Obadiah – A Vision of Justice
I once asked an older pastor, “What book is your least favorite to preach from?” He quickly replied, “Obadiah. It’s so short—and who cares about Edom? The gospel is not in Obadiah!”
“Seriously?” I responded. “Imagine, for a moment, that the life you have known has been forever shattered. Your home is destroyed; the city lies in ruins. The beautiful temple—the pride of the nation—has been reduced to rubble. Your friends and relatives have either fled to Egypt or been carried into captivity by a foreign power. The less fortunate lie dead in the streets.”
The emotions that would run through anyone range from rage to hatred and questioning God. Yet foremost in the mind would be the desire for justice—to see those who acted unjustly brought to
account. That’s exactly how the people of Jerusalem felt after the Babylonians left in 586 BCE, following their third and final conquest of the city. Certainly, they wanted revenge against Babylon, but their hearts burned even more for justice against the Edomites.
The Edomites were distant relatives—descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother. Yet instead of helping their kin, they assisted Babylon in destroying the temple, looting the land’s goods, and delivering fugitives into captivity.
In many ways, we can relate to how those survivors in Jerusalem felt. We, too, have been betrayed by friends or family. We’ve seen injustice—sometimes against ourselves, sometimes against others—and cried out, “Why does this continue? Where is God?” Like those who gathered on the Temple Mount, we often want to take matters into our own hands, to repay wrong with wrong, believing that revenge might somehow set things right.
But Obadiah begins his short prophecy with these words: “We have heard a report from the LORD, and a messenger has been sent among the nations, saying, ‘Arise, and let us rise up against her for battle’” (Obadiah 1:1).
From the very first verse, it is clear—this message is directed against Edom. In verses 3–9, God declares Edom’s downfall. Yet the message to Judah is also clear: do not take revenge. The Lord Himself has sent forth the nations to bring justice.
In other words, God says, “Yes, I know injustice has been done to you” (see verses 10–16). “But vengeance is not yours to take. If you act on it, you’ll only perpetuate injustice. Stand still and see how I
will work. The battle is not yours—it’s Mine.”
The first sixteen verses of Obadiah describe the consequences for those who commit injustice. The final five contrast the destiny of those who patiently wait on God’s justice with those who refuse to do so.
James, the New Testament writer, captures the same principle:
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit,’ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ … Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:13–17)
Obadiah reminds us to wait on the Lord—to trust that He will bring true justice in His perfect time and way. My pastor friend was wrong: Obadiah is far from insignificant. It is rich in teaching us patience, humility, and faith in God’s justice.
So don’t take the law into your own hands. Stand firm in faith. God sees. God knows. God will make things right.
Pastor Lester Bentley