Book of obadiah encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. The book is the smallest in the old testament with only twentyone verses. Obadiah is a prophet of god who uses this opportunity to condemn edom for sins. To the edomites, its a message of judgment and doom.
Discussion of themes and motifs in flannery oconnors parkers back. As brief as this book is, scholars raise many questions about it. We bought it along with obadiah the bold and thy friend obadiah all three were wonderful stories. No specific biographical information is known about this prophet, whose name means servant of the lord or worshiper of the lord.
The theme of this book is the abuse of gods people, gods land, and gods holy hill, the temple mount in jerusalem. When they orchestrate events in the lives of people to cause them to stumble, sin, fall, get injured, sick suffer some troublecalamity, they are entertained by the suffering, and would want the rest of society to believe that people are suffering because they are evil, or committed some sincrime, and therefore are reaping the judgement. The scriptures have that beautiful faculty of appearing to be one thing on the surface, but on a deeper level, yielding rich and mighty treasures. In this, the shortest book of the old testament, it seems the prophet obadiah. The book of obadiah is a brief prophetic word regarding the nearby nation of edom. The prophet therefore portrays christ as our savior, for it is only in christ that we possess all things. The theme of justice, already familiar this month from our study of joel and amos, is also at the heart of the old testaments shortest book, obadiah. Obadiahs repeated twofold theme, the sin of and judgment upon edom serves as a background, explaining the prophet malachis strange work. Identify three key themes from the book of obadiah. The book of obadiah was likely written between 848 and 840 b.
Thomson write this conclusion, the book of obadiah is occupied with one subject the punishment of edom for its cruel and unbrotherly conduct towards judah. This prophecy shall be fulfilled in the kingdom age. Obadiah is a book of recompense and deliverance, ending with the kingdom will be the lords. But it is the secondary theme of the book, which brings out gods grace and assures gods people of his faithfulness to his covenant promises. There is no compelling reason to doubt the unity of this brief prophecy, the shortest book in the ot. When his people are gathered from the four corners of the world and god is sitting on the throne. The book of obadiah is an oracle concerning the divine judgment of edom and the restoration of israel. Obadiah niv obadiahs vision the vision of bible gateway.
Obadiah verse 1 identifies the author of the book of obadiah as the prophet obadiah. This the book of obadiah christian powerpoint theme or template is broadly colored blue, dark. When were obadiahs prophecies against edom fulfilled obadiah 1. Most students of the book divide it into three major sections. The jesus focus in the book of obadiah lifecoach4god. The book of obadiah christian powerpoint templates. Its theme is that edom, proud over her own security, has gloated over israels devastation by foreign powers. Book of obadiah christianity knowledge base fandom. The prophet obadiah wrote just 21 verses around 840 b. The book was probably written in the first half of the babylonian exile, after 586 b. Intro to obadiah biblica the international bible society. To the jews, its a message of faithfulness and salvation.
The book of obadiah pronounces divine judgment on what nation. The prophet therefore portrays christ as our savior. Because of the violence against your brother jacob, you will be covered with shame. Obadiah 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. Growing out of that theme is the eschatological message of judahs restored fortunes when the day of the lord arrives. In favor are the many similarities between the book of obadiah and jeremiah 49. The short book of obadiah the shortest in the ot is an oracle against the nation of edom. Obadiah, the shortest book in the old testament, is the pronouncement of doom against an ancient and longforgotten nation, the land of edom. Consequent upon the overthrow of edom is the enlargement of the borders of judah and the establishment of the kingship of yahweh. The book of obadiah refers to the god of israels sovereignty over israel and all the nations of the earth such as edom obad. This book is not addressed to the jewish people but to the nation of edom who were the descendants of esau who was the oldest son of isaac and rebekah and the brother of jacob. Obadiah, with only one chapter consisting of 21 verses, is the shortest of all old testament books and purports to be a record of the vision of obadiah. Dating the book of obadiah accurately is nearly impossible due to the scant.
The book of obadiah records a prophetic vision given by the lord to a man. In what way is the book of obadiah rela the strongest evidence is the tradition of obadiahs position the ultimate doom for edom and subsequent comfort for israel. The global message of obadiah obadiah in redemptive history. Zephaniah concludes with the wonderful promise of israels future restoration. However, edoms participation in that disaster will bring on gods wrath. The overwhelming theme found in obadiah is the destruction of the enemies of gods people. Summary of the book of obadiah the story of the bible. While several options have been proposed by scholars, the best argument places obadiah in the 840s bc, making him the earliest writing prophet, a few years prior to joel, and a contemporary of elisha. Its authorship is generally attributed to a person named obadiah, which means servant or worshipper of the lord. Nevertheless, i believe that the prophesy occurred sometime immediately after 586 b. The animosity between edom and the israelites, and edoms punishment because of that, is the literal theme of the book of obadiah.
This is what the sovereign lord says about edom we have heard a message from the lord. Obadiah is classified as a minor prophet in the christian bible due to the brevity of the writing only 21 verses and. Edom, together with all other nations that oppose israels god and his. Verse 3 contains the theme, the pride of your heart has deceived you. The book of obadiah is the shortest old testament book. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make. The book of obadiah is found in both the hebrew bible and the old testament of the christian bible, where it is the shortest book, only one chapter long. You may, like me, have trouble separating the pages between amos and jonah just to get to it.
They debate its author and date of composition, and they point to the striking similarity between passages in obadiah and jeremiah to question whether obadiah. Aug 30, 2017 life after death experience nde with steve gardipee, vietnam war story one of the best ndes duration. This is what the sovereign lord says about edomwe have heard a message from the lord. Book of obadiah overview insight for living ministries. The text of the book of obadiah is singularly focused on one theme. The purpose of obadiah is to show that god will judge all those who are against his children, his chosen people. The book has a lot of realistic elements to the story and was a rather enjoyable read. An envoy was sent to the nations to say, rise, let us go against her for battle see, i will make you small among the nations. Overview of the book of obadiah reformed answers to. This summary of the book of obadiah provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of obadiah. Obadiah is a prophet of god who uses this opportunity to condemn edom for sins against both god and israel.
The book of obadiah shows that god will not forsake his promises to abraham, issac, and jacob. Since the edomites were descendants of jacobs brother, esau, this betrayal by edom was especially painful to gods people. Reading the bible through the jesus lens in obadiah from biblical book to biblical hook charts adapted from dr. In relating to theme of obadiah, it is important to underscore the punishment theme this book outlines against edom. Obadiah prophecies the day of the lord, and the setting up of christs kingdom on earth.
The text consists of a single chapter, divided into 21 verses, making it the shortest book in the hebrew bible. Dating the book of obadiah accurately is nearly impossible due to the scant historical information contained in the book. The theme of the prophecy then, is the doom of edom. Watch our overview video on the book of obadiah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Obadiah with only one chapter and a total of 21 verses is the shortest book of the old testament and is shorter than most of the books in the new testament. To judge the mountain of esau, and the kingdom will be the lords. Book of obadiah, the destruction of edom, judahs misfortune. Like a number of prophetic books, it is both a book of judgment and a book of hope. The central theme of the book is the utter destruction of edom. Title the book is named after the prophet who received the vision 1. The book of obadiah does not contain messianic predictions that point directly to christ, but the theme of divine judgment against those who persecute gods people finds its final fulfillment in christ. Its authorship is difficult to date but was possibly written about 853841 b. Mar 31, 2016 the book of obadiah is the thirty first book of the hebrew bible and the christian old testament, it is one of the twelve prophetic books in the bible. Its purpose, therefore, is to reassure gods people of his triumphant justice at work for them more than to warn edom of imminent judgment.
I know that the last 12 books of the old testament are referred to as minor prophets not because of quality or validity, but because of length, but this prophet packs a major punch. The only thing known about this prophet is his name. The little book of obadiah is all about the deceitfulness of pride and its horrible consequences. Obadiah meansservant of the lord and occurs 20 times in the ot, referring to at least 20 other ot individuals. The author does a wonderful job showing the interaction between obadiah and his siblings in the book.
Then saviors shall come to mount zion to judge the mountains of esau, and the kingdom shall be the lords obadiah 1. The book of obadiah records a prophetic vision given by the lord to a man named obadiah. Lost somewhere in the dark corner of your bible is a brief, but largely unfamiliar book called obadiah. Then saviors shall come to mount zion to judge the mountains of esau, and the kingdom. The prophesy is entirely against edom, the descendants of esau, the brother to jacob who was the father of the. Theme obadiah 10 gods vengeance god will avenge edoms mistreatment of israel. The animosity between the edomites and the israelites is one of the oldest examples of a discord in human relationships. Because of the violence done to your brother jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be. The authors name is obadiah, which means servant or worshiper of the lord. But behind it lies a powerful message for men and nations. The primary theme or message of obadiah is judgment or doom against the nation of edom for their miserable, backhanded, diabolical treatment of israel, gods people 10. Unlike other prophets who call the hearers to repent before they fall.
The righteous power of god, not the evil plans of the nations, determines the course of history. Thats because, although obadiah is an easy read only 21 verses long, it is in the running for the most forgotten book in our bibles. Overview of the book of obadiah third millennium ministries. The villain, the guilty party, will end up belittled, loathed, and devastated.
It is quoted from or alluded to only once in the new testament. Welcome to the study of the shortest book in the word. Oct 07, 20 pastor paul leboutiller of calvary chapel ontario oregon teaches through the book of obadiah. Book of obadiah, also spelled abdias, the fourth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, in the jewish canon treated as one book, the twelve. The book of obadiah is a book of prophetic oracles. Obadiah, the shortest book in the old testament, is only 21 verses long. Bible biblestudytools video whats the central theme of the book of obadiah. Download book of obadiah powerpoint templates for worship presentations etc. Book of obadiah bible survey what are the major prophets and minor prophets.
In other words, if pagan sailors and wicked ninevites could respond with repentance to prophetic preaching, jewishhearers ought to do likewise. Obadiah is the shortest book in the old testament so in this message i will explore a number of stories that circle around the main theme of the book. The book of obadiah contains prophecies about gods punishment of which nation. Yahweh will judge edom both historically through the nations and eschatologically through israel. Why are male and female roles so important in the bible. Why did god judge edom so harshly in the book of obadiah. Obadiah 1, new international version niv the bible app. Author obadiah according to tradition date 587 bc approximately theme the destruction of edom types and shadows in obadiah jesus is the one whose kingdom it is.
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