Obadiah
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Author:
Author:
The author of this book is most likely the man who had the vision: Obadiah. What do we know about him?
Nothing really… We know that he’s a prophet, and we know that he wrote this book. That is essentially it.
Date:
Date:
There have been some proposals, but most prominent scholars (from my study) settle on the sixth century when Babylon defeats Jerusalem and takes the citizens into captivity.
I think this is correct.
As I said, some scholars believe the ninth-century works, but the evidence for that is sparse.
The best explanation of the evidence is the sixth century exile… around 580BC or so.
History of Edom:
History of Edom:
The nation of Edom comes from a son of Isaac just like the nation of Israel.
Israel comes from Isaac’s son Jacob, while Edom comes from Isaac’s son Esau. Let’s read about them for a second.
Genesis 25:19-28
19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the older shall serve the younger.”
24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Here we read about the birth of Jacob and Esau, and what do we see?
we see that there is some conflict between these two brothers. As a matter of fact, God says that they will be divided.
This continues in the context.
Genesis 25:29-34
29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) 31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Again, we see that there is some conflict between Jacob and Esau… Esau hated his birthright because he sold it to his brother.
So the conflict continues...
Do you remember when Jacob stole Esau’s blessing?
6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.”
So again we see conflict. Jacob and Rebekah work to steal the blessing from Esau, and how does Esau feel about this?
41 Now Esau hated 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 approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Here we see that the the conflict has drastically increased… Now Esau wants to kill his brother.
So, Jacob and Esau had a history of conflict throughout their lives, and the nations that followed them continued in that conflict.
Edom and Israel had a long history of conflict.
20 In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah and set up a king of their own. 21 Then Joram passed over to Zair with all his chariots and rose by night, and he and his chariot commanders struck the Edomites who had surrounded him, but his army fled home. 22 So Edom revolted from the rule of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.
So here we see that Judah ruled Edom, and Edom revolted...
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it, 3 and say to it, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste. 4 I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 5 Because you cherished perpetual enmity and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment,
Here we see that God punishes Edom because of their perpetual enmity towards Israel. This is something that has continued throughout the Bible story…
Even during the time of Jesus, we see that people from the land of Edom were in conflict with the Jews.
King Herod who wanted to kill Jesus was an Idumean.
The Idumeans lived in the land of Edom after the Nabateans.
So we even see conflict there…
The point is that there is a rich history of conflict between the Edomites and Israelites.
Purpose/Audience:
Purpose/Audience:
The purpose/audience of this book is different from most other prophets (the audience is different, anyway).
For the most part, the prophets are addressed to Israel, but sometimes the prophets will be sent to other nations. This is one of those times.
In this book, Obadiah is preaching judgment to the nation of Edom.
1-10 Edom Will be Humbled
1-10 Edom Will be Humbled
Verse 1:
Verse 1:
1 The vision of Obadiah.
Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom:
We have heard a report from the Lord,
and a messenger has been sent among the nations:
“Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!”
Here we see the one of the points mentioned in my lesson on Sunday. Obadiah is before the throne of God and a messenger from God is sent among the nations.
What’s the message?
It’s time for battle.
So early on we see that this prophecy is a prophecy concerning God’s judgment against Edom. God is getting ready to judge and wage war against Edom.
Now this begs the question: Why is God even dealing with the Edomites? Why does God care about nations that are not Israel?
It’s because God is the god of all nations. You can’t run away from God… he is ultimately in control.
The Babylonians (under Nabonidus) (maybe the Nabateans) attacked and defeated the Edomites, and people might say that God had nothing to do with it.
God is in control. The Babylonians attacked, and the Edomites lost… Not because Babylon is so great, but because God is the author of history.
Think about this… What did the Israelites do to knock down the walls of Jericho?
They didn’t do anything… They didn’t touch the walls… God’s army knocked that wall down.
Verses 2-4:
Verses 2-4:
2 Behold, I will make you small among the nations;
you shall be utterly despised.
3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rock,
in your lofty dwelling,
who say in your heart,
“Who will bring me down to the ground?”
4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle,
though your nest is set among the stars,
from there I will bring you down,
declares the Lord.
Here, we see one of the problems with Edom… What was one of the problems?
Pride
The Edomites were prideful because they lived high in the rocks. They lived on a plateau surrounded by steep cliffs and the only way in was a well-defended slope on the southeast of their land.
The Edomites were a small nation with a small military, but they had a huge tactical advantage because of their height. You can shoot those who try to climb the cliffs, and attack those who come up the slope.
These people were proud of their home and their military advantage. They believed that no one could hurt them. God showed them differently.
The one who created the mountains can surely destroy the people who live in the mountains, right?
So God tells them in verse 4, that it doesn’t matter how high you live… You could live among the stars and God would still win.
I think that this is an important lesson for us.
Like the Edomites, we can sometimes think that we are undefeatable…
We are not. Edom like all nations come to an end. If the Lord doesn’t come back, we will come to an end as well.
Verses 5-7:
Verses 5-7:
5 If thieves came to you,
if plunderers came by night—
how you have been destroyed!—
would they not steal only enough for themselves?
If grape gatherers came to you,
would they not leave gleanings?
6 How Esau has been pillaged,
his treasures sought out!
7 All your allies have driven you to your border;
those at peace with you have deceived you;
they have prevailed against you;
those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you—
you have no understanding.
Here God talks about how thoroughly he would destroy Edom, and compares his destruction to those others who take
If thieves came, they would only take what they needed.
If grape gatherers came, they would only take what they could carry.
God says that he will thoroughly destroy Edom, and verse 7 tells us how.
How would God destroy Edom?
By using their allies.
Since Edom was a small nation, they couldn’t really attack another nation. They could defend their own nation because of their geological advantage, but they didn’t have a large army to attack, so they needed to rely on nations like Babylon.
God says that their allies would turn on them, and that’s exactly what happens. Babylon eventually turns on Edom.
Those who they trusted became their enemies, and they couldn’t see it.
God says, you are so blind that you have no understand, and why don’t they have any understanding?
Verses 8-9:
Verses 8-9:
8 Will I not on that day, declares the Lord,
destroy the wise men out of Edom,
and understanding out of Mount Esau?
9 And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman,
so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.
They have no understanding because God has taken the wise men from Edom.
Edom was known for it’s wise men
There is some evidence that Job was from Edom
Eliphaz, Job’s friend, where was he from? Teman… Eliphaz was an Edomite.
So the Edomites were known for their wisdom, but God says that he’s going to drive the wise men out of Edom.
10-14 The Reason for Edom’s destruction
10-14 The Reason for Edom’s destruction
Why is God going to destroy Edom... We get the answer in this section.
Verses 10-14:
10 Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob,
shame shall cover you,
and you shall be cut off forever.
11 On the day that you stood aloof,
on the day that strangers carried off his wealth
and foreigners entered his gates
and cast lots for Jerusalem,
you were like one of them.
12 But do not gloat over the day of your brother
in the day of his misfortune;
do not rejoice over the people of Judah
in the day of their ruin;
do not boast
in the day of distress.
13 Do not enter the gate of my people
in the day of their calamity;
do not gloat over his disaster
in the day of his calamity;
do not loot his wealth
in the day of his calamity.
14 Do not stand at the crossroads
to cut off his fugitives;
do not hand over his survivors
in the day of distress.
Why does God destroy Edom?
Because they didn’t help their brother… Instead of being a brother to Esau, they have become strangers.
When Babylon attacked Judah in 586BC Edom did nothing… They stood aloof, but it’s not just that they stood aloof.
Edom exploited Israel’s tragedy… List some of the ways that Edom exploited Israel’s tragedy.
They looted
They rejoiced in the day of their ruin
They captured the survivors and prevented their escape.
Edom and Israel were supposed to be brothers, but Edom did not treat Israel with righteousness.
1 “Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea, as the Lord told me. And for many days we traveled around Mount Seir. 2 Then the Lord said to me, 3 ‘You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward 4 and command the people, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful. 5 Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. 6 You shall purchase food from them with money, that you may eat, and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink. 7 For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.” ’ 8 So we went on, away from our brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir, away from the Arabah road from Elath and Ezion-geber.
“And we turned and went in the direction of the wilderness of Moab.
When Israel traveled through Moab, they were to treat the Moabites well… The Moabites didn’t return the favor.
15-18 The Day of the Lord for all nations
15-18 The Day of the Lord for all nations
15 For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations.
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
your deeds shall return on your own head.
16 For as you have drunk on my holy mountain,
so all the nations shall drink continually;
they shall drink and swallow,
and shall be as though they had never been.
17 But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape,
and it shall be holy,
and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.
18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire,
and the house of Joseph a flame,
and the house of Esau stubble;
they shall burn them and consume them,
and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau,
for the Lord has spoken.
From this point on there is a change… Before we were talking about judgment upon Esau, but picking up in verse 15, we see judgment upon all the nations… What’s going on here?
Edom is really a type… Edom is a representative for all of the nations…
What is going to happen to Edom is going to happen to all earthly kingdoms.
The lesson for us is obvious. America is going to come to and end… America is not God’s nation, we are, and we should always remember that.
All nations that are built by man fall under God’s judgment, but who will escape?
17 But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape,
and it shall be holy,
and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.
Those who escape God’s judgment are those who are a part of Mount Zion… God’s city… New Jerusalem.
Notice the contrast here:
Mount Seir is going to be desolate, but Mount Zion is going to be restored.
God’s nation is going to be the fire, and the nations of the world are going to be burned.
19-21 The Return of the Israelites
19-21 The Return of the Israelites
19 Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau,
and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines;
they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria,
and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
20 The exiles of this host of the people of Israel
shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath,
and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad
shall possess the cities of the Negeb.
21 Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion
to rule Mount Esau,
and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.
These last few verses talk about Israel regaining territory that they had lost, but this message extends beyond that because even once Israel was released from captivity, they never really regained their former glory. So this is talking about something beyond Israel...
I think that this refers to the New Israel. I think that this refers to the kingdom that Christ built, and it’s a message of Hope.
This is something that the prophets are consistent about. Judgement is not the last word.
Even though Israel is going to be Judged and Punishes… Judgement is not the last word.
There is hope in the new kingdom. There is hope in Jesus.
This isn’t just about hope for the Israelites… who is this prophecy addressed to?
The Edomites have a hope waiting for them as well… Their hope is in Jesus.
That’s the lesson of Obadiah...
Earthly kingdoms will not stand but there is hope in Jesus.
Invitation:
Invitation:
21 Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion
to rule Mount Esau,
and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.
As we said during Bible Class… This is a verse of hope.
The verse talks about Saviors who are going to go up to Mount Zion, but this ultimately points to a Savior who would rule from Mount Zion… New Jerusalem. Who’s that savior? that savior is Jesus.
As I said during Bible Class, the message of Obadiah is that all nations come to an end. When all nations finally come to an end there will be one nation, and one King, that rules everything.
The point of Obadiah is that we shouldn’t hope in our nation or our mountain… Our hope is in God’s nation… Our hope is in Mount Zion.
America isn’t going to last forever… That’s OK. My hope is in Jesus.
END