John Calvin, Commentary on Obadiah
Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets by John Calvin.
Now first translated from the original Latin, by the Rev. John Owen,
vicar of Thrussington, Leicestershire.
Volume Second. Joel, Amos, Obadiah
WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, 1950, Michigan.
Printed in the United States of America.
The Commentaries of John Calvin on the Prophet Obadiah.
Calvin's Preface to Obadiah.
This Prophecy does not consist of many oracles, nor of many sermons,
as other prophecies; but it only denounces on the Idumeans a near
destruction, and then promises a restoration to the chosen people of
God. But it threatens the Idumeans for the sake of administering
consolation to the chosen people; for it was a grievous and hard
trial for the children of Jacob, an elect people, to see the
posterity of Esau, who had been rejected by God, flourishing both in
wealth and power.
As then the children of Israel were miserable in comparison
with their own kindred, the adoption of God might have appeared
worthless; and this was in great measure the reason why the
Israelites preferred the lot of others to their own; and thus envy
and depraved emulation, as it happens for the most part, vitiated
their minds: for adversity produces sorrow and weariness, and if the
prosperity of others is observed by us, our sorrow is enhanced and
our weariness is increased. When therefore the Israelites saw the
Idumeans living at case and beyond the reach of danger, and when
they also saw them in the enjoyment of every abundance, while they
themselves were exposed as a prey to their enemies, and were
continually expecting new calamities, it could not have been, but
that their faith must have utterly failed, or at least become much
weakened. For this reason the Prophet here shows, that though the
Idumeans now lived happily, yet in a short time they would be
destroyed, for they were hated by God; and he shows that this would
be the case, as we shall see from the contents of this Book, for the
sake of the chosen people.
We now then perceive the design of the Prophet: as adversity
might have weakened the Israelites, and even utterly broken them
down, the Prophet here applies comfort and props up their dejected
minds, for the Lord would shortly look on them and take due
vengeance on their enemies.
And the reason why this prophecy is leveled against the
Idumeans only is this, - that they, as we know, raged more cruelly
than any others against the Israelites: for it is not said without a
cause in Ps. 137: 7, 'Remember the children of Edom in the day of
Jerusalem, who said, Make bare, make bare even to the very
foundations.' There were also others, no doubt, who were not friends
to the Israelites, and had conspired with their enemies: but the
Prophet there shows, that there was a furious hatred entertained by
the Idumeans, for they acted as fans to excite the cruel rage of
enemies.
Now at what time Obadiah prophesied, it does not appear, except
that it is probable that this prophecy was announced, when the
Idumeans rose up against the Israelites and distressed them by many
annoyances: for they seem to be mistaken who think that Obadiah
lived before the time of Isaiah. It appears that Jeremiah (ch. 49.)
and this Prophet made use of the same thoughts and nearly of the
same words, as we shall hereafter see. The Holy Spirit could, no
doubt, have expressed the same things in different words; but he was
pleased to join together these two testimonies, that they might
obtain more credit. I know not whether Obadiah and Jeremiah were
contemporaries, and on this subject we need not bestow much labour.
It is sufficient for us to know, that this prophecy was added to
other prophecies, that the Israelites might feel assured, that
though their kindred the Idumeans might prosper for a time, yet they
could not escape the hand of God, but would shortly be constrained
to give an account of their cruelty, inasmuch as they had without
cause been all in a flame against the distressed and afflicted
people of God.
Now our Prophet shows at the end that God would become the
avenger of this cruelty, which the Idumeans had exercised; for
though he chastised his own people, he did not yet forget his
gratuitous covenant. Let us now come to the words.
Calvin, Commentary on Obadiah
(continued in part 2...)
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