Obadiah

The book of Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament and contains the account of the vision of Obadiah. We do not know much about this prophet but from the context he wrote at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. His messa e was two!fold. The first sixteen verses have to do with "dom and it contains a prophecy of their utter doom and destruction. The last section has to do with the restoration of #srael.

EDOM "dom was a nation situated south of the $ead %ea. The capital city was &etra. &etra was once one of the seven wonders of the world. #t was a city carved out of the red sandstone mountains. The only entrance to the city was a very narrow tunnel between hi h towerin peaks. #t was virtually impossible to con'uer this city. (rom this fortress the "domites made their raids. The "domites were the descendants of "sau who was the brother of Jacob. %o the Jews and the "domites stemmed from #saac ! )*enesis +,-+./. 0 bitter hatred existed between these people ! *en. +1-23. 4oses traced the history of "sau5s descendants ! )$eut. +-3+/.

THEIR SINS 1. &ride of thine heart ! )verse ./. *od hates pride ! )&rov. 6-31/. This was the sin of 7ucifer ! )#sa. 32-3+!3,/. *od dealt severely with Nebuchadnezzar for his pride ! )$aniel 2/. "dom was self!confidant and had no reliance upon *od. 2. 8iolence a ainst thy brother #srael ! )verse 39/. When #srael came out of " ypt the "domites refused to allow them passa e throu h their land. )Num. +9-32/. When Nebuchadnezzar came to destroy Jerusalem the "domitesa/ :e;oiced ! &sa. 3.1-1< Obadiah 3-3+ b/ They mocked Jacob in his hour of affliction ! 3-3. c/ They ;oined in lootin Jerusalem ! 3-3. d/ They stationed soldiers at every cross road south of Jerusalem to capture those that escaped. They returned these to the enemy to be killed or sold as slaves ! 3-32

THEIR JUDGEMENT 0ll this did not o unnoticed. 4any years previous *od said about #srael= ># will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curseth thee.? He said= >@e sure your sins will find you out.? *od5s ;ud ement may be slow but it is sure and the hour of ;ud ement upon "dom was drawin near. *od said He would brin her down )vs. 2/ and make a complete destruction )vs. ,/. "zekiel also utters a prophecy of their doom ! )"zekiel +,-3+!32< .,-.!A/. (ive years after the destruction of Jerusalem Nebuchadezzar also destroyed the "domites and they passed from history ! #sa. .2-3+!3, tells of their utter and complete destruction.

ISRAEL

The last part of this book deals with #srael. @oth #srael and "dom were punished for their sins. "dom would be one forever but #srael will be restored. @ut upon mount Bion shall be deliverance )v. 31/ and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. He prophesied about the comin rei n of Christ and said= >the kin dom shall be the 7ord5s.?