OBADIAH &

DAY 1: BACKGROUND OF OBADIAH Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament consists of twenty-one verses, but this tiny book packs a punch! I love this picture of Obadiah as a referee, for that is what he’s doing to a certain degree. The Lord speaks through Obadiah to condemn , but also to encourage God’s people.

There’s a “sucker punch” in this book though. A clear warning is given that we should apply to our own lives. Read with that in mind, because the messages of these Minor apply just as much today.

BACKGROUND OF OBADIAH What we know about Obadiah is ridiculously small. He lives up to the meaning of his name, “the Lord’s servant” in how he faithfully delivers the message God has for him to present, then as silently as he came on the scene, disappears.

Because he does not name any ruling kings and speaks of an attack that could be from two different time spans, the book is somewhat hard to date. Some believe that Obadiah was active approximately 841-825 B.C. Others believe the book is more accurately dated 626-585 B.C. The lack of kings may be a simple omission because the author did not deem it important, or it may be that there was no king in place at that time, especially following the overtake of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Below is a chart explaining some additional reasons behind the different dates. Obviously, the accuracy of the book’s date is not ultimately important, for the book is included in our because of it’s message. However, it is good to understand the background and reasoning.

841 – 825 B.C. 626-585 B.C. Edom revolted against Jerusalem in King Jehoram’s day Vividness of description in v. 11-14 best fit the (2 Kings 8:20-22; 2 Chron. 21:8-17) destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Verses 12-14 suggest future directives Edom had extended hostility toward Judah & Israel for centuries seems to have borrowed from Obadiah’s Similarity to which was written at the time prophecy (Jeremiah 49) of Judah’s fall to Babylon demonstrates similar time or Obadiah borrowing from Jeremiah 2:32 seems to borrow from Obadiah v. 17 Verse 19’s reference to possessing Ephraim & Samaria suits a later date since Israel was still in existence earlier Locations mentioned in Obadiah are different than Reference to “sons of Israel…exiles of Jerusalem (vs. 20) where exiles were taken in 586 B.C. (Babylon) imply both the Assyrian & took place Placement in the canon argues for an earlier dating Canon placement is due to the theme of “day of the Lord” rather than chronological placement

Personally, I tend to agree with placing the book’s date to the time of Jerusalem’s fall. The message of Obadiah is partly condemnation to Edom for their terrible actions toward God’s people, but also a word of encouragement to the Hebrew captives that Edom would indeed be judged for their spiteful behavior.

“There is little reason to believe that Obadiah went to Edom to deliver his message as Jonah went to Nineveh. As with other oracles against the nations, there is no explicit statement that the message was delivered to anyone outside of Israel, and the message’s interpretation does not require it. Normally the prophetic judgment speeches against the nations were intended for the ears of God’s people.” -- Smith & Page, , Obadiah, Jonah

Edom and Israel To further understand the relationship, or lack thereof, between God’s chosen people and Edom, one must look back all the way to Genesis. , also known as Edom (Gen 36:1), and were twins who struggled even in the womb. However, the tensions didn’t end there and carried into future generations. Look up the following verses and make note of what occurred.

• Numbers 20:14-21 A Jew and An Edomite

• 1 14:47 In the New Testament, Jesus comes face to face with Herod the Great, also an Edomite • 2 Samuel 8:13-14 (Idumean).

Ironically, and also consistent • 1 Kings 11:14-25 with biblical prophesy, Jesus the Jew suffers on the cross and serves as an eternal King.

• 2 Chronicles 21:8-10 Herod on the other hand was

disgraced, exiled and finally buried in a foreign country. • 35:3-9

Today’s Devotional Thought

In the story of these nations you also have the extended story of these two men, Jacob and Esau. God, in a sense, has put Jacob and Esau into an enlarger and blown them up to national size. As the prophet discusses this you can see that the story of these two men continues; Israel is still Jacob and Edom is still Esau.

Jacob and Esau were in perpetual antagonism. We read in the book of Genesis that even before they were born, they struggled together in their mother’s womb. That antagonism marked the lives of these two men, and, consequently, the lives of their descendants, the two nations of Israel and Edom.

And as you recall from Genesis, Jacob was mother’s darling and Esau was daddy’s little man, and there was one unending conflict between the two of them which did not end with the lives of these men. The nations carried on this same conflict, and all the way from Genesis through there is the threat of struggle and unbroken antagonism between them. In the book of Malachi (remember, Genesis records the beginning of these nations), the last book of the Old Testament, God says, “I have loved Jacob but I have hated Esau.” (Malachi 1:2) Why does the story of these two men come to a focus here in this little prophecy of Obadiah? What is so important about these two men and these two nations? Well, that is what the makes very clear to us. In the New Testament we discover that there is a perpetual antagonism within the nature of the Christian. In Galatians 5:17 we are told that the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh; they are opposed to one another.

He has taken these two men and the subsequent nations that came from them and used them through the Bible as a consistent picture of the conflict between the flesh and the spirit – Jacob and Esau, Israel and Edom. These two men, Jacob and Esau, and the nations Israel and Edom, always appear as a picture of a struggle between the flesh and the spirit that is going on in our own lives as believers. Esau lusts against Jacob, and Jacob against Esau; the two great principles are irreconcilably opposed to one another.

-- Ray C. Stedman, Obadiah: Death to Edom! DAY TWO: OBADIAH Today we’ll cover the whole book of Obadiah. Really tough with it only being one chapter, right? I think you’ll be amazed how much is in this tiny book! But, before we delve in, I want to mention one last thing that will help you better understand what you’re reading.

The people of Edom lived in and near the mountains. Later, Petra became its capital – easily defended due to a narrow canyon entrance. Located near a mountain range containing Mount Seir, Petra also became known by that mountain name, symbolizing its strength and lofty position. Over the years, several Arab groups, one being the Nabataeans who carved Petra’s now famous structures out of the sandstone walls, gradually overtook Petra and Edom, which is now modern day Jordan.

OK, you’re ready to read Obadiah! Because of its short length, it’s the perfect opportunity for you to use the inductive method of Bible study and discover key words, themes, etc. on your own. Don’t worry, I’ll still give you some structure and guide you through.

1. Read all of Obadiah without marking anything. Just read and get the basic idea and flow.

2. Read Obadiah again, this time identifying key words. List those words below.

3. Read through Obadiah once more, this time marking your key words and symbols, types, and references to Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

4. What do you consider to be the main theme of Obadiah?

5. Complete the chart below based on what you discovered in your reading. Use another sheet if needed.

WHO is the author? And the target audience?

WHAT sins and promises are discussed?

WHEN was it written? What clues help you determine this? WHERE are Jesus & the Holy Spirit represented in the book?

WHY was it written?

HOW does this book apply to you and our world today? DAY 3: BACKGROUND OF JONAH Unlike Obadiah, we know a bit more about Jonah. Read 2 Kings 14:23-27 and answer the following:

• Who was king of Judah?

• Who was king of Israel?

• Based on the kings named, when was Jonah active? (Use your timeline for assistance.)

• Who was Jonah’s father?

• Where did Jonah live?

NINEVAH AND THE ASSYRIANS To understand Jonah, you need to know a bit about Nineveh and the Assyrian people.

One of ’s grandsons, Nimrod (the mighty warrior) established the city and tower of Babel (Gen. 10, 11), which later became Assyria, and Nineveh its capital. We’ll learn more about the destruction of Nineveh when we study the book of , but Nineveh’s ruins can be seen today outside the city of Mosul, Iraq. During its golden years, Assyria was a mighty empire and known for great brutality as it conquered new territories – dismemberment, impalement, displays of beheaded individuals, burning children alive, slave labor, etc.

Because of the timing of Jonah’s message, it is very likely that Nineveh, and Assyria as a whole, were in a period of decline due to internal dissension. This may explain why in verse 3:6 it refers to the “king of Ninevah” rather than a king of Assyria. Additionally, there was a full solar eclipse not too long prior to Jonah’s arrival, which may have still been in the minds of Ninevites and used by the Spirit to confirm Jonah’s short but direct message.

JONAH Interestingly, Jonah (“dove”) is the only Old Testament prophet directed to travel to a Gentile nation and give a prophetic message. As you’ll see, Jonah takes offense at being told to do this and travels in a completely different direction. It is Jonah’s outright disobedience that has dubbed him the “reluctant missionary,” “disobedient servant,” “runaway prophet,” etc. Why did he disobey? Perhaps fear of Assyrian brutality, or rubbing shoulders with the “unclean,” or possibly because God’s forgiveness of Nineveh would in essence spread God’s mercy beyond just the nation of Israel.

Regardless of the reason, Jonah disobeys God and travels toward Tarshish, or southern Spain. Looking at the map to the left, here are Jonah’s travels.

#1 – Gath-hepher – Jonah’s hometown #2 – Joppa – Jonah boards a ship for Tarshish across the Mediterranean Sea #3 – Travel toward Nineveh #4 – Nineveh – Jonah’s originally purposed destination

OVERVIEW OF JONAH: Close out today’s study by reading all four chapters of Jonah. The challenge will be to read it with an open mind, not relying on what you already know. Just read & observe, writing down repeated and thematically important words that will be distinctively marked in future study. DAY 4: CHAPTER 1-2 Ready to dig in to a book that’s probably so familiar to you that you could quote it in your sleep? Good! Let’s go!

As you read Chapters 1-2, please do the following:

• Distinctively mark the key words you identified yesterday. Write down those words here.

• If not already on your key words list, also mark the following: “Lord” (any references, i.e. God, You, Me, etc.), “called on the Lord”, “perish”, and “pray”.

• Mark any references, foreshadowing, or works of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

• List what you learn about God and His characteristics.

• List what you learn about Jonah and his characteristics.

It is the heathen sailors who feared and are • What are your thoughts about Jonah’s prayer? Did he praying while the man of God is complacently repent? sleeping below. The sailors were praying to the wrong gods, but they were convicted by the events at sea. Jonah’s lack of reaction is significant. Sin hardens the heart and makes us insensitive. Here we see that Jonah is Today’s Devotional Thought insensitive to what God is doing. And we see We shake our heads and call Jonah silly for trying to flee God’s the first of many contrasts between the presence, but don’t we do the same? We just push Him out of heathens and Jonah. Jonah is insensitive, but our minds and think He’ll never know, never find us, and leave the heathens are aware that something out of us alone. Yet Jonah’s running away put the lives of others in the ordinary is going on and they are praying danger. I wonder if we ever truly think about the domino to their gods. effect that takes place when we choose to disobey God! Jonah’s statement in 1:9 is the exact opposite It’s clear though that Jonah still doesn’t understand God’s of what his actions show. He does not fear mercy. When he tells the sailors to throw him overboard, it’s God. If he did, he would have obeyed the first not with a hope of being rescued. He’s planning to die – and I time, and at the least, been praying because of think is happy about it so he doesn’t have to fulfill God’s call to the storm. go to Nineveh. But even in Jonah’s death wish, he is met with -- Hampton Keathly, IV God’s mercy…and so are the sailors. Co-founder, Bible.org “Jonah” introduction The storm calms and the sailors greatly fear the Lord, seeing that He was indeed the power behind the storm. Mercy for the sailors. I wonder how many had changed lives that day. The storm calms as well for Jonah, and as he sinks to the bottom of the ocean, God shows mercy by sparing his life. But Jonah has more to learn. God is indeed a God of mercy, even in our disobedience. What in my life am I running from that could sink me into the ocean? Would it not be better to deal with it now and receive God’s mercy above the pit, outside a fish’s belly? DAY 5: CHAPTER 3-4 There is an incredible work of the Spirit that takes place in Chapter 3. Ninevah, filled with more than 120,000 people and God’s simple message rang through the masses. The king heard the message and called the entire city to fast and mourn for their sins so that perhaps God would relent His punishment.

What if that would happen today? What if your city, your nation was so gripped by God that it caused corporate repentance? Read this account from 1857 during the Second Great Awakening:

“A schoolboy in class became so troubled about his soul that the schoolmaster sent him home. An older boy, a Christian, went with him, and before they had gone far led him to Christ. Returning at once to school, this new convert testified to his teacher: 'Oh, I am so happy! I have the Lord Jesus in my heart.' These simple words had an astonishing effect; boy after boy rose silently and left the room. Going outside, the teacher found these boys all on their knees in a row along the wall of the playground. Very soon, their silent prayer became a bitter cry; it was heard by another class inside and pierced their hearts. They fell on their knees and their cry for mercy was heard in turn by a girls' class above. In a few moments, the whole school was on their knees! Neighbors and passers-by came flocking in, and, as they crossed the threshold, they all came under the same convicting power. Every room was filled with men, women, and children seeking God."

Read Chapter 3-4 doing the following:

• Mark the key words you identified, in addition to “Lord,” “pray,” “compassion,” “call on God,” and “turn.”

• Mark references to Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

• List the characteristics of God that you observe.

• How does God’s heart compare with Jonah’s?

Today’s Devotional Thought Does it strike you odd that Jonah is so concerned with a plant, and mad at God for removing it? I believe a very strong comparison is being made here. Jonah, who is upset with God for extending grace to those he believes don’t deserve it, experiences the shade of a plant…a plant he didn’t deserve. Then when it is removed, he is angry with God. But is that not the story of Israel, and of us? We want mercy, but are less willing to let it be extended to others, especially if they’ve hurt us. And when we are judged for this, we get angry with God.

And what of God’s mention of the animals? I believe this further points out Jonah’s lack of concern for the life of Nineveh. If you remember, even the animals fasted from food and water as Nineveh was reaching out to God. The animals, not responsible for Nineveh’s sin, suffered because of it. But Jonah was not concerned with Nineveh, it’s inhabitants or any living creatures. He was angry that God extended mercy to those he wanted judged, and he wanted his plant back!

Galatians 5:14 sums up all that Jonah was not. “For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” I wonder how like Jonah I am? Lord, help me to forgive and extend mercy to those around me, even those who have deeply hurt me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

DAY 6: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER We’ve really cruised through these two books!! There’s much left to be discussed and I really do hope you have a little extra time today to meditate on the lessons learned in these two great books.

OBADIAH

Sum up Obadiah into one word or short phrase:

What is your key verse, and why?

Where did you find Jesus in the book?

And the Holy Spirit?

What does the book of Obadiah teach us about relationships?

JONAH

Sum up Jonah into one word or short phrase:

What is your key chapter? Verse? Why?

Where did you find Jesus in the book?

And the Holy Spirit?

What does the book of Jonah teach us about God’s character and mercy?

What are your thoughts about Matthew 12:39-41 and the book of Jonah?

DAY 7: REFLECTION AND GROUP DISCUSSION If you’re part of a group, then the questions below will help you further prepare for your discussion time. For those who are not part of a group, take opportunity to evaluate what you’ve learned and spend time in prayer with the Lord.

OBADIAH

What connections are there between pride and the desire to see people fail?

Whom are you tempted to treat poorly or with unforgiveness in the way that Edom treated Judah?

How did you see Jesus and the Holy Spirit represented in the book of Obadiah?

Pick one word or phrase that describes the book of Obadiah. What is it and why?

JONAH

Who or what evokes compassion in your heart? How does your heart compare/contrast with God’s?

Is there something you know God wants you to do, but you’ve not done? What can you learn from Jonah’s life?

How did you see Jesus and the Holy Spirit represented in the book of Jonah?

Pick one word or phrase that describes the book of Jonah. What is it and why?