Obadiah

Obadiah 1-4 Edom will be judged because of pride. Pride is one of the seven deadly sins, usually listed first. It is mentioned as a defining attribute of Satan. (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:1-5,12-17) It is also mentioned occasionally as leading to a downfall, as it is in Obadiah.(Proverbs 16:18) The archaeological site of Petra testifies to living in the clefts of the rocks. Envy comes later in the list of deadly sins, but it is there.

Obadiah 5-9 Both allies and friends will turn on Edom, bringing God’s judgment, on soldiers and sages alike. 

Obadiah 10-14 Edom had a long history with Israel and Judah, beginning in Genesis.

• Esau despised his birthright and sold it to Jacob for a bowl of stew. (Genesis 25:29-34)
• Jacob stole Esau’s blessing by deceiving Isaac. (Genesis 27) 
• Esau sought revenge (Genesis 27:41; Hebrews 12:17); Jacob left Canaan for his own safety. (Genesis 27:42-45)
• Jacob and Esau reconciled, sort of. (Genesis 33)
• Edom refused to allow Israel passage (Numbers 20:14-21)
• David conquered Edom (2 Samuel 8:13-14)
• Edom rebelled against Israel’s rule (2 Kings 8:20-22)
• Edom attacked Judah (2 Chronicles 28:17)

Obadiah 15-18 In the day of the Lord, Edom will reap what it has sowed. Jacob and Joseph will be like a fire consuming like stubble all that remains of Esau’s descendants, making Edom a desert wasteland. (Malachi 1:2-3) God loved Jacob and hated Esau, showing one aspect of the complicated interaction between God’s sovereign will and human free will. (Romans 9:13)

Obadiah 19-21 The people of Judah, the Jews, will possess the land of Edom, formerly occupied by Esau’s descendants. The kingdom will be the Lord’s. 

The law of primogeniture is not a Biblical principle. Thinking that the oldest son had a birthright to inherit his father’s estate was very likely a cultural principle of the Middle East, and Esau and his descendants believed they had been cheated out of it. The Biblical norm for blessing has different principles:

• God honors those who honor and seek Him, and on that basis blesses them.
• The spiritual blessing of God’s approval transcends worldly things like money, political power, military might, etc.

This didn’t seem fair to the Edomites, and doesn’t seem fair to many in today’s world. The Jews had (and still have) Palestine, while the desert east of the Jordan is still desert.