The enemies of the Israelites, the Edomites, were about to be removed from their lofty positions both proverbially and literally. Their pride, arrogance and vengeance, and historical feud with the Israelites, would be their demise.
Proverbs 6:17 clearly states that "God detests haughty eyes”; and the self-righteous, self-centered, and self-sufficient attitudes of the Edomites were examples of just that. Sitting high above the Israelites, in the cracks of the mountains as though they themselves were Lords, the Edomites, exalted themselves, taking delight in the Israelites failure. This displeased God, because the Edomites, as descendants of Esau were related to the Israelites and as a result should have been helping them. Instead, because they mistreated the Israelites, capturing them and turning them over to the Babylonians, they were going to be repaid for they way they treated God's people. The Edomites were going to face judgment and punishment.""There will be no survivors from the house of Esau”. The Lord has spoken.”” [1:18]
We can all heed the warning found in verse 1:12 “You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune, not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble” remembering “as you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head” [1:15]
The book of Obadiah serves as a brilliant example and reminder of how we should never place ourselves above anyone, understanding that it is God who is Lord of us all. How quickly positions can be exchanged, when the one who was atop the pinnacle is now sitting in the valley.
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