Obadiah

God grants special protection to those in the family of Abraham, until they rebel

In 2 Chronicles 19-23, we read about war with Ammon and Moab (descendants of Lot, east of the Jordan) and Mount Seir (or Edom, the descendants of Esau). You’ll remember God seemed to give protection to the family of Abraham, even if they were rebellious, that He did not give to other nations. When King Jehoshaphat of Judah prays to God about this invasion, he reminds Him, “Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them), see how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance” (2 Chronicles 20:10-11). Because Jehoshaphat beseeches the Lord regarding this battle, God gives Israel victory.

Despite this and other beautiful acts of faith, Jehoshaphat foolishly allied himself with the house of Ahab, the evil king of Israel. “Then Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son became king in his place….Now when Jehoram had taken over the kingdom of his father and made himself secure, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and some of the rulers of Israel also. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab did (for Ahab’s daughter was his wife), and he did evil in the sight of the LORD. Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David because of the covenant which He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and his sons forever. In his days Edom revolted against the rule of Judah and set up a king over themselves. Then Jehoram crossed over with his commanders and all his chariots with him. And he arose by night and struck down the Edomites who were surrounding him and the commanders of the chariots. So Edom revolted against Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time against his rule, because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers” (2 Chronicles 21:1,4-10).

This gives context to today’s reading about Edom, descendants of Esau, to whom God had given special protection, who then revolted against Judah, descendants of David.

Obadiah 1 (full text on Day 182)

The vision of Obadiah.
Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom— 

“The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, 

Because of violence to your brother Jacob,
You will be covered with shame,
And you will be cut off forever.

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;

Do not stand at the fork of the road
To cut down their fugitives;
And do not imprison their survivors
In the day of their distress.
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.

But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape,
And it will be holy.
And the house of Jacob will possess their possessions.
Then the house of Jacob will be a fire
And the house of Joseph a flame;
But the house of Esau will be as stubble.
And they will set them on fire and consume them, 
So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau,”
For the LORD has spoken.

The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion
To judge the mountain of Esau,
And the kingdom will be the LORD’S.