Obadiah
Resources:
Overview:
- Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament – only one chapter. Obidiah means “servant of the Lord” and is mentioned 11 times in the Old Testament.
- Obadiah is a series of judgments against the people of Edom – a nation that existed on the other side of the Dead Sea from Israel.
- The people of Edom had a shared ancestry with Israel (they both came from the family of Abraham). Abraham and Sarah begat Isaac and Rebekah who gave birth to Jacob (who later started Israel) and Esau (who later started Edom).
- When Esau was 40 he took two Canaanite women as his wives – he continued to stray from God’s laws because they weren’t supposed to marry foreigners.
- Esau was very jealous of Jacob (see Genesis 25-27). This jealousy resulted in ongoing tensions between Edom and Israel.
- When Jerusalem eventually fell to Babylon, Edom plundered other cities in Israel and killed Israeli refugees.
- Obadiah warns Edom of God’s coming judgement because of the way they have been treating Israel.
Notes on the video:
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The Edomites had a false sense of security from living in high caves where they felt they were untouchable. God can always see us and our sins. We cannot hide from God and are never untouchable by God.
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- All of your allies and neighbors will conquer you or turn their backs on you because you haven’t been obeying God’s laws.
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- See Genesis 36:11 – Teman was a grandson of Esau.
- The army will be defeated.
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- Edom would be covered with shame and destroyed forever because of their violence toward Jacob/Israel. There was no promise to Edom that anything would survive God’s judgement.
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- This was a warning to not loot the cities during their downfall.
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- Verse 15 declares the Day of the Lord is near for all nations. Edom is an example of how one day God will judge all nations for their failure to follow God’s laws. The Day of the Lord is the second coming of Jesus Christ.
- Note: Edom is spelled with the same letters as “humanity” in Hebrew. This means Edom’s rise and fall is a parable of how God will one day judge all nations for their pride and failure to follow God’s laws.
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- They are going to drink from the cup of God’s wrath.
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- Restoration is coming for the Jews and those who obey God’s laws.
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- “Saviors” doesn’t refer to multiple saviors – this is referring to the people who have obeyed God’s laws for hey will be saved from God’s judgment.
- See Revelations 11:15 for more clarity on the Day of the Lord.
- Obadiah’s words are a warning to those disobeying the Lord but an encouragement for Israel.
- While the minor prophets include many judgments and warnings, God’s judgement is never His final word. Everyone that follows God’s laws will be spared judgement and will be restored.
Group Discussion:
- Obadiah is a bit of a heavy read with all the warnings and threats of judgment but it ends on a hopeful note – those who follow God’s laws will be spared His judgment.
- Edom was wiped out – it was in a canyon. It was easy to defend but hard to attack. This location led to their pride and eventually to their fall.
- The animosity between Esau and Jacob continued as a bad relationship between Edom and Israel. This is a good warning to stand by the Jews when they face difficult times.
Prayer Requests:
- I gave praise (thanks) for:
- my health and other blessings I take for granted
- my wife and my children
- my son’s 27th birthday
- the ability and resources to travel to see my daughter this weekend for Father’s Day
- the Bible Study Group
- Jim’s leadership and daily messages of inspiration
- I prayed for:
- my wife and kids
- my marriage and all of our marriages and relationships
- a safe round trip down to WA and back this weekend
- our countries (US and Canada) – to heal divisions within them and between them and for a future revival
- our leaders to govern well according to God’s will
- a possible job or self-employment opportunity to better provide for my wife, my children, my church, and my community
