Today, we continue our journey through the Bible with today’s study of Obadiah. I pray God shows us what He wants us to learn.
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14
As we study the Bible alone or in a group setting, there are several questions we can ask ourselves to help us dig deeper. The five questions are:
- What does the scripture say about God?
- Then what does the scripture say about me?
- Does something in this passage challenge me?
- What gives me hope in this passage?
- Is anything unclear to me?
I hope these questions help you as much as they help me.
Book of Obadiah
- Author: Obadiah. We know very little about this man, whose name means “servant (or worshiper) or the Lord”
- Audience: The Edomites and the Jews.
- Date Written: 855-840 B.C., or possibly during Jeremiah’s ministry 627-586 B.C.
- Length: 1 chapter.
- Keywords: the sovereignty of God.
- Key Verses: “The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.” (1:15).
- Key People: The Edomites.
Summary of Obadiah:
Obadiah is the shortest book on the OT. And its theme is so relevant to our world today. In the book, we see Edom’s proud over her own security. They gloated over Israel’s devastation by foreign powers. However, Edom’s participation in that disaster will bring on God’s wrath. God will destroy Edom, but God will deliver Mount Zion and Israel and God’s kingdom will triumph.
Sections of the Book:
The book of Obadiah contains three significant themes, which are:
- The humiliation of Edom’s (1-8).
- Edom’s crimes (9-13).
- And Edom’s doom (14-end).
Messages in Obadiah:
The book has a twofold message for Edom and for us today:
- The book warns against sinful pride and godless defiance.
- Also, the book warns against hating and harming the people of God because they are His chosen people. God will fight for them himself.
Final thoughts:
And like so many other books in the Bible, we see God’s character on display in this book. They are:
- Judging – 1-16.
- Restoring – 17-21.
In Obadiah, Christ acts as both Judge over Israel’s enemies, and Savior of His chosen people. Israel’s ultimate triumph comes only through Christ Himself.
All Lessons from the Bible
Each book of the Bible contains lessons for us to learn and historical information. We must study God’s Word to see what to do and what not to do in life. Paul reminds us of the importance of the words within the text in 2 Timothy 3.
“14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:14-17;
Prayer
Please grant me the understanding and knowledge of You and Your word. As I open my Bible to read the scriptures, it gives me wisdom and discernment. And even as I sit and listen to the pastor, preacher or apostle reveal what Your Holy Book is speaking into my life, help me see and understand. Help me know Jesus Christ and how He lived His life so I can follow in His precious footsteps.
Grace and Peace to you,
Yvonne M. Morgan is a Christian #author, #blogger, and #speaker. #BibleGatewayPartner
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Additional Resources:
Good study, Yvonne!
Thanks Priscilla. God bless
I always learn so much from your Bible sudies, Yvonne. Thank you for sharing your insight and wisdom from this often overlooked Scripture.
It’s been fun digging into some of these lesser known books of the Bible. Thank you and God bless
I can’t tell you that this is a book of the Bible that I’ve sought out, and have often wondered, “Why did God want it here?” It has fallen into that category of, “Only God knows”, and that’s okay with me. Your insights help bring a new appreciation of this not oft read book. Thank you ma’am.
I agree with you. I knew very little about this book before the study but learned lots. Thanks JD and God bless
May we heed the warnings and reap restoration. Thank you, Yvonne. God bless!
Amen Nancy. God bless you
Thank you for sharing about Obadiah. We can learn something new each time we read Scripture. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂
Thank you my friend. Blessings to you too
Such an interesting (albeit short!) book filled with so much wisdom. You are right that sinful pride and godless defiance lead to TROUBLE. We can learn much from this! I know I can!
Me too Jessica. It’s important to hear that message over and over again. It’s so easy for pride to slip in. Thank you and God bless
Wow, the message from Obadiah echoes on today! Thank you for these studies through the books of the Bible. So important and helpful. God bless!
Thanks Melissa. I’m continually amazed how these books apply to situations today. God bless.
So timely with the attack on Israel again this morning. Thanks, Yvonne.
It is so awful. Thanks for commenting. God bless.
I always learn something on these book summaries. I didn’t know Obadiah is the shortest book in the O.T. And Amen to this, “In Obadiah, Christ acts as both Judge over Israel’s enemies, and Savior of His chosen people. Israel’s ultimate triumph comes only through Christ Himself.”
Thanks so much Karen. It is a gem of a book for sure. God bless.