Praise the Lord! Welcome to ScriptureSource’s Scripture for the Week meditation. I believe that we all have had a wonderful week and now God has blessed us with yet another brand new week in our life. I’m sure that we all strive to live a life that is according to the standard that Christ has set before us (Matthew 7:12; 1 Corinthians 11:1;  Philippians 2:5-13; Peter 2:12, 21). Also, starting from now and hereafter, let us not hesitate to (i) love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength (Matthew 22:37; Luke 10:27a; Mark 12:30), (ii) love ourselves (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; Proverbs 19:8; Romans 12:2; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:10), (iii) love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27b), and (iv) love and care for the rest of God’s creation (Genesis 1:1-31; 2:15; Psalm 24:1; 104:1-35; 115:16; Romans 8:19-23). God is good and He is faithful, so let us try our best to live our life for His glory and for the welfare of the rest of God’s creation!

The Lord has blessed us with a challenging but thoughtful passage for this week’s Scripture for the Week meditation: 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 verse 15). This verse says that the day of the Lord is near for all nations and He will judge mankind for their actions: one will either receive rewards or face consequences based on what one’s deeds deserve (refer: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Prophet Obadiah ministered among the people of the Southern Kingdom Judah. The name Obadiah means, ‘Servant of the Lord’ or ‘Worshipper of Yahweh.’ The prophecies of Obadiah focus on several things that will take place in connection with the Day of the Lord, such as: (i) God will judge Edom for their hostility against his brother Jacob (Verse 1-9); (ii) Edom’s hatreds towards his brother Jacob and his descendants (Verse 10-14); (iii) The Day of the Lord is nearing for all nations (v.15a); (iv) The Lord God will judge all the nations according to their own deeds (Vs.15b-16); (v) the Lord will restore Israel and Judah as one nation (Verse 17-20); (vi) The Lord will establish His government on Mount Zion (v.21a); and (vii) the kingdom will be the Lord’s (v.21b). Although we can find out all the above-mentioned factors from Obadiah’s prophecy, the main messages the Lord God wanted to communicate to us from the prophecy of Obadiah are as follows: (i) God’s judgement on Edom (Verse 1-14); (ii) God’s judgement on the nations (Verse 15-16); Israel’s restoration to their native land (Verse 17-21a); and the Lord will establish His Kingdom (v.21b [Revelation 11:15]).

It is hard to identify a definite time period of Obadiah’s prophecy/ministry. No one could specifically set a date with biblical or historical evidence that would likely fit for the time period of prophet Obadiah’s ministry. Since there is no particular time period mentioned, many, including Bible scholars and historians, have come up with their own time periods based on their studies/research. Two of those widely accepted possible time-periods of prophet Obadiah’s ministry are discussed below:

(i) The Edomite attacks on Judah during the reign of king Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:1-4), and during Jehoram son of king Jehoshaphat (2 Kings 8:16-22; 2 Chronicles 21:8-10, 16-17). Many think that prophet Obadiah’s ministry was during the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah (2 Kings 8:16) or soon after Jehoram’s reign because Edom’s attack on Judah that is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 20:1-4; 21:8-10; 2 Kings 8:16-22 and prophet Obadiah’s prophecy regarding God’s judgement upon Edom (Obadiah verses 1-14) are well connected with one another. In addition to that it is understood that when the Philistines and the Arabs attacked Judah, Edom made alliance with them and rebelled against Judah (2 Chronicles 21:8-10, 16-17)

2 Chronicles 20:1-4 describes that a vast army from the alliance of the Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites were coming to attack Judah during the reign of king Jehoshaphat:

1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him (2 Chronicles 20:1-4)

2 Kings 8:16-22 states that Edom rebelled against Judah during the reign of Jehoram son of king Jehoshaphat:

16 In the fifth year of Joram son of Ahab king of Israel, when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat began his reign as king of Judah … 20 In the time of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against Judah and set up its own king. 21 So Jehoram went to Zair with all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he rose up and broke through by night; his army, however, fled back home. 22 To this day Edom has been in rebellion against Judah. Libnah revolted at the same time (2 Kings 8:16-22)

2 Chronicles 21:8-10, 16-17 also states that Edom rebelled against Judah and attacked Jehoram while the Lord brought the Philistines, the Arabs, and the Cushites against Jehoram because of his sin against the Lord, the God of Israel:

8 In the time of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against Judah and set up its own king. 9 So Jehoram went there with his officers and all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he rose up and broke through by night. 10 To this day Edom has been in rebellion against Judah … 16 The Lord aroused against Jehoram the hostility of the Philistines and of the Arabs who lived near the Cushites. 17 They attacked Judah, invaded it and carried off all the goods found in the king’s palace, together with his sons and wives. Not a son was left to him except Ahaziah, the youngest.

(ii) The Edomites attack on Judah during the three stages of Judah’s invasion by the Babylonians or prior to the invasion of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon (2 Kings 24:10-14; 2 Chronicles 36:14-21). Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded Judah in three stages: King Nebuchadnezzar and his army initially came and laid siege against Judah during the reign of Jehoiachin king of Judah – Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his wives, his attendants, his nobles and his officials all surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar who took them to Babylon as captives (2 Kings 24:10-12, 14-17) as it is stated in the Scripture:

Nebuchadnezzar carried all Jerusalem into exile: all the officers and fighting men, and all the skilled workers and artisans—a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left. 15 Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king’s mother, his wives, his officials and the prominent people of the land. 16 The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand skilled workers and artisans. 17 He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:14-17)

After the first attack on Judah, Nebuchadnezzar appointed Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:17). However, as time passed, king Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon (2 Kings 24:20b). As a result, the Babylonians marched against Judah and laid siege a second time: In the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it (2 Kings 25:1).

Again, the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem a third time and destroyed the city and the temple and took the remaining people to Babylon as captives except some of the poorest people who were deliberately left behind to work in the vineyard and fields:

8 On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, an official of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 9 He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. 10 The whole Babylonian army under the commander of the imperial guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem. 11 Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the rest of the populace and those who had deserted to the king of Babylon. 12 But the commander left behind some of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields (2 Kings 25:8-12)

One of the Psalmist also stated that Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Tear it down,” they cried, “tear it down to its foundation” (Psalm 137:7). If the Edomites attacked Judah during or prior to the Babylonian invasion of Judah, this happened during the ministry of prophet Jeremiah because prophet Jeremiah also prophesied about God’s judgement upon Edom similar to that of prophet Obadiah’s prophecy (Obadiah verse 1-14), as it is mentioned in Jeremiah 49:7-10, 14-17,

7 Concerning Edom: This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed? 8 Turn and flee, hide in deep caves, you who live in Dedan, for I will bring disaster on Esau at the time when I punish him. 9 If grape pickers came to you, would they not leave a few grapes? If thieves came during the night, would they not steal only as much as they wanted. 10 But I will strip Esau bare; I will uncover his hiding places, so that he cannot conceal himself. His armed men are destroyed, also his allies and neighbors (Jeremiah 49:7-10)

14 I have heard a message from the Lord; an envoy was sent to the nations to say, “Assemble yourselves to attack it! Rise up for battle!” 15 “Now I will make you small among the nations, despised by mankind. 16 The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the heights of the hill. Though you build your nest as high as the eagle’s, from there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord. 17 “Edom will become an object of horror; all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff because of all its wounds (Jeremiah 49:14-17)

In the light of the above discussions regarding the time-period of Obadiah’s prophecy, it could be one of the either time-periods. Since we do not have sufficient evidence to show which is the most approximate time-period of prophet Obadiah’s ministry, let us not focus on when prophet Obadiah prophesied (although it is important to know the approximate time-period), rather let us focus on the content of the prophecies of Obadiah. Obadiah’s prophecy regarding God’s judgement on Edom, in response to Edom’s attacks on Judah, will fit both of these time-periods. Prophet Obadiah’s prophecy regarding Edom’s attitude towards Judah was as follows:

10 Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever. 11 On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. 12 You should not gloat over your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble. 13 You should not march through the gates of my people in the day of their disaster, nor gloat over them in their calamity in the day of their disaster, nor seize their wealth in the day of their disaster. 14 You should not wait at the crossroads to cut down their fugitives, nor hand over their survivors in the day of their trouble (Obadiah Verses 10-14)

The inhabitants of Edom, also known as the Edomites, were the descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob (Genesis 25:22-26). Esau and Jacob had been in conflict since their birth, and their descendants were also in conflict ever since (Genesis 25:21-34; 2 Kings 8:16-22; 2 Chronicles 21:8-10). Most of Obadiah’s prophecy was intended against the Edomites because of their unkind attitude towards the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob the twin brother of Esau (Verse 1-14). According to Obadiah 1:3, the pride of the Edomites caused them to look down on the descendants of Jacob. It is written in the book of Provers that Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). The Edomites neither feared Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, nor care for the people around them, especially the descendants of Esau’s brother Jacob; rather they were proud about their own achievements and standing among the nations, which marked the beginning of their downfall and overall destruction. Due to their proud nature and unkind attitude towards the Israelites, the Lord was determined to punish the Edomites, and the Lord spoke through prophet Obadiah regarding His punishment upon the Edomites, as prophet Obadiah stated: [The Lord God Almighty said]

See, I will make you small among the nations; you will be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord (Obadiah verses 3-4 [Lamentations 4:22b])

In addition to the proud nature and unkind attitude of the Edomites, they also did a great deal of harm to the descendants of Jacob. When Judah was going through difficult times because of the enemy’s attack (2 Chronicles 20:1-4; 21:8-10, 16-17; 2 Kings 8:16-22), the Edomites also took advantage of the situation and did harm to them by plundering them and waiting on the crossroads to cut down those who were fleeing from their enemies and intended to break down Jerusalem’s foundations, as the Psalmist stated Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Tear it down,” they cried, “tear it down to its foundation” (Psalm 137:7). The Lord revealed some of the unfair deeds of the Edomites against the descendants of Esau’s brother Jacob (Verse 10-14):

• • The Lord reminded the Edomites their violence against his brother Jacob (v10a)
  • The Lord reminded the Edomites that they will be covered with shame (v.10b)
  • The Lord decreed that the Edomites will be destroyed forever (v.10c)
  • The Edomites stood aloof while enemies attacked Judah (v.11a) The Edomites did not help the people of Judah while strangers carried off their wealth (v.11b)
  • The Edomites did not stop the foreigners while they entered through Jerusalem’s gates to attack them (v.11c)
  • The Edomites did not take action against the enemy while they cast lots for Jerusalem (v.11d)
  • The Edomites also did harm to Jerusalem while the enemy attacked Jerusalem (v.11e)
  • The Edomites took great pleasure when their brother (Jerusalem) went through the days of their misfortune (v.12a)
  • The Edomites rejoiced over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction (v.12b)
  • The Edomites boasted so much in the day of Judah’s trouble (v.12c)
  • The Lord God warned the Edomites not to march through the gates of Jerusalem in the day of their disaster (v.13a)
  • The Lord God warned the Edomites not to gloat over the people of Judah while calamity strikes them (v.13b)
  • The Lord God warned the Edomites not to rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their disaster (v.13c)
  • The Lord God warned the Edomites not to seize the wealth of Judah when they are in a helpless situation (v.13d)
  • The Lord God warned the Edomites not to wait at the crossroads to cut down the fugitives of Judah (v.14a)
  • The Lord God warned the Edomites not to hand over the survivors of Judah in the day of their trouble (v.14b)

Prophet Obadiah prophesied that the day of the Lord is near for all nations, which is one of the prophecies that we need to heed (take as warning) in all of prophet Obadiah prophecies, for he prophesied that: 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 verse 15). On the Day of the Lord, which is also referred to us as the Day of Judgement – the Lord will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14). On that day, the righteous will receive reward for their good works and the unrighteous will receive punishment as the consequence for their evil deeds. The impact of day of the Lord on humanity, particularly on Christians, has consequential significance because that is the day the Lord God will bring every deed into judgment, whether it is good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14). The Scripture, both the Old Testament and the New Testament, speaks a lot about the Day of the Lord, which will bring tears of joy and happiness for some, but for some tears of pain/agony and suffering (Joel 2:1b; Amos 5:18; Zechariah 14:1; Zephaniah 1:14-16; 2:2b; Matthew 10:26; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10-12). As the followers of Christ Jesus (the Church), we need to take the day of the Lord factor very seriously and prepare ourselves to face the Day of the Lord. Apostle Peter noted that:

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment (2 Peter 2:4-9)

The tricky part for us who live in the present age is that no one knows when the day of the Lord will come, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Matthew 24:36; 25:13; Mark 13:32). Another factor is that the Lord God Almighty Himself would be the in charge of the pre-planned series of events that would take place on the day of the Lord. Therefore, it is important for us to prepare ourselves for the day of the Lord. Let us examine the details regarding the day of the Lord for all the nations as well as for the chosen people of God of all times from the prophetic utterance of prophet Obadiah (v.15):

• • The Lord wanted Edom to know that the day of the Lord is near (v.15a)
  • The Lord wanted the nations of the world know that the day of the Lord is near (v.15b)
  • The Lord wanted every human being to know that as they have done, it will be done to them (v.15c)
  • The Lord wanted everyone to know that they are responsible for their deeds – good or evil (v.15d)
  • The Lord wanted everyone to know that the consequence of one’s actions will return upon their own head (v.15e)
  • Above all else, the Lord wanted us, the body of Christ – that is the Church, to know that the day of the Lord is near (v.15f)

In the light of our meditation on Obadiah verse 15, we need to make our life right with God and everyone else with whom we associate – we need to love the Lord God Almighty and obey His commandments, love one another and do good to each other, encourage one another in the Lord Jesus Christ, and prepare ourselves and prepare others for the day of the Lord. The writer of Hebrews states that:

22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:22-25)

We had a wonderful meditation from the book of Obadiah based on verse 15. Although, the Israelites (His chosen people) did evil in the sight of the Lord, He punished them for their sin against Him, some times very severely. When they repented and returned to Him, He reconciled Himself to them and made them right with Him. However, He punished their enemies whom the Lord raised to punish them for their sins against Him, when they harmed with the intention of destroying them. Edom was one among such enemy nations. God pronounced His judgement upon the Edomites through His prophet Obadiah. God’s judgement upon Edom for their pride and unkind attitude towards others, especially to their relative Israelites, is a lesson for us to examine our attitude towards God and others.

• • It is an invitation for us to submit to the authority of God over our life
  • It is an invitation for us to place our confidence in the Lord God rather than living our life focused on our achievements, social status, wealth, or anything as such
  • It is an invitation for us trust in the Lord God rather than on our own abilities
  • It is an invitation for us to place our hope in the Lord rather than worldly things
  • It is an invitation for us to live our life not for our personal benefit, but rather to fulfill God’s purpose in and through our life
  • It is an invitation for us to love and honor the Lord God, and love others as ourselves, and care for the rest of God’s creation
  • It is an invitation for us not to take part in the destructive actions of this world, but rather be actively involved in the restoration ministry to which God has called us for

Dear friends, as the followers of Jesus Christ, let us not become like the people who cause pain to others even if they harm us very badly. Let us learn from the example of the Edomites and live a life worthy of our calling. Let us be wise enough to live a life according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and Biblical teachings. May the Lord God Almighty bless us all! Amen!