Week 4: Obadiah

Week 4: Obadiah

Objective: 

• The LocustJudgment Plagueon Edom

• MourningEdom forMistreated theHis LandBrother

• The Day of the Lord

• God’Israel’s SpiritFinal PouredTriumph
  Out
• God Blesses His People

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:

• JoelObadiah 1:1-20
• Joel 2:1-32
• Joel 3:18-21

Key verse(s):

“And it shall come to pass afterward, That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh" JoelObadiah 2:281:15

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. All were fulfilled by Our Lord.
• All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
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Comments:

Theme of Joel: The destruction of Edom - The Day of the Lord
Messianic Prophecy: The Holy Spirit on Pentecost (2:28)N/A

• JoelObadiah 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.
• The Book contains condemnation against Edom and prophesies their total destruction because of their persistent opposition to God’s chosen people.
• Though the shortest of the Old Testament books, Obadiah carries one of the minorstrongest prophets.messages of judgment.

• The bookBecause of Joelthe waslong writtenhistory forof 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 SouthernEdomites, Kingdomand become masters of Israel
  their land and the lands of others of their neighbors.
• JoelV.21: meansThe "Jehovahkingdom isof God"the Messiah shall be set up by the bringing in of the great salvation.
• The bookprophetic theme of Joel can be divided into two major sections: the day of the Lord is prominent in retrospectverses (ch.15-21. 1);As andin the dayprophecy of the Lord in prospect (chs. 2,3).
• Chapter 1:
  • The waves of locusts are like levels of sin:
    • Chewing locust: small - can't move much. Small thoughts into the heart and mind
    • Swarming locust: started to move. 
    • Crawling locust: developed small wings.
    • Consuming locust: Strong wings that can fly. Sins when they completely grow and take over the human
  • St. Jermone symbolizes these four waves to the four kingdoms that disciplined Judah (Southern kingdom): Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.
  •  V.6: Symbolizes the nations that will be very strong and take them to captivity
  • V.9-10: No worship is taking place due to the lack of everything = no joy or communion with God
• Chapter 2:
  • V.1-11: The day of the Lord will be fearful to those who didn’t listen to his voice/warnings (locusts). Those who fear God, wait forJoel, this day joyfully.
  brings
  • V.12-17:both God is calling for repentance.
  • V.13: God wants our hearts to follow Himjudgment and offerdeliverance. trueFor repentance.Edom, Not just an outside fake repentant look.
  • V.15-17: God is calling everyone to repent
  • V.23: Rain/waterthis is a symbolpronouncement of thejudgment Holy(V.15-16), Spirit.but Formerfor rainJudah comesit atwill thebring beginningdeliverance rightas afterthey sowingexperience blessing and restoration to helptheir the seeds grow and bud. Latter rain comes later to help the small buds become big trees and produce fruits. The Holy Spirit (Former rain) comes on the day of baptism to purify us and keeps coming again (latter rain) during our life to sanctify us until the end of our life.
  • V.28: A prophecy on the day of Pentecost. When His Spirit was poured on His disciples. St. Peter quoted Joel in his sermon (Acts 2).
• Chapter 3:
  • V.18: There will be joy and happiness after we receive the Holy Spirit. The dry mountains are now dripping with wine (wine is a symbol of Joy in the Bible).
  • The Book ends with a message of hope and joy in seeing God's work in His Church.
  • Egypt and Edom: symbols of sin. Sin and violence will end, and God will reign foreverland (V.20)
  17–21).

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

1. WhomWhat dois the locustsshortest represent?Book in the OT? How many chapters/verses?
2. What is meant bydoes the dayname Obadiah mean?
3. What will happen to the House of the Lord?Esau?
4. WhoWhat quoteddeceived the prophet Joel in the NT?
5. Find a prophecy in this book and when it was fulfilled. Give verses.
6. How can the people escape this invasion?
   Edom?

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. JoelWhat askeddid Edom do to deserve the priestswrath toof a)God?
Consecrate
2. "For athe fast_______ b) Call a sacred assembly c) cry out toof the LORD d)upon all ofthe thosenations is ________; as you have done, it shall be _________ to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own ________."
3. ToThe whomHouse shouldof Jacob shall be a _______, and the beastshouse of ________ a flame; But the House of Esau shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, And no __________ shall remain of the fieldHouse cryof out?Esau," a) each other b)For the Lord__________ c)has the hunters d) Joelan
4. What do verses 28-29 in chapter 2 prophesy about?spoken."