Ralph Porter
© 2003
AUTHOR, DATE, AND BACKGROUND
Of the person, date and background of Obadiah, little is known.
The book was written in response to an attack against Jerusalem in which the
Edomites
participated. Four such occurrences are known.
Since the Holy Spirit did not reveal more concerning the date or occasion,
perhaps one
should not be conjectured either.
PURPOSE AND THEME
The book announces the doom of Edom and ultimate triumph of Israel.
The cause of judgment was its attack against Israel.
As descendants of Esau, Edom should have known better (Gen. 12:3; 27:29).
They should have assisted Israel.
Rather than assist Israel, they joined her attackers, and became subject to
God's
judgment.
Purpose of the messages
•
To condemn Edom
•
To warn them of the danger
•
To convince them to stop persecuting Israel
Obadiah serves as a warning to Edom, or any nation, that would attack God's
people.
God will defend His people and destroy those who attack them.
Purpose of the book
•
To inspire confidence among God's peopleHe hasn't abandoned them.
He will remain faithful to them and defend them against the nations, even
when they
are in rebellion against Him.
They will be restored and blessed.
Message of the book
•
In spite of their sin, God hasn't abandoned His people.
•
Those who bless Israel will be blessed; those who curse them will be
cursed.
•
Condemnation of Edom and the final triumph of Israel.
God will defend His people and destroy their enemies, even though they are
walking
in sin.
What lessons should we learn from the study of this book?
"Your
deeds will come back on your own head!"
Ralph Porter
|
CONDEMNATION OF EDOM 1-16 |
RESTORATION OF ISRAEL 17-21 | |||||||
|
Call to the Nations
|
Attitude
of
Edom 2-3 |
Judg- ment against Edom 4-9 |
Causes of Judg- ment 10-14 |
Condem- nation of Edom 15-16 |
Promises for Israel
17 |
Des- truc- tion of Edom 18 |
Posses- sion of Promised Land 19-20 |
Establish- ment of the Kingdom
21 |
|
Yahweh calls the nations to go up against Edom
|
Pride 2-3a
3b
|
No escape 4
exclu- sion 5-6
friends 7
wisemen 8
9a
9b
|
Violence 10
Israel 11
sing Israel 12a
tion 12b
12c
to plunder Israel 13
fugitives 14a
survivors 14b
should help their brother, but perse- cuted him.
|
Day of judgment near 15
pense guaran- teed 16 |
Deliver- ance 17a
17b
sion of inheri- tance 17c |
Israel's enemy will be re- moved. |
Israel's promise will be fulfilled. |
Israel's king- dom will be esta- blished. |
Ralph Porter
AUTHOR, DATE, AND BACKGROUND
Of the person, date and background of Obadiah, little is known.
The book was written in response to an attack against Jerusalem in which the
Edomites
participated.
Four such occurrences are known.
The first between 848-841 B.C.
The last in 585 B.C.
Since the Holy Spirit did not reveal more concerning the date or occasion,
perhaps one
should not be conjectured either.
The fact of a preceding plundering of Jerusalem should be enough to satisfy.
PURPOSE AND THEME
The book announces the doom of Edom and ultimate triumph of Israel.
The cause of judgment was its attack against Israel.
When God made His covenant with Abraham, He told him that He would
make his
seed into a great nation (Gen. 12:2-3).
He presents the basis of His treatment of all the people of the world. What is
it?
Obadiah shows us the practical application of this principle.
Edom had mistreated Israel.
This is especially significant in the light of their history.
Who are they (Gen. 36:1)?
Whose struggle do these two nations continue?
As descendants of Esau, Edom should have known better (Gen. 12:3; 25:23;
27:29).
They should have assisted Israel.
Rather than assist Israel, they joined her attackers, and thus became subject
to divine
judgment.
Purpose of the messages--as preached by Nahum to the people of his day
• To condemn Edom
• To warn them of the danger
• To convince them to stop persecuting Israel
Obadiah serves as a warning to Edom, or any other nation, that would attempt
to attack
God's people.
He will defend them and destroy those who attack them.
Purpose of the book--as written and preserved for Israel's sake.
Purpose for future generations:
•
Inspire confidence among God's people--He hasn't abandoned them.
The book should be an encouragement to God's people Israel.
He will continue faithful to them and defend them against the nations, even
when
they are in rebellion against Him.
He is faithful to His promises.
They will be restored and blessed.
Message of the book:
"Your deeds will come back on your own head!"
• In spite of their sin, God hasn't abandoned His people.
• Those who bless Israel will be blessed; those who curse them will be cursed.
Condemnation of Edom and the final triumph of Israel.
Edom, the descendants of Esau, knew the risk they were taking (Gen. 12:3;
27:29).
They should have helped Israel, since they were brothers.
God will defend His people and destroy their enemies, even though they are
walking in
sin.
ORGANIZATION AND ARGUMENT
The book announces the doom of Edom and the ultimate triumph of Israel.
It is logically divided on this basis.
The first section predicts the doom of Edom.
CALL TO THE NATIONS
1
God sends His messenger with an order.
What's the order?
God calls the nations to go up against Edom.
ATTITUDE OF EDOM
2-3
What was her attitude?
Her false security (2-3) and certain judgment (4-9) are described.
Pride
2-3a
False security
3b
JUDGMENT AGAINST EDOM
4-9
How is the judgment described?
Will they be able to escape?
4
No escape
4
What will happen to their treasures?
6
No exclusion
5-6
What will happen to their friends?
7
No friends
7
No wise men
8
What will happen to their mighty warriors?
9
No warriors
9a
What will happen to all people?
No life
9b
CAUSES OF JUDGMENT
10-14
Why is God going to judge them?
The basic cause of judgment is failure to help Israel, a nation to which they
are
related by blood.
They even participated in active oppression of Israel.
Violence
10
Alliances against Israel 11
Despising Israel 12a "You should not look down on him!"
Enjoying Israel's destruction 12b "Nor rejoice in the day of their destruction"
Proud of Israel's trouble 12c "Nor boast in the day of their trouble"
Entering to plunder Israel 13
Killing fugitives 14a
Delivering survivors 14b
In summary, God is going to judge them because in the day of their
suffering, a
nation related to them by blood refused to help them.
In fact, they joined in at least as enthusiastically as the other nations, if not
more
so.
They should have helped their brother, but they persecuted him.
CONDEMNATION OF EDOM
15-16
Therefore, Edom is condemned along with the rest of the nations.
What is near?
15
The day of the Lord is near.
What's going to happen to them?
The same thing will happen to them
that they have done to others
What will they receive?
They will receive what they have given out.
Day of judgment near
15
Recompense guaranteed
16
The final prediction of doom includes Edom with the other nations who have
not
followed Yahweh.
She will receive similar treatment to what she gave Israel.
In contrast to Edom's future, the Israel's future is presented.
A remnant will escape and be saved.
The land will be returned to them, and they will participate in the kingdom
of God.
PROMISES FOR ISRAEL
17
What are the promises for Israel?
Deliverance
17a
Holiness
17b
Possession of inheritance
17c
What will happen to Esau's family?
DESTRUCTION OF EDOM
18
Their enemies will be removed.
POSSESSION OF THE PROMISED LAND
19-20
Israel's promise will be fulfilled.
Who will possess the kingdom?
ESTABLISHMENT OF KINGDOM
21
Israel's kingdom will be established.
In spite of the rebellion of the nations against God and His people, God still reigns
over all
His creation.
In Psalm 2 we find a commentary that explains what we see in Obadiah:
The nations have raised up against Yahweh and against His people.
God laughs at them, and judges them.
One nation that should understand the foolishness of such a rebellion is Edom.
They are related to Israel by blood.
Instead of helping their brother, they have joined the rebellion against Yahweh
and
attack against Israel.
Therefore, God is going to judge them, together with their other enemies.
Edom has to learn the importance of the promise given in Gen. 12:3.
What lessons should we learn from the study of this book?