The Fall of Pride and the Rise of God’s Kingdom
- Be God's Glory
- Sep 28
- 8 min read
Welcome to Day 271 of The Glory Team Bible Reading Plan.
The Book of Obadiah, the shortest in the Old Testament with just 21 verses, delivers a sharp message of God’s justice. It pronounces judgment on Edom, the descendants of Esau, for their arrogance, violence, and betrayal against their brother nation, Israel (descendants of Jacob). Through vivid imagery, Obadiah declares that pride leads to downfall and that no earthly stronghold can protect the wicked from God’s judgment. At the same time, the book offers hope to God’s people, assuring them that the Lord will restore Zion and establish His kingdom over all nations. Despite its brevity, this prophetic vision reveals timeless truths about God’s justice, the dangers of pride, and the ultimate triumph of His kingdom.
Obadiah
The chapter opens with Obadiah’s vision from the Lord concerning Edom. God declares that He has called the nations to rise against Edom in battle, and their prideful security in the mountains will not protect them. Edom is condemned for relying on its alliances, wisdom, and hidden treasures, which will all fail them when God brings them down. Their greatest sin is revealed in verses 10–14: standing aloof, gloating, and even participating when Jerusalem was attacked. This betrayal of their brother Jacob makes them guilty before God. In verses 15–18, the prophecy expands beyond Edom to announce the coming Day of the Lord, when all nations will be judged according to their deeds. The book closes with hope for God’s people: Mount Zion will be delivered, Jacob will reclaim his inheritance, and “the kingdom will be the Lord’s.” This climactic ending shifts the focus from Edom’s destruction to the eternal reign of God, making the prophecy not just about one nation’s downfall but about God’s ultimate justice over the whole earth.
Origin & Meaning of the Name:
The name Obadiah comes from the Hebrew name ʿŌḇaḏyāh, meaning “servant of Yahweh” or “worshiper of Yahweh.”The name reflects humility and devotion, fitting for a prophet whose message centered on God’s justice and sovereignty.
Purpose of the Book:
The main purpose of Obadiah is to pronounce judgment on Edom (descendants of Esau) for their violence, pride, and betrayal of Judah (descendants of Jacob).
It emphasizes the principle that God will humble the proud and vindicate His people.
It also looks forward to the Day of the Lord when all nations will be judged and God’s kingdom will be established.
Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:
Author: Obadiah, the prophet.
Unlike other prophets, Obadiah’s background isn’t given. Some traditions suggest he may have been a court official under King Ahab who turned to prophecy, but this is not biblically confirmed.
The book itself claims to be “the vision of Obadiah” (Obadiah 1:1), a common prophetic self-identification.
Cross-references:
Jeremiah 49:7–22 contains a prophecy against Edom strikingly similar to Obadiah, suggesting a shared prophetic tradition or that Jeremiah may have drawn from Obadiah’s prophecy.
Amos 1:11–12 also condemns Edom for violence against Israel.
These parallels strengthen the case that Obadiah’s message was consistent with the broader prophetic witness.
Supporting Evidence (Extra-Biblical):
Jewish Tradition: The Talmud (Sanhedrin 39b) recognizes Obadiah as the author and connects him to Edom’s downfall, respecting his authority as a prophet.
Church Fathers: Early Christian writers like Jerome and Origen also affirmed Obadiah as the author, though they acknowledged little was known about him personally.
Historical Records: While secular history does not confirm Obadiah’s life, archaeological evidence of Edom’s downfall in the 6th century B.C. lines up with the timing of his prophecy.
Key People:
Obadiah – The prophet who delivered God’s vision.
Edom (descendants of Esau): The main target of the prophecy, condemned for pride, violence, and betrayal.
Judah/Israel (descendants of Jacob): The victims of Edom’s hostility, who are promised restoration.
The Nations: Mentioned as those who will join in judgment and later be subject to God’s kingdom.
Conclusion
Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament (21 verses) but delivers a powerful message: God defends His people and judges those who oppose them.
It shows that pride leads to downfall, betrayal leads to judgment, but God’s covenant people will ultimately experience restoration and victory.
The final verse (Obadiah 1:21) points to the coming of God’s kingdom, foreshadowing the New Testament hope of Christ’s reign.
What is God's Name in these Chapters?
In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.
Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.
"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.
Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:
Obadiah
The Book of Obadiah is a striking reminder of how pride and betrayal invite God’s judgment. Edom, though strong in its mountain fortresses, learned that no human strength can stand against the Lord’s justice. Their sin of violence and indifference toward Judah sealed their fate, showing that God holds nations accountable for how they treat His people. Yet the book also offers profound hope: while the proud are brought low, God’s covenant people will be restored and inherit His promises. The prophecy ends with a vision of God’s kingdom established over all nations, reminding believers that history is moving toward His ultimate reign. In just 21 verses, Obadiah powerfully declares that the Lord humbles the proud, defends His people, and reigns forever.
In Obadiah, God’s character is revealed as just, sovereign, and faithful. He sees the pride of Edom and their betrayal of Judah, and He declares that no nation can escape His judgment. God is not indifferent to injustice—He acts against those who harm His people and upholds His covenant promises. This shows us that He is a God of both justice and restoration, defending His people while humbling the proud.
Though no specific Hebrew names of God are used in Obadiah, His nature as Yahweh, the covenant-keeping Lord, is evident throughout the prophecy. The lesson is clear: God holds nations accountable for their actions, especially in how they treat His people. At the same time, He promises deliverance and restoration for those who trust in Him. For us today, the message is to remain humble, depend on God’s faithfulness, and remember that His kingdom will ultimately triumph over all human pride.
Christ in Every Book of the Bible
Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.
The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!
Questions:
Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.
Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?
What does God’s judgment on Edom reveal about His view of pride and arrogance?
How does Obadiah show that God is sovereign over all nations, not just Israel?
In what ways does God’s faithfulness to His covenant people shine through in this short book?
How do God’s actions against Edom reflect His justice and defense of the oppressed?
What does Obadiah teach us about God’s ability to see and act against hidden sins (like betrayal and gloating)?
How does God’s promise to restore Zion show His mercy alongside His judgment?
What does Obadiah reveal about the balance between God’s justice and His love for His people?
Questions About Themes:
Why is Edom judged so severely for their pride and betrayal of Judah?
How does the theme of “the Day of the Lord” in Obadiah connect with other prophetic books?
What does the book teach about the consequences of standing against God’s people?
How does the contrast between Edom’s downfall and Israel’s restoration highlight God’s plan for His kingdom?
Why is pride such a central issue in God’s judgment against Edom?
How does Obadiah demonstrate that God’s justice applies universally to all nations, not just Israel and Edom?
What role does the idea of inheritance and restoration play in the book’s message?
Reflective Application Questions:
In what ways do we sometimes rely on our own “mountains” of pride or security like Edom, instead of trusting God?
How do we respond when others are struggling—do we stand aloof like Edom or step in with compassion?
What lessons can we learn from Edom’s betrayal about the importance of faithfulness and loyalty in relationships?
How does the promise of God’s kingdom encourage you to endure injustice or hardship today?
In what areas of your life might God be calling you to humility instead of self-reliance?
How can you practically live in a way that reflects trust in God’s justice instead of seeking revenge?
What does Obadiah’s closing promise about God’s kingdom mean for how you view the future and your role in it?
These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.
Reference Guides:
Life Application Study Guide
A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler
The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans
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