Read:
Read all of Obadiah (it is only one chapter)
Name:__________________________________________Date:______________________
Vital
Statistics:
PURPOSE:
To
show that God judges those who have harmed His people.
AUTHOR:
Obadiah,
prophet of retribution, he
prophesied against Edom. His name means “Servant
of the Lord” or “Worshiper of Jehovah”.
TO
WHOM WRITTEN:
The Edomites, the Jews in Judah, and God’s people everywhere.
DATE
WRITTEN:
Covers
a period of about 8 years during the reign
Jehoram of Judah. Possibly
written between ________B.C &
__________B.C.
SETTING:
Historically,
Edom had constantly harassed the Jews. Prior to the time this book was written,
they had participated in attacks against Judah. Given the dates above, this
prophecy comes after the division of Israel into the Northern and Southern
kingdoms and before the conquering of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C.
KEY
VERSES:
"Though
thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars,
thence will I bring thee down,
saith the Lord…….For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as
thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine
own head.” (Obadiah 1:4,15)
KEY
PEOPLE:
The
Edomites
KEY
PLACES:
Edom,
Jerusalem
SPECIAL
FEATURES UNIQUE TO OBADIAH:
The book if Obadiah uses vigorous poetic language and is written in the form of a dirge of doom.
THE
BLUEPRINT:
A.)
EDOM’S DESTRUCTION (1:1-16)
B.)
ISRAEL’S RESTORATION (1:17-21)
MEGATHEMES
FOUND IN THE BOOK OF OBADIAH:
Justice – Because of the treachery of Edom in assisting Babylon to invade Judah, God would give Edom’s land to
Judah instead,
when God rights the wrongs against His people.
Pride – Because of their seemingly invincible rock fortress, the Edomites were proud and self-confident. But God
humbled then
and their nation disappeared from the face of the earth.
QUESTIONS:
1.)
Who was the father of the Edomites? (hint: see verse 6)
________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
2.)
Who was Esau’s brother?
_______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
3.)
What was the final judgment of Edom?______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
4.)
What will be the final outcome for the children of
Israel? ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
SUMMARY:
The
book of Obadiah shows the Law of Divine Retribution.
”as thou hast done. . .so it shall be done unto thee” (v. 15)
*Edom’s treachery against Judah
*Edom
lifted sword in violence (v.10)
*Edom to perish through treachery (v.11)
*Edom to have sword in violence (v.12-14)
*Edom robbed Judah (v. 13)
*Edom sought utter destruction of Judah (v.12-14)
*Edom to be robbed (v.5,6)
*Edom to have utter destruction (v. 9,10,18)
Though Judah was promised restoration after
punishment, Edom was given no promise of restoration. The background and key to
this book is to be found in the relationship of these two nations and their
fathers, Esau and Jacob.
Note:
There are several cross references between Obadiah and Amos.
CHRIST
SEEN:
Christ is seen as the Servant (Philippians 2:7) and Worshiper (Hebrews 2:12) of Jehovah, and the Executor of Divine Retribution (II Thessalonians 1:6-10).
Thank
you for studying with us today. At this point you may choose to either save an
unfinished assignment or submit it to the Pastor’s office for review and
feedback.
See
you next lesson: J
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