Thursday, October 31 – Obadiah, Psalm 82

1. Against which people is Obadiah’s prophecy directed? (1:1)

1. (People named after its founder, Esau, the brother of Jacob, making them descendants of Abraham, “cousins” to Israel).

2. What animal does the prophet compare Edom to in his metaphor, highlighting their pride? (1:4)

3. How is the ultimate triumph of justice and Judah assured, which could similarly apply to the final victory of the church? (1:21)

Commentary and Reflection:

Obadiah is derived from the Hebrew “Obhádhyah,” meaning “servant, worshiper, or follower of the Lord.” Twelve individuals bear this name in the Old Testament, but the most significant is the prophet Obadiah.

The distinction between “Major” and “Minor” prophets is based solely on the length of their writings, not their importance. Obadiah is the fourth Minor Prophet, and his book is the shortest prophetic book in the Old Testament, containing only 21 verses. Though the book is titled after him, some scholars speculate that “Obadiah” could have been a common title or surname, as “servant of Yahweh” was a frequent designation.

No detailed information is given about the prophet; nothing is revealed about his family, place of birth, or the time he lived. The only discernible fact is that he was from the kingdom of Judah. The dating of his prophetic ministry is uncertain, with some scholars suggesting it occurred during Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Jerusalem. However, Obadiah does not mention this event.

Instead, his prophecy is directed against Edom, similar to the messages of other prophets who lived between 150 and 300 years before the temple’s destruction, placing his ministry around 800 B.C. Some believe Obadiah could have been the steward of King Ahab, but it is unclear whether this is the same Obadiah who authored the book. Regardless, both men are remembered for their devotion to God; the steward Obadiah demonstrated his faith by hiding one hundred Hebrew prophets in a cave and feeding them bread and water.

Psalm 82, titled “A Psalm of Asaph,” is attributed to the great singer and musician of David and Solomon’s time (1 Chronicles 15:17-19, 16:5-7, 25:6). 1 Chronicles 25:1 and 2 Chronicles 29:30 note that Asaph was also a prophet in his musical compositions.

Psalm 82 portrays human judges standing before the Great Judge, God. It warns of the danger of earthly judges viewing themselves as “gods,” assuming a role that belongs only to the one true God, Jehovah.

God is depicted as standing amid these “gods” to bring judgment. “God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods” (Psalm 82:1). The term “gods” (Elohim) here refers to human judges who were given authority to represent God’s justice on earth.

I pray that the Almighty blesses each of you who dedicates time daily to studying the Holy Word, the source of all wisdom and power.