E-Message Bible/Commentary

Punishment For Your Enemies

Has anyone ever mistreated or taken advantage of you? Has a friend or family member ever turned on you and treated you unjustly? Instead of getting angry with these people, pray that God will spare them from His wrath. Pray that God will have mercy on them. For it is written that God Himself will take care of such injustices.  God promised to bless His people and protect them in the first book of the Bible (Genesis 12:1-3). This promise is affirmed in the Book of Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament with only 21 verses.

The Book of Obadiah tells about the longstanding feud between the twin brothers, Jacob and Esau. Esau's descendants, the Edomites, stood by, cheered and gloated when Judah was captured by the Babylonians.  The Edomites looted Judah's possessions in the aftermath. They even captured some of Jacob's descendants who tried to escape and handed them over to the enemies.

God wasn't pleased with the way these family members treated other family members. Therefore, He punished the Edomites by making them small and despised among the other nations. He promised the Edomites, "As you have done, it will be done to you, your deeds will return upon your own head." (Obadiah 15b)  God brought them from their high and mighty position and elevated the descendants of Jacob to reign supreme.

A Strong Message of Judgment
For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; as you have done, it shall be done to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head. (Obadiah 15)

What is unique about Obadiah? Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament (only 21 verses), but it carries one of the strongest messages of judgment in the Old Testament. The major theme of Obadiah is judgment upon Edom because of arrogance and cruelty to God's chosen people. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau and bitter enemies of the people of Israel. God warned the Edomites about their behavior toward His chosen people. Since they continued in their contempt toward Israel, God promised that He would bring destruction upon Edom, and there would be no remnant left of that nation. He would not acknowledge their pleas. He would offer no words of consolation, comfort or hope. God had sealed Edom's fate and there was no possible deliverance.
 
Why was God so angry with Edom? God was angry with Edom and promised wrath against Edom mainly because of its arrogance. Edom gloated over the destruction of Jerusalem and even took part in destroying it. Ideally, Edom should have been allies with Israel; instead Edom was Israel's worst enemy.

Life Application: God wants us to be allies with those who are doing the work of the Lord. He is not pleased when we seek to destroy God's servants or gloat over their downfall. We, too, will be judged by the way we treat God's representatives. God promised to protect His special people against any who would try to do them harm. "I will bless them that bless you, and I will curse them who curse you" (Genesis 12:3).

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