canyons, impregnable mountain strongholds, and well-protected coves.”  Living in such a place which would be a tall order for any invading army to overcome, the Edomites were arrogantly overcome with false security.

Yet God would make it happen.  “Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord” (4).  Daniel informed the Babylonian king that “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will” (Dan. 4:25).  Paul told the Athenians that God has “determined allotted periods and the boundaries of (the) dwelling place” of “every nation of mankind” (Acts 17:26).  The purpose God has for each nation is “that they should seek God” (Acts 17:27a), which is the purpose of us all (Eccl. 12:13).  God had determined that Edom’s time to be overthrown had come, and all of the impregnable mountain fortresses in the world would not do a thing to stop it.

We live in the most powerful and blessed nation in the world today, but what was true of Edom is true of us and every other nation too.  Obadiah’s message is well worth remembering.

— Jon