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Home , Book of Obadiah, Twelve Minor Prophets

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Major Themes from the Minor An overview of the general content, insights, and lessons from The scroll of "The Twelve"

Cover photo:, " omepage.mac.com/ ...IMedia/scroll.j "

Prepared by Stephen J. Nunemaker D Min Tri-M Africa

MOBILE MODULAR MINISTRY

Mobile Modular Ministry 1

Major Themes from the Minor Prophets An overview of the genera~ content, insights, and iessons from the scroll of "The Twelve"

Stephen J. Nunemaker, D Min

OUTLINE OF STUDY

Introduction: • The Writing Prophets of the • General Themes of the O.T. Prophetic Message

Lesson One: - Am I my Brother's Keeper?

Lesson Two: - You ain't seen nothin' yet!

Lesson Three: - Salvation is of God

Lesson Four: - What's it going to take?

Lesson Five: - Unrequited Love

Lesson Six: - Light at the End of the Tunnel

Lesson Seven: - Does God's Patience have Limits?

Lesson Eight: - The Two Sides of Judgment

Lesson Nine: - Theodicy: How Can God Use Evil to Accomplish His Purpose?

Lesson Ten: - Nice Paneling, but...

Lesson Eleven: Zechariah -If you build it, He will come ...

Lesson Twelve: - He will come, but are you ready?

Recommendations for Study:

• Please bring your Bible and your notes to each session. (A good study Bible is recom mended). • Memorize the names of the 12 Minor Prophets (Canonical Order); • Read the entire Minor Prophet under study (or a significant portion), prior to advancing to the next lesson; • Complete the Q & A sections of the lesson series. 2

INTRODUCTION

The Writing Prophets of the Old Testament

Normally, the writing prophets ofthe Old Testament are divided into two major groups:

• The 4 major prophets-, , , and

• The 12 minor prophets-Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

• Lamentations is considered part of the major grouping because of its association with Jeremiah. 1

• Other (non-writing) prophets of the Old Testament include: , , Ahijah, lddo, , , and , among others. Since the historical period covered by the 4 is considered part of the O.T. dispensation, John the Baptist would also be included with the prophets belonging to that period. 2

• The terms "major" and "minor" do not refer to the importance of the writings but rather to the length. Compared to Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, the writings of the 12 Minor Prophets are much shorter. These twelve books were designated the "Minor Prophets" late in the 4th century A.D., not because they were considered less important or less inspired, but because of their comparative brevity. 3

• "Before the time of Christ these twelve books were joined together to make one scroll known collectively as "The Twelve." Their combined length (sixty-seven chapters) is about equal to that of Isaiah. The only chronological significance of the order of the Minor Prophets in the English Bible is that the first six were written before the last six..." 4

• The Minor Prophets cover a period of history of 400 years, encompassing the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian empires, and their respective captivities (of and Judah). According to general consensus, two of the prophets prophesied to the northern kingdom, Israel (Amos, Hosea), four to the southern kingdom, Judah (Joel, Micah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk), one to (Obadiah), and two to the Assyrian Empire (Jonah, Nahum). The remaining three prophesied to post-exilic Jews that had returned to Palestine (Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi).

I John MacArthur, Introduction to the Prophets, MacArthur Study Bible, NKN, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997;p.9. 2 Ibid. 3 Bruce Wilkinson, Kenneth Boa, Talk Thru the Bible, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983, p.229. 4 Ibid. 3

Prophets Organized by Date and Direction of Ministry

Prophet Ministered To Dates

Obadiah Edom 850-840 B.C. Joel Judah 835-796 B.C. Jonah Nineveh 784-760 B.C. Amos Israel 763-755 B.C. Hosea Israel 755-710 B.C. Isaiah Judah 739-680 B.C. Micah Judah 735-710 B.C. Nahum Nineveh 650-630 B.C. Zephaniah Judah 635-625 B.C. Jeremiah Judah 627-570 B.C. Habakkuk Judah 620-605 B.C. Daniel 605-536 B.C. Ezekiel Babylon 593-570 B.C. Haggai Judah 520-505 B.C. Zechariah Judah 520-470 B.C. Malachi Judah 437-417 B.C.

The Old Testament prophets may also be categorized according to their relationship to the captivities of Israel (ca. 722 B.C.) and Judah (ca. 586 B.C.), as in the following chart: 5

Prophets Organized with Reference to the Captivity

Pre-Exilic Exilic Post-Exilic Obadiah Micah Daniel Haggai Joel Nahum Ezekiel Zechariah Jonah Zephaniah Malachi Amos Jeremiah Hosea Habakkuk Isaiah

MacArthur Note on the Old Testament Prophets: 6

God's dealing with Israel dominated the pages of the major and minor prophets, but several books-Daniel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Nahum-have as their subjects God's working in Gentile world history. The other look beyond Israel from time to time to note how God's chosen nation will impact the rest of the nations (e.g., Is. 52:10, 15) or how God will judge the nations.

5 MacArthur, p. 9. 6 Ibid. p. 12 4

General Themes of the D.T. Prophetic Message

The was divided up into three major sections: The Law (Pentateuch), the Prophets, and the Writings (some of the and the ). The Hebrew canon contained either 22 or 24 books, depending on how the books were listed, corresponding to the 39 books of our Old Testament Canon. In the 22-book Hebrew canon Jeremiah and Lamentations were combined, as were Judges and Ruth. The following table shows the Old Testament canon, containing these three divisions, as it would have appeared at the time of Christ. 7

The Hebrew Old Testament

Law Prophets Writings

1. Genesis A. Former Prophets A. Poetical Books 2. Exodus 6. 14. 3. Leviticus 7. Judges 15. Proverbs 4. Numbers 8. (1 & 2) 16. 5. Deuteronomy 9. Kings (1 & 2) B. Five Rolls (Megilloth) B. Latter Prophets 17. Song of Solomon 10. . Ruth 11. Jeremiah 19. Lamentations 12. Ezekiel 20. 13. The Twelve 21. (minor prophets) C. Historical Books 22. Daniel 23. Ezra-Nehemiah 24. Chronicles (1 & 2)

The second division of the Hebrew Scriptures was broken down into two sections: The Former Prophets and the Latter Prophets. The Former Prophets were actually comprised of the historical books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, which recounted God's dealings with Israel from the conquest of Canaan until the Babylonian captivity. The Latter Prophets include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, plus the . (Daniel was placed with the "Writings" division).

Who were they?

They were called "prophets" (Hebrew nabi, "prophet", over 300 times); also "seers"; "messengers"; and "servants of the Lord". The English word "prophet" comes from two Greek words that, together, literally mean "to speak for". Thus, they were appointed by God Himself to be his spokesmen, and to deliver warnings of judgment as well as revelation of things to come. Hence, the two important characteristics of the ministry of the prophets: foretelling (revealing future events) and forth telling (pronouncing messages of warning or consolation from God).

7 John MacArthur, How We Got the Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, NKN, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997; p. xv. 5

Bruce Wilkinson and Kenneth Boa provide a useful summary of the major themes of the prophetic message as follows (emphasis added): 8

1. The prophets exposed the sinful practices of the people. It required considerable courage to tell the people what they needed to hear instead of succumbing to the temptation of telling them what they wanted to hear. God's messengers could not compromise their harsh treatment of sin as sin, knowing that the only hope for the people was a humble turning to the Lord and acknowledgment of their guilt...

2. The prophets called the people back to the moral, civil, and ceremonial law of God. They reminded the people about the character of God and urged them to trust Him with all their hearts. God has a rich purpose for them, but they must believe and obey Him.

3. They warned the people of coming judgment. God must condemn the nation I Amos [Tissot] if its princes, priests, and people continue to arrogantly reject [God's] moral and spiritual principles. They are responsible for their disobedience to their covenant commitment with God. is the sovereign Lord of history, and the gentile nations will also be judged if they rebel against His dominion.

4. The prophets anticipated the coming Messiah. History is linear, not cyclical. It has a definite goal, and God will sovereignly move all things to a consummation in the messianic age.

8 Wilkinson, Boa, Talk Thru the Bible, p. 186. 6

Introduction Q&A

1. Can you write the names of the 12 Minor Prophets below (in canonical order)?

2. Can you name two prominent Old Testament prophets for whom we have no record of writings?

3. What is the meaning of the word "minor" with reference to the Minor Prophets?

4. Wilkinson & Boa summarize four major themes of the prophetic message:

a. The prophets exposed the _

b. The prophets called the people back to the moral, civil, and ceremonial

c. They warned the people of .

d. The prophets anticipated the .

5. Please read Obadiah and Joel before the next class session. 7

LESSON ONE: OBADIAH Am I My Brother's Keeper?

"Was not 's brother?" says the LORD. "Yet Jacob I have loved; But Esau I have hated, and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness." - :2-3

Historical Background:

To understand the context of the prophecy of Obadiah, you have to go back to Genesis Chapters 25 - 27, the story of Jacob and Esau and the history of the bitter enmity between their descendants:

• The struggle actually began in Rebekah's womb, prophesied by the LORD (Gen. 25:22-23). The struggle would be more than between her sons Jacob and Esau but extend to their Photo www.chandlerschool.org descendants and the two nations that would come from them: Israel and Edam.

• Jacob, the "supplanter" (literally, one who takes the heel), convinces his brother Esau to sell him his birthright for a bowl of red stew (hence the name Edom = "red" attributed to Esau; Gen. 25:29-33).

Note verse 34: "Thus Esau despised his birthright." (To despise, in Biblical terms, means to consider of little value).

• In another crafty coup-aided and abetted by his mother, Rebekah-Jacob deceives his aged father and steals Esau's blessing as the firstborn (Gen. 27).

• Jacob's deceptions and Esau's spiritual dullness and passivity ultimately result in Esau's jealousy and violent hatred of his brother and desire to murder him (Gen. 27:41), which in turn results in Jacob's fleeing to Haran.

• Twenty years later, while fleeing his Uncle Laban to return to Palestine, accompanied by his two wives and eleven children (Gen. 31), Jacob finds himself once more in a potential confrontation with his brother Esau (Gen. 32). Following his wrestling with God at Peniel (Gen. 32), God miraculously brings about a conciliatory meeting between Jacob and his brother (Gen. 33).

• Nevertheless, a perpetual enmity remained between the descendants of Esau and the Israelites, and when Israel came out from Egypt, Edom denied their brother Jacob passage through their land, located south ofthe Dead Sea (Numbers 20:14-21). 8

Later History: 9

• "The Edomites opposed Saul (ca. 1043-1011 B.c.) and were subdued under (ca. 1011-971 B.c.) and Solomon (ca. 971-931 B.c.); Afl.4MAEAN 1"'19£5 • "They fought against Jehoshaphat (ca. 873-848 B.c.) and successfully rebelled against Jehoram (ca. 853-841 B.c.). They were again conquered by Judah under Amaziah (ca. 796-767 B.C.), but regained their freedom under Ahaz (ca. 735-715 B.c.).

• "Edom was later controlled by Assyria and Babylon;

• "In the 5th Century B.C.the Edomites were forced by the Nabateans to leave their territory; they moved to the area of southern Palestine and became known as Photo: www.sakom.pl/wiki/Edornites Idumeans. Herod the Great, an Idumean, became king of Judea under Rome in 37 B.C.

• "In a sense, the enmity between Esau and Jacob was continued in Herod's attempt to murder Jesus.

• "The Idumeans participated in the rebellion of against Rome and were defeated along with the Jews by Titus in A.D. 70.

Background for Obadiah:

Obadiah received a vision from God to pronounce judgment (total destruction) upon Edom because of their hatred and mistreatment of Israel-not only when Israel was passing through their territory on the way to the Promised Land, but much later, when they came to the aid of Israel's enemies at a time when Jerusalem itself was in peril: The Roman Carda (city street) at Petra. Photo: Sasa Mutic

"For their unwillingness to serve as their brothers' keeper, the Edomites would one day become extinct. Obadiah, an obscure prophet of unknown background, describes how Edom would be 'cut off forever' (v. 10), God's people would be vindicated, and God would be recognized as Judge over all the earth." 10

John MacArthur comments:

"Ironically, the Edomites applauded the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. (d. Ps. 137:7) but died trying to defend it in A.D. 70. After that time they were never heard of again. As

9 MacArthur, Introduction to the ,p.1288. 10 Wilkinson & Boa, p. 250 9

Obadiah predicted, they would be 'cut off forever' (v. 10); and 'no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau'" (v. 18). 11

The Prophet and His Writing:

• The book is ascribed the name of the prophet who received the vision (1:1). The Hebrew name Obadyah means "Worshiper of Yahweh" of "Servant of Yahweh". The name occurs numerous times in the Old Testament with reference to as many as 13 individuals.

• Obadiah was an obscure prophet apparently belonging to the southern kingdom, given his references to Jerusalem and Judah (e.g. vv. 10-12, 17, 21). He may have been a contemporary of Elijah and Elisha. Nothing else is known, for certain, about the author.

• Obadiah is the shortest book of the Old Testament and is not quoted in the .

Date and Setting:

• Obadiah mentions no kings, so the date of writing is difficult to determine. Verses 10-14 (concerning an Edomite attack on Jerusalem) provide the only historical context to help in determining the date and circumstances of the prophecy. Scholars disagree as to which invasion of Jerusalem Obadiah has in mind, but history records 4 major invasions:

1. Shishak of Egypt invaded and plundered the temple and the palace of Jerusalem in 926 B.C. during the reign of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:25-26).

Note: During this time Edom was subject to Judah, which does not fit vv. 10-14, which imply that Edom was independent of Judah.

2. The Philistines and Arabians invaded Judah during the reign of Jehoram (848-841 B.c.), and looted the palace (2 Chronicles 21:16-17). Edom revolted during Jehoram's reign and became a bitter adversary (2 Kings 8:10-22; 2 Chronicles 21:8-20).

3. King Jehoash of Israel invaded Judah in 790 B.C (2 Kings 14; 2 Chronicles 25).

Note: verse 11 calls the invaders "strangers" and "foreigners", which seems odd if Obadiah were referring to the northern tribes of Israel.

4. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded, defeated, and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B.C (2 Kings 24-25), carrying many of the survivors away captive.

• Many scholars believe that (2) and (4) best fit the context of Obadiah. Of these, (2) is preferred since Obadiah does not mention a total destruction of the city, nor the destruction (burning) of the temple. It is also doubtful that Nebuchadnezzar would have "cast lots" (v. 11) for Jerusalem with anyone else. Finally, in other prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C, Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians are named, whereas Obadiah does not identify the enemy.

11 MacArthur, p. 1289. .•.

10

• In favor of the 586 B.C. date of writing (4), Obadiah does speak of the "captivity" of the inhabitants of Jerusalem (v. 11-12), and the "day of their destruction" (v. 12).

• Regardless of which invasion best fits Obadiah's description, that specific historical context will determine the date of writing-whether earlier, making Obadiah the first of the writing prophets, or later, making Obadiah a contemporary of the prophets of the southern kingdom prior to the Babylonian captivity.

Purpose and Theme:

1. Judgment: The primary purpose of Obadiah is the pronouncement of God's judgment on Edom because of its arrogance and hatred toward Israel (Judah). The language of Obadiah toward Edom is severe:

"I will make you small among the nations ..." (v. 2) "You shall be greatly despised" (v. 2) "I will bring you down" (v. 4) "Oh, how you will be cut off!" (v. 5) '''Willi not in that day', says the LORD,'even destroy the wise men from Edom...?'" "Your might men, 0 , shall be dismayed, to the end that everyone from the mountains of Esau may be cut off by slaughter." "Shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever."

God's righteous judgment against Edom is warranted, not only because the descendants of Esau were blood brothers of Jacob and hence, they were in fact their "brother's keeper", but even more so because of God's specific promise and warning concerning those who would "bless" or "curse" (or his descendants).

2. Hope: The secondary purpose of Obadiah was to prophesy the future restoration of Israel in keeping with the covenant promises of God. This was a message of hope delivered to Judah during a dark time of oppression, reminding them of God's faithfulness to His promises, and that God's purpose and justice will ultimately prevail.

Key verse: "Then saviors [deliverers] shall come to Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the LORD's" (v. 21).

Outline of Obadiah: 12

I. God's Judgment on Edom (1-14) A. Edom's Punishment (1-9) B. Edom's Crimes (10-14) II. God's Judgment on the Nations (15, 16) III. God's Restoration of Israel (15-21)

12 MacArthur Study Bible (NKN), p. 1289.