Obadiah might be one of the shortest books in the Bible, but it’s also one of the easiest to skip. It’s unfamiliar. It drops you into the middle of a conflict you didn’t even know existed. It doesn’t slow down to explain itself. And at first glance, it can feel disconnected from modern life. …but that’s exactly why it’s worth reading.
Here are 5 reasons to consider giving it a try:
1. It’s shorter than your average TikTok scroll
Obadiah is 21 verses long. You can read it in under five minutes, no year-long plan required.
2. It doesn’t explain itself, and that’s the point
Obadiah drops you into the middle of a story already in progress. It trains us to slow down instead of skimming for instant clarity.
3. It names sins we still excuse
Pride. Gloating. Benefiting from someone else’s pain. Obadiah calls out behaviors that still feel uncomfortably familiar.
4. It reminds us God notices how we treat others when no one’s watching
Obadiah isn’t about loud evil but the sometimes quiet participation in injustice.
5. It proves no part of Scripture is disposable
Even the smallest, strangest books have something to teach us about who God is and who we’re becoming.
Obadiah reminds us that not every part of Scripture is instantly relatable or easy to digest, and that’s not a bad thing. Sometimes, the Bible invites us to slow down, stay curious, and listen more carefully instead of rushing to application.
This tiny prophetic book speaks about pride, indifference, and quietly benefiting from someone else’s pain; habits that feel uncomfortably familiar in our world of comparison, commentary, and hot takes.
You can read Obadiah in under five minutes. But if you linger with it, it has a way of asking big questions about how we see others, and what shapes our hearts when no one’s watching.
Sometimes, the weird little books are often the ones we need most.
If you’d like some help leaning into this book, that’s maybe a bit harder to get into than your average Gospel, we’ve created a guide to
- Help you understand the historical and cultural context of Obadiah
- Help you navigate our polarized world with justice and compassion
- Confront the pride we tend to excuse
- Encourage you to love your enemies like Jesus did
