Obadiah 1:1

Obadiah of Sichem was born in the tribe of Ephraim and prophesied against the Edomites. He seems to be a contemporary of Hosea, Joel, Amos and Isaiah.

"We have heard a report from the Lord," that is, the Lord of the world powers will do nothing if he has not first revealed his mystery to his servants, the prophets. "And a messenger has been sent among the nations." A mystical meaning is probable here, and these words may be referred to Emmanuel, the angel of the testament, sent from heaven, who announced peace to the nations, and therefore was said to be the "expectation of the nations."

This differs not at all in its import from the phrase "Word of the Lord." Scripture calls God's activity "Word of the Lord" in reference to the spiritual grace by which the prophets received the revelations of the future. In the same way by "vision" he refers to the divine revelation by which in fact they received the knowledge of the unknown. They also received some insights in ineffable fashion through spiritual activity in their own soul. In response to the activity occurring within them from the Holy Spirit, they obeyed the word of instruction as though from someone speaking. Consequently Scripture calls it both "vision" and "Word of the Lord," and probably also "report" in that they receive knowledge as though by a report of some kind.

He joins himself with the other prophets, those who spiritually heard a divine sentence against the Edomites.