INTRODUCTION TO OBADIAH 

Obadiah wrote this book. His name means “Servant (worshipper) of Jehovah.” It is the shortest book in the Old Testament. Obadiah is to preach to Edom. Their capital is Petra, a city cut out of solid rock. They felt that no one could take them. There was only one narrow passage into the city. But Obadiah deals with their destruction; treachery through their allies.

Edom treated Israel badly as some of them tried to escape from their judgment. They aide the enemy of Israel. As a result, God says in verse 15, “as you have done, it shall be done unto thee.” This is where we get such phrases as: “what goes around, comes around”; “what you do bad to others will come home one day”; and “you reap what you sow.”

Pride was the center of Edom’s problem. They had exalted themselves as the eagle, but God brought them down. Petra is now empty, only a tourist attraction. They come to see the city carved out of rose colored rock. Let it be a warning to those with pride and self-exaltation.