Though Obadiah is the shortest of the Old Testament prophecies, it is not to be overlooked as being unimportant or less crucial than the larger prophetic books. "All scripture is given by inspiration from God and is profitable..." (2 Timothy 3:16). The book is entitled, "the vision of Obadiah" (v. 1). His name means the servant of Jehovah. Nothing else is known about Obadiah and nothing else needs to be known except that he came forth as a servant of the Lord with the divine message. In short, this book is the word of God concerning the seed of Jacob versus the seed of Esau. God loved the one and hated the other. He chose the one and did not choose the other (Romans 9:12-13). Even so, the Lord has a people chosen unto salvation in Christ before the foundation of the world. There is also another group of people who are left in their sinful unbelief to reap the just wages of their rebellion against God. The inspired writer sets forth the enmity of the sons of Esau against the sons of Jacob, that is, the constant opposition of the seed of the serpent against the seed of the woman, the Lord Jesus and His bride. Obadiah prophesied of the wrath of God against Esau and his seed, and the lovingkindness and certainty of the salvation of Jacob, that is, all of God's elect. God gave His prophet a sight of His everlasting kingdom with the assurance that the saints of God will receive the promised inheritance in Christ Jesus.