Quit evil associations

 Quit evil associations was Obadiah’s warning to the Edomites.

Obadiah was a prophet and the Book that bears his name is the shortest book in the Old Testament and fourth among the minor Prophets.

The Edomites were descendants of Esau, twin brother to Jacob who was renamed Israel and who conspired with their mother to trick Esau out of his birthright.

Not surprisingly, there existed a smouldering hatred between the Israelites and the Edomites who rejoiced over the afflictions of the Jewish people.

Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell.
“Tear it down,” they cried, “tear it down to its foundations!” (Psalm 137:7 NIV)

Even though Edom is figured predominantly in many of the prophetic Scriptures, it is the primary subject of the entire book of Obadiah.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1 NIV)

When a people has inherited hatred towards another group of people and their core has been pervaded by anger, arrogance, pride, envy, betrayal, egotism, racism and an undeniable lust for vengeance, the hope of brotherhood – living together in unity –  is greatly diminished if not non-existent.

These were the underlying factors that fuelled the Edomites profanity against God’s people, the cause for their evil associations and God’s intense ire towards them.

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” says the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau; I have made his hill country a desolation and his heritage a desert for jackals. (Malachi 1:2-3 NRSVUE)

 Obadiah’s prophecy consists of a series of condemnatory statements against the Edomites. From the very first verse the purpose of this book becomes clear.

The Lord has sent his messenger to the nations, and we have heard his message: “Get ready! Let us go to war against Edom!”
The Lord says to Edom, “I will make you weak; everyone will despise you.
Your pride has deceived you. Your capital is a fortress of solid rock; your home is high in the mountains, and so you say to yourself, ‘Who can ever pull me down?’
Even though you make your home as high as an eagle's nest, so that it seems to be among the stars, yet I will pull you down (Obadiah 1-4 GNT)

Almost every verse in Obadiah is an exacting denouncement of the nation of Edom, and though this is an ancient political prophecy, looking at what is happening in the world today, it may stand as a warning to any of the nations and its people that fit a similar description.

The Day of the Lord is coming soon to all the nations. And the evil you did to others will happen to you. The same bad things will fall down on your own head. You spilled blood on my holy mountain, so other nations will spill your blood. You will be finished. It will be as if you never existed. (vv 15-16 ERV)

In verses 1 to 16, Obadiah tells of the nation’s destruction and predicts the fate of persons who fight against God and His beloved people. And together, verses 12 to 14, constitute an exhortation of all that Edom should not have done; it’s saying that Edom should have quit evil associations.

The ending verses of Obadiah’s prophecy is an assurance of God’s promise of deliverance and restoration of His people (vv 17-21);  

For deliverers will come to Jerusalem and rule all Edom. And the Lord shall be King! (v 21 TLB)

Edom was guilty of associating with the enemies of Israel at a time when they were faced with much trouble. Edom and Israel were twin brothers, Esau and Jacob, but brotherly betrayal caused a rift between them which, after many years became a chasm of separation too vast to reunite.

Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears. (Hebrews 12:16-17 NLT)

Esau had settled in the rugged hill country of Mount Seir (see Genesis 36:8), an area that became known as Edom after the Edomites dispossessed and destroyed the Horites, the original inhabitants. It was here that Esau’s descendants built impressive, fortified cities into the cliffs and boasted military strength. This gave them a feeling of invincibility which bolstered their pride and fostered the inflated view they had of themselves.

Beloved, pride deceives you into believing that you are wiser and stronger than you really are; it lulls you into a false sense of security and shifts your trust and reliance from God to yourself.

Nothing is secure if not under God’s protection – no position (political or otherwise), no university degree, no doctorate, no amount of wealth, no net worth, no fancy job title – and all those who are relying on these things, arrogantly gloating and engaging in evil associations will meet their downfall because their actions don’t ever go unnoticed.

Remember, Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall. (Proverbs 16:18 GNT)

God sees all and knows all, and His justice inevitably prevails, no matter how long it takes.

He gives us more and more strength to stand against all such evil longings. As the Scripture says, God gives strength to the humble but sets himself against the proud and haughty. – James 5:6 (TLB) [also Proverbs 3:34 & 1 Peter 5:5]

God humiliates the proud and defends the oppressed. He will not remain silent forever; a day of reckoning is coming for all those nations, leaders, citizens and anyone else who, like the Edomites, refuse to quit evil associations!

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Quit evil associations” ©2026 June 12, 2026