Revised by Cory Driver, 8/23
The Day of the LORD
Obadiah, like other prophets, speaks of “the day of the LORDThe Day of the Lord, in prophetic writing, is the day of judgment when God will intervene directly in world affairs. As described in Zephaniah, for instance, God will sweep everything away. In Matthew’s gospel God is described as gathering the elect on the day… More,” an approaching time of judgment for sin and restoration of God’s people. (See Isaiah 13:6; Ezekiel 30:3; Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1, 11, 31; Amos 5:18, 20.)
Retributive justice
In Obadiah 15, the prophet says to Edom, “As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.” Just as Edom betrayed its brother JacobThe son of Isaac and Rebekah, renamed Israel, became the father of the twelve tribal families. More (v. 10), so its own allies will betray it (v. 7). Just as Edom handed over Judah’s “survivors” to the enemy (v. 14), so it will have no “survivor” (v. 18). God will punish Edom and all the nations according to their sins.
