(REFLECTIONS ON Obadiah 1:1-21)

The vision of Obadiah concerning Edom. Who is Edom? The nation of Edom is the descendants of Esau. Esau was the older twin brother of Jacob, who later became Israel, father of the Israelites.

Esau was deceived by his brother Jacob of his blessing and birthright, and even before birth they were two nations wrestling in their mother’s womb, with Jacob grabbing the heal of his brother when he was being born.

This conflict continued throughout history even beyond Esau and Jacob as Edom and Israel were neighbors in the Promised Land. Edom was arrogant in heart, and so the judgment of the Lord came by Obadiah to them.

3 “The arrogance of your heart has deceived you,
You who live in the clefts of the rock,
In the loftiness of your dwelling place,
Who say in your heart,
‘Who will bring me down to earth?‘
4 “Though you build high like the eagle,
Though you set your nest among the stars,
From there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord.

Edom says in their heart, “Who will bring me down to earth?” It is the Lord that declares, “From there I will bring you down.”

10 “Because of violence to your brother Jacob,
You will be covered with shame,
And you will be cut off forever.
11 “On the day that you stood aloof,
On the day that strangers carried off his wealth,
And foreigners entered his gate
And cast lost for Jerusalem—
You too were as one of them.
12 “Do not gloat over your brother’s day,
The day of his misfortune.
And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah
In the day of their destruction;
Yes, do not boast
In the day of their distress.

When Israel suffered, Edom did not help, gloated over Israel’s demise, and took advantage of them while they were down. Yet, the Lord reminds all those that oppose Him and His will that He is the Lord.

Jacob (Israel) may be down because of their sin against the Lord, but this isn’t because Edom or the other nations are greater, but rather it is the Lord’s discipline so that Israel will come back to Him.

This is a reminder that we also should not look down on others, gloat or boast in their suffering or demise, or take advantage of those that are for the moment weaker.

15 ” For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations.
As you have done, it will be done to you.
Your dealings will return on your own head.

21 The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion
To judge the mountain of Esau,
And the kingdom will be the Lord’s.

In the end every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. Let us remember who we are, but more importantly, who the Lord is. Yes, our identity as Christians, because of Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit, is as His people. He is Lord over our lives, and over all creation.

Let us learn today to bow our knee, and not wait until the day of the Lord when all will learn with the mighty hand of God that every knee will bow. There is mercy and grace when we bow our knee, so let us no longer rebel as the nations do. Let us be first to bow the knee and experience the love of our Lord, because in the end every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Obadiah 1