Week 4: Obadiah

Week 4: Obadiah

Objective: 

• The Judgment on Edom

• Edom Mistreated His Brother

• Israel’s Final Triumph

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
• Minor Prophets SUSCOPTS

Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?

Reading:

• Obadiah 1-21

Key verse(s):

“For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you" Obadiah 1:15

NOTE TO SERVANT:

• Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:

  • Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
    
  • The theme for last week's minor prophet
  • Highlight Messianic prophecy

Minor Prophets introduction:

• The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.

  • Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
• There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
• In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
• The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
• In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy. 
• All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
• Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
  • Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
  • During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
  • After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
• The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
• The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
• The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
  
• All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
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Comments:

Theme of Obadiah: The destruction of Edom - The Day of the Lord
Messianic Prophecy: N/A

• Background story to understand Obadiah:
  • The Book contains condemnation against Edom and prophesies their total destruction because of their persistent opposition to God’s chosen people.
    • Edomites aligned with the Chaldeans to defeat and destroy the Israelites
    • They assisted the Babylonians on how to enter and take down the Kingdom (2 Kings 25)
    • Their Joy in seeing Israel taken to captivity is like the devil rejoicing in seeing God's people look defeated
    • Two years later, Nebucednazzer came and destroyed them. The devil is a cheater has no alliance with anyone
    • Psalm 137 "By the rivers of Babylon" talks about this incident.
    • Obedaiah directed his prophecy toward the Edomites and told them "As you have done, it shall be done to you."
• Obadiah is the shortest book in the OT with only 21 verses
• Obadiah means “Worshiper of Yahweh” or “Servant of Yahweh”
• The Book deals with the bitter rivalry between Edom, the descendants of Jacob’s twin brother Esau, and the people of Israel.
• Though the shortest of the Old Testament books, Obadiah carries one of the strongest messages of judgment.
• Because of the long history of opposing God’s people, Edom’s fate is sealed, and there is no possibility of deliverance. God will bring total destruction upon Edom, and there will be no remnant.
• V.2-4: That their pride should be humbled.
• V.5-7: That their wealth should be plundered.
• V.8-9: That their wisdom should be taken.
• V.10-16: That their spiteful behavior towards God’s Israel should be avenged.
• V.17-20: Gracious promises to Israel; that they shall be restored and reformed, and shall be victorious over the Edomites, and become masters of their land and the lands of others of their neighbors.
• V.21: The kingdom of the Messiah shall be set up by the bringing in of the great salvation.
• The prophetic theme of the day of the Lord is prominent in verses 15-21. As in the prophecy of Joel, this day brings both judgment and deliverance. For Edom, this is a pronouncement of judgment (V.15-16), but for Judah it will bring deliverance as they experience blessing and restoration to their land (V.17–21).

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

1. What is the shortest Book in the OT? How many chapters/verses?
2. What does the name Obadiah mean?
3. What will happen to the House of Esau?
4. What deceived Edom?

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. What did Edom do to deserve the wrath of God?
2. "For the _______ of the LORD upon all the nations is ________; as you have done, it shall be _________ to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own ________."
3. The House of Jacob shall be a _______, and the house of ________ a flame; But the House of Esau shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, And no __________ shall remain of the House of Esau," For the __________ has spoken."