Session 2: Obadiah’s Message to the Edomites
Obadiah 1-2 “The vision of Obadiah. This is what the Sovereign Lord says about Edom.”
● Visions are common in the prophets, referring to spoken, visual, and written revelation from God. Obadiah does not give the specific details of how he received this vision.
● Obadiah also uses the traditional prophetic messenger statement, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says about Edom.”
● Both statements affirm the message is from God, not man, and provides a warning to Edom.
● How do you determine if a message is from the Lord or not?
Obadiah 2 Verse 2 says that God has sent an ambassador envoy to the nations to rise up against the powerful nation of Edom.
● This envoy could be the prophets.
● It could be an angelic delegation.
● It could be divine prompting for other nations to advance upon Edom.
No matter how the message was sent, it is clear. God says he will make the mighty Edomites small among the nations. This literally means he will cut them down to size. In what ways do you see God working within various nations in modern history or in our current times?
Obadiah 3-9 God dismantles all the boasts of the Edomites. Their arrogance has deceived them into thinking they are secure. What are some details of each of these false securities of the Edomites?
Location (3-4):
Wealth (5-6):
Alliances (7):
Wisdom (8):
Armies (9):
This would all come to a bitter end. Edom’s prideful arrogance will be their downfall (3). They feel secure at this moment, but Obadiah warns that they will feel the full vent of God’s wrath coming.
Obadiah 10-14
God lays out his case against Edom for their specific sins against the Israelites. Write down some of the details of each of these trespasses.
● They were Israel’s brothers (10)
● They stood aloof (11)
● They gloated (12)
● They exploited (13-14)
What despicable behaviors do you see today that parallel the Edomites and arouse God’s anger?
Obadiah 15-16
● Explain the importance of the Day of the Lord.
● Explain the meaning of these two key verses in your own words in the context of the Edomites and in the context of today.
Obadiah 17-20
Bleak destruction is coming for the mountains of Edom. But God promises there is hope for and from Mount Zion (where Jerusalem was built). What are the details of the following descriptions of Zion?
Safety (17a, 21):
Holiness (17b):
Inheritance (17c):
Unity (18a):
Victory (18b-20):
Compare and contrast what God is doing on Mount Seir (Edom) and Mount Zion (Israel).
Obadiah 21
● Obadiah ends on a hope-filled prophetic note.
● Deliverers will rule from Mount Zion. This term is broad enough to include political and spiritual “saviors.”
● This obviously sets the reader’s mind toward the line of King David and the coming of the Messiah.
● After reading Obadiah, how could people misunderstand Jesus’ ministry while he was on earth?
Application
● Despised people who feel helpless to throw off their oppressors can have hope through the “day of the Lord.” God will exact his vengeance on those who harm his people.
● Look up and discuss some of these key verses related to hope for the oppressed. (Prov 20:22; Isa 59:17; Nah 1:2; Rom 12:19; Heb 10:30; Rev 6:9-17)
● How does Revelation 6:9-11 help us understand God’s justice for the oppressed?
● Even when you feel like injustices have been done, do trust that God will take care of the wicked in his timing just like he did the Edomites?
● Until that day comes, in what ways can you live out Jesus’ command to “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us”? (Matt 5:33-34)
