><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Obadiah) CHAPTER 1 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1 By act and attitude Edom had sinned against God and against His people. Trace the details of the sin; then look up I Cor. 10: 11, 12 and apply Obadiah's warnings to your own life. 2 The prophet claims divine inspiration (verses 1, 4, 8, 18). What do we learn of the Lord's character from this book? What wonderful truth had yet to be revealed which goes beyond verse is? Cf Rom. 8:3,4. 3 The prophet's words speak of searing (verse 18) and possession (verses 17, 19, 20). How do the words 'holy' (verse 17) and 'the kingdom shall be the Lord's' (verse 21) change the complexion of the situation? The Christian's expectation is the same: 'Thy kingdom come.' How and why does its spirit differ? Cf Mk. I: 14, 15; Mt. 12:28; Acts 8: 12;Jn. 18:36; Rev. 12:10,11; Mt.;: 3; Rom. 14: 17. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Obadiah) Chapter 1 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) The sins of Edom were very specific: violence against Jacob (brother), aloof and like a stranger to them, looking down on Israel in her misfortune, boasting in the day of their trouble, seizing their wealth in day of disaster, cutting down their fugitives,etc., Mainly, they took advantage at opportune times to do bad things. Conversely, as Christians, we need to act upon our feelings to do good works. When we don't act, it can also be considered a sin of inaction, I think. It's challenging... (2) The Lord's character seems to be zealous for His people, sovereign, and just. He brings down the proud and lofty ones like Edom. Edom felt very secure, and even hid their treasures in vaults in the rocks. But God would bring them down, and..."there will be no survivors from the house of Esau (aka Edom). The Lord has spoken." Note, however, in Amos 9:12 it refers to the remnant of Edom. (3) Although it seems that Israel will possess Edom, the overall says , v21"And the kindom will be the Lord's." That is the final word. Nothing we think we gained, earned, inherited is really ours. It is all God's, granted to us by grace. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- The Book of Obadiah The Doom and Deliverance The doom of the Proud and Rebellious, 1-16, and Deliverance of the Meek and Humble, 17-21 This is a message addressed to Edom, where the descendants of Esau, Edomites, lived. It is directly spoken to Edom and Zion and represents Esau and Jacob, the twin sons of Isaac. When I read Genesis chapters 25 to 28, I could not understand why God let such kind of trick be performed by Rebekah to allow Jacob be blessed by his father. The Book of Obadiah opened my eyes to understand the reasons. Above all, it is God's plan that was carried out by Rebekah. And also, it was Esau's disregard of trading his birth right for a bowl of red bean stew (Edom means red stuff, that is the red bean stew). Edom is a proud race because of their wisdom (Teman was an Edomite city famous for its wise men) and their geographic protection given by God to live on a high cliff rocky city, Petra. With these given privileges that made them a proud race. They felt that they were the most blessed ones and despised all the others. God gives us gifts for us to serve Him, not to show off. In fact, Edomites are not so smart. In verse 7, it tells us that "All your allies will force you to the border, your friends will deceive and overpower you; those who eat your bread will set a trap for you, but you will not detect it." It is really very pitiful for someone who thinks that he is smart and does not realize that others are taking advantage of him. THE PRIDE OF YOUR HEART HAS DECEIVED YOU, Obadiah 3a. Obadiah also promised that the nation of Israel would rise again and posses not only her own land but also philistia and Edom, Obadiah 17-21; Isa. 11:14. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- Obadiah was a predecessor of Elisha. He began ministry either in 840 or 586. 1) Edom had built up themselves as a high tower. They had erected an impenetrable fotress city of Petra. They had taken the oh so familiar road of idolatry and thinking they were great, replacing Holy God with things made by human hands/putting their trust in themselves and their abilities. Let us remember to be content with weakness and realize when we are weak, then we are strong/strengthened by Him! 2 Cor 12:10 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2) We see here God is a just God, and a jealous God. He requires our full devotion and service to Him. The promised Messiah had not yet been revealed and was the answer the people were in need of. Rom 8:3 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 3) Obadiah speaks of consuming fire, posession of the land. The implication of holy in v17 and 'the kingdom shall be the Lord's' represents the type of posession and the way in which possession must take place. In order for the kingdom to belong to the Lord, it must pass through judgement. The only way to pass judgement is through the blood of Jesus. We must be put into the furnace and refined with fire, only then will we belong to the Lord.