Welcome to the fifth and final installment of the Obadiah study.
v17 - The fugitives will return to Mount Zion and there will be holiness. The household of Jacob will possess Edom's possessions.
In contrast to the destruction it will bring on the enemies of God's people, Judgment Day brings restoration for Israel. Those who were once looted now come into possession of Edom's possessions, reversing the fortunes and another example of God's justice allowing punishment to fit the crime.
v18 - And the household of Jacob will be a fire - the household of Joseph a flame, and the household of Esau will be straw. And they will burn through and devour them, leaving no survivors from the household of Esau, because Yahweh has spoken.
The idea of fire/flame here represents divine judgment. Fire is often used this way in Scripture, both as a purifying agent and a destroying agent. Here the divine judgment is exercised by God's people.
Edom, who cut down Israel's survivors, will be left with no survivors of their own. Again, the punishment fits the crime.
And, lest someone think that these actions are Israel's idea of revenge, Obadiah notes that this is all to happen according to the Word of the Lord. What the Lord declares is sure to happen.
v19 - And they of the south will possess the hills of Esau, and those of the plain will possess the land of the Philistines. They shall possess the fields of Ephraim and fields of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
v20 - The army of the exiles of the children of Israel will claim Canaanite land as far as Zarepath, and the exiles of Jerusalem in Sepharad will take possession of the cities of the south.
Edom's territories will be possessed by Israel. Samaria, which is to the north of Israel, was taken by Israel partially in 153 BC and fully in 106 BC. Gilead was taken by Israel in 164 BC. So in part, these prophecies have already seen fulfillment. Yet not in their entirety at this moment. Total fulfillment will not happen until the Day of Judgment, when God will sort out everything according to His promised Word.
The reference to "exiles" here further underscores dating this book at the time of the captivity to Babylon.
v21 - And the deliverers will go up to Mount Zion to rule the hills of Esau, and the kingdom will belong to Yahweh.
Jerusalem, recently destroyed in Obadiah's time, will be rebuilt and become a place where the nations will be judged.
Deliverers here carries the idea of future salvation - the Messiah. From Jerusalem, the Messiah will judge Edom - here representing all the nations who opposed God.
Yet the book reminds us that Israel is not really the one in charge, either. God Himself is the ultimate ruler of this future kingdom, ruling Israel and all the nations. Thus Obadiah looks forward to a day in our future, and reminds us that a time will come when all the wrongs of this life will be made right.
This concludes the Obadiah study. Hopefully within the next couple weeks all 5 parts will be united in one document on my website, possibly with some small group materials and/or sermon outlines.
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