This very short book is a bit of an uncomfortable read for us New Testament believers, as it contains a very specific prophecy to a people group who lived millennia ago in a very different part of the world and seems to have very little to do with us in 21st century rural Norfolk. And yet, this devoted servant of God with his common Hebrew name of Obadiah, which incidentally means “servant of the Lord”, faithfully delivered the message given to him. Nothing else is known about him, and even the timing of his message is unknown; it can only be inferred from the text that he probably gave it/wrote it shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon in 586 BC.
I wonder if Obadiah ever felt tempted to compare himself with other prophets, the likes of Isaiah and Jeremiah, and maybe felt resentful that God had only given him such a small part to play… All we can tell is that he was faithful in doing what God had called him to do.
We are all servants of the Lord, known by name, chosen by Him, handpicked to be His spokesperson to a proud, lost and dying world. Are we going to speak His truth in love? The great thing for us Christians is that we do this in partnership with the Holy Spirit, who will give us the boldness and courage to speak, and even the words to say, if only we are willing to be used by him!
There is one more thing that caught my attention from Obadiah, and that is v.15 – a reminder that one day we will stand before God as Judge. Those who lived their lives without God will have to face the “Day of the Lord”, when Jesus comes again, with their sins still clinging to them, which means they will undergo God’s judgment, resulting in hell for eternity. But here’s the Good News: all those who put their faith in Christ Jesus will be saved and live purposefully in God’s eternal Kingdom. Let’s make sure we share these truths with others, so they will be saved, too.
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Question:
Are you serving God faithfully in the small corner of His Kingdom that He placed you in, even when it feels uncomfortable?
Prayer: If you have never asked Jesus into your life, here’s a prayer you could say: Lord Jesus, thank you for saving me from eternal punishment in hell and dying for me, so all my sins could be forgiven. Sorry for going my own way; I repent of all my sins (feel free to name them); please come into my life & fill me with your Holy Spirit. Help me to live as your faithful servant from now on, doing the things you want me to do, living a fruitful life in thought, words and deeds, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.