The Minor Prophets

1
The Minor Prophets

• Lesson 2
• Obadiah

2
Strategy For Studying Minor Prophets

1. Background of the prophet
2. Contemporary and historic background
3. Main points of the prophet
4. Practical lessons for today

3
Background Of The Prophet

• Obadiah means Servant of Jehovah
• Nothing revealed about his character or
  background
• Date of writing is uncertain but often placed at
  around 845 BC contemporary with Elishas ministry
• Theme destruction of Edom contrasted with
  exaltation of Mount Zion

4
Background Of The Prophet

• Edom falls because of its pride
• Edom falls because of hostility toward Israel,
  Gods people, their cousins
• Zion, Israel, to be exalted pointing to Messianic
  kingdom under Jesus where Jew and Gentile are
  made one spiritual body, Jesus church

5
Brief History of Edom

• Edomites were descendants of Esau, twin brother
  of Jacob
• Nation located south of Dead Sea
• Land characterized by cliffs on which they built
  their cities
• Great conflict between Esau and Jacob

6
Brief History of Edom

• Esau and Jacob later reconciled
• But, there was endless conflict between Edom and
  Israelites
• By 100 AD no sign of Edoms existence

7
Edom Descendants of Esau Twin Brother of Jacob

• Gen 2522 But the children struggled together
  within her and she said, "If it is so, why then
  am I this way?" So she went to inquire of the
  LORD.
• Gen 2523 The LORD said to her, "Two nations are
  in your womb And two peoples will be separated
  from your body And one people shall be stronger
  than the other And the older shall serve the
  younger."

8
Edom Descendants of Esau Twin Brother of Jacob

• Gen 2524 When her days to be delivered were
  fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
• Gen 2525 Now the first came forth red, all over
  like a hairy garment and they named him Esau.

9
Edom Descendants of Esau Twin Brother of Jacob

• Gen 2526 Afterward his brother came forth with
  his hand holding on to Esau's heel, so his name
  was called Jacob and Isaac was sixty years old
  when she gave birth to them.

10
Esau Sells Birthright To Jacob

• Gen 2528 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a
  taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
• Gen 2530 and Esau said to Jacob, "Please let me
  have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am
  famished." Therefore his name was called Edom.
• Gen 2531 But Jacob said, "First sell me your
  birthright."

11
Esau Sells Birthright To Jacob

• Gen 2533 And Jacob said, "First swear to me"
  so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to
  Jacob.
• Gen 2534 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil
  stew and he ate and drank, and rose and went on
  his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

12
Rebekah and Jacob combine To Steal Isaacs
Blessing For Esau

• Gen 2715 Then Rebekah took the best garments of
  Esau her elder son, which were with her in the
  house, and put them on Jacob her younger son.
• Gen 2716 And she put the skins of the young
  goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his
  neck.
• Gen 2717 She also gave the savory food and the
  bread, which she had made, to her son Jacob.

13
Rebekah and Jacob combine To Steal Isaacs
Blessing For Esau

• Gen 2722 So Jacob came close to Isaac his
  father, and he felt him and said, "The voice is
  the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands
  of Esau."
• Gen 2723 He did not recognize him, because his
  hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands
  so he blessed him.

14
Esau Holds Bitter Grudge Against Jacob

• Gen 2740 "By your sword you shall live, And
  your brother you shall serve But it shall come
  about when you become restless, That you will
  break his yoke from your neck."
• Gen 2741 So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob
  because of the blessing with which his father had
  blessed him and Esau said to himself, "The days
  of mourning for my father are near then I will
  kill my brother Jacob."

15
Jacob and Esau Reconciled

• Gen 334 Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced
  him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and
  they wept.
• Gen 335 He lifted his eyes and saw the women
  and the children, and said, "Who are these with
  you?" So he said, "The children whom God has
  graciously given your servant."

16
Edom Refuses Israel Passing Through Their Land

• Num 2014 From Kadesh Moses then sent messengers
  to the king of Edom "Thus your brother Israel
  has said, 'You know all the hardship that has
  befallen us
• Num 2015 that our fathers went down to Egypt,
  and we stayed in Egypt a long time, and the
  Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly.

17
Edom Refuses Israel Passing Through Their Land

• Num 2016 'But when we cried out to the LORD, He
  heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us
  out from Egypt now behold, we are at Kadesh, a
  town on the edge of your territory.

18
Edom Refuses Israel Passing Through Their Land

• Num 2017 'Please let us pass through your land.
  We will not pass through field or through
  vineyard we will not even drink water from a
  well. We will go along the king's highway, not
  turning to the right or left, until we pass
  through your territory.'"
• Num 2018 Edom, however, said to him, "You shall
  not pass through us, or I will come out with the
  sword against you."

19
Edom Refuses Israel Passing Through Their Land

• Num 2019 Again, the sons of Israel said to him,
  "We will go up by the highway, and if I and my
  livestock do drink any of your water, then I will
  pay its price. Let me only pass through on my
  feet, nothing else."
• Num 2020 But he said, "You shall not pass
  through." And Edom came out against him with a
  heavy force and with a strong hand.

20
David Subdues Edom

• 2Sa 814 He put garrisons in Edom. In all Edom
  he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became
  servants to David. And the LORD helped David
  wherever he went.

21
Edom Rebels Against Judah

• 2Ki 820 In his days Edom revolted from under
  the hand of Judah, and made a king over
  themselves.
• 2Ki 821 Then Joram crossed over to Zair, and
  all his chariots with him. And he arose by night
  and struck the Edomites who had surrounded him
  and the captains of the chariots but his army
  fled to their tents.

22
Edom Rebels Against Judah

• 2Ki 822 So Edom revolted against Judah to this
  day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.

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Main Points of Obadiah

1. Gods Judgment Against Edom Vs. 1-9
2. Reasons For Gods Judgment Against Edom Vs. 10-16
3. The Exaltation of Israel Over Edom Vs. 17-21

24
Gods Judgment Against Edom

• Oba 13 "The arrogance of your heart has
  deceived you, You who live in the clefts of the
  rock, In the loftiness of your dwelling place,
  Who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to
  earth?'
• Oba 14 "Though you build high like the eagle,
  Though you set your nest among the stars, From
  there I will bring you down," declares the LORD.

25
Gods Judgment Against Edom

• Oba 15 "If thieves came to you, If robbers by
  night-- O how you will be ruined!-- Would they
  not steal only until they had enough? If grape
  gatherers came to you, Would they not leave some
  gleanings?

26
Reasons For Gods Judgment Against Edom

• Oba 110 "Because of violence to your brother
  Jacob, You will be covered with shame, And you
  will be cut off forever.
• Oba 111 "On the day that you stood aloof, On
  the day that strangers carried off his wealth,
  And foreigners entered his gate And cast lots for
  Jerusalem-- You too were as one of them.

27
Reasons For Gods Judgment Against Edom

• Oba 112 "Do not gloat over your brother's day,
  The day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice
  over the sons of Judah In the day of their
  destruction Yes, do not boast In the day of
  their distress.
• Oba 113 "Do not enter the gate of My people In
  the day of their disaster. Yes, you, do not gloat
  over their calamity In the day of their disaster.
  And do not loot their wealth In the day of their
  disaster.

28
The Exaltation of Israel Over Edom

• Oba 117 "But on Mount Zion there will be those
  who escape, And it will be holy. And the house of
  Jacob will possess their possessions.
• Oba 118 "Then the house of Jacob will be a fire
  And the house of Joseph a flame But the house of
  Esau will be as stubble. And they will set them
  on fire and consume them, So that there will be
  no survivor of the house of Esau," For the LORD
  has spoken.

29
The Exaltation of Israel Over Edom

• Oba 121 The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion
  To judge the mountain of Esau, And the kingdom
  will be the LORD'S.

30
Possible Ultimate Fulfillment of The Exaltation
of Israel Over Edom

• Jesus now reigns over Heaven and earth
• His spiritual kingdom is composed of all people
  who willingly obey Him, both Jews and Gentiles

31
Jesus One Spiritual Kingdom Composed of People
From All Nations

• Mat 2818 And Jesus came up and spoke to them,
  saying, "All authority has been given to Me in
  heaven and on earth.
• Mat 2819 "Go therefore and make disciples of
  all the nations, baptizing them in the name of
  the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
• Mat 2820 teaching them to observe all that I
  commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even
  to the end of the age."

32
Jesus One Spiritual Kingdom Composed of People
From All Nations

• Mar 1615 And He said to them, "Go into all the
  world and preach the gospel to all creation.
• Mar 1616 "He who has believed and has been
  baptized shall be saved but he who has
  disbelieved shall be condemned.

33
Jesus One Spiritual Kingdom Composed of People
From All Nations

• Luk 2446 and He said to them, "Thus it is
  written, that the Christ would suffer and rise
  again from the dead the third day,
• Luk 2447 and that repentance for forgiveness of
  sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the
  nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

34
Jesus One Spiritual Kingdom Composed of People
From All Nations

• Rom 1113 But I am speaking to you who are
  Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of
  Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
• Rom 1114 if somehow I might move to jealousy my
  fellow countrymen and save some of them.
• Rom 1115 For if their rejection is the
  reconciliation of the world, what will their
  acceptance be but life from the dead?

35
Jesus One Spiritual Kingdom Composed of People
From All Nations

• Rom 1116 If the first piece of dough is holy,
  the lump is also and if the root is holy, the
  branches are too.
• Rom 1117 But if some of the branches were
  broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were
  grafted in among them and became partaker with
  them of the rich root of the olive tree,

36
Jesus One Spiritual Kingdom Composed of People
From All Nations

• Rom 1118 do not be arrogant toward the
  branches but if you are arrogant, remember that
  it is not you who supports the root, but the root
  supports you.

37
Strategy For Studying Minor Prophets

1. Background of the prophet
2. Contemporary and historic background
3. Main points of the prophet
4. Practical lessons for today

38
Both Individual and National Pride Are Destructive

• Pro 1618 Pride goes before destruction, And a
  haughty spirit before stumbling.
• 1Co 1012 Therefore let him who thinks he stands
  take heed that he does not fall.
• Psa 917 The wicked will return to Sheol, Even
  all the nations who forget God.

39
Mistreatment of Brethren Is Sinful

• Oba 110 "Because of violence to your brother
  Jacob, You will be covered with shame, And you
  will be cut off forever.
• 1Co 812 And so, by sinning against the brethren
  and wounding their conscience when it is weak,
  you sin against Christ.

40
Silently Approving of Evil Is Sinful

• Oba 111 "On the day that you stood aloof, On
  the day that strangers carried off his wealth,
  And foreigners entered his gate And cast lots for
  Jerusalem-- You too were as one of them.
• Eph 511 Do not participate in the unfruitful
  deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them

41
Rejoicing In The Fall of Your Enemies Is Sinful

• Oba 112 "Do not gloat over your brother's day,
  The day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice
  over the sons of Judah In the day of their
  destruction Yes, do not boast In the day of
  their distress.

42
Rejoicing In The Fall of Your Enemies Is Sinful

• Pro 2417 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
  And do not let your heart be glad when he
  stumbles
• Pro 2418 Or the LORD will see it and be
  displeased, And turn His anger away from him.

43
Nations Like Individuals Reap What They Sow

• Oba 115 "For the day of the LORD draws near on
  all the nations. As you have done, it will be
  done to you. Your dealings will return on your
  own head.

44
Nations Like Individuals Reap What They Sow

• Gal 67 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked
  for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
• Gal 68 For the one who sows to his own flesh
  will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one
  who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap
  eternal life.

45
Enslavement To Bitterness Is Destructive

• Heb 1215 See to it that no one comes short of
  the grace of God that no root of bitterness
  springing up causes trouble, and by it many be
  defiled
• Heb 1216 that there be no immoral or godless
  person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for
  a single meal.

46
Enslavement To Bitterness Is Destructive

• Heb 1217 For you know that even afterwards,
  when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was
  rejected, for he found no place for repentance,
  though he sought for it with tears.

47
Enslavement To Bitterness Is Destructive

• Eph 431 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger
  and clamor and slander be put away from you,
  along with all malice.
• Eph 432 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted,
  forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also
  has forgiven you.

48
Persecuting The Lords People Is Persecuting The
Lord

• Act 91 Now Saul, still breathing threats and
  murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to
  the high priest,
• Act 92 and asked for letters from him to the
  synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any
  belonging to the Way, both men and women, he
  might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

49
Persecuting The Lords People Is Persecuting The
Lord

• Act 95 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He
  said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

50
God Always Preserves His People In Times of
Divine Judgment

• Heb 1222 But you have come to Mount Zion and to
  the city of the living God, the heavenly
  Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,
• Heb 1223 to the general assembly and church of
  the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to
  God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the
  righteous made perfect,

51
God Always Preserves His People In Times of
Divine Judgment

• Heb 1224 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new
  covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which
  speaks better than the blood of Abel.
• Heb 1225 See to it that you do not refuse Him
  who is speaking. For if those did not escape when
  they refused him who warned them on earth, much
  less will we escape who turn away from Him who
  warns from heaven.

52
God Always Preserves His People In Times of
Divine Judgment

• Heb 1226 And His voice shook the earth then,
  but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I
  WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE
  HEAVEN."
• Heb 1227 This expression, "Yet once more,"
  denotes the removing of those things which can be
  shaken, as of created things, so that those
  things which cannot be shaken may remain.

53
God Always Preserves His People In Times of
Divine Judgment

• Heb 1228 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom
  which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by
  which we may offer to God an acceptable service
  with reverence and awe
• Heb 1229 for our God is a consuming fire.