SOURCE FOR QUESTIONS
Obadiah 1:1-21

‍KEY VERSE FOR MEMORIZATION
“For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.” (Obadiah 1:15)

BACKGROUND

Obadiah’s prophecy, recorded in the brief book bearing his name, is unique in that the prophet had little to say to the nations of Israel or Judah. Instead, his focus was on the sins of Edom, Judah’s southern neighbor, and the judgment God would send upon that nation. 

The age-old, smoldering animosity between the descendants of Jacob and the descendants of Esau had flared up once again, as it had many times in prior centuries. The first and largest portion of Obadiah’s prophecy is the condemnation of Edom. Fearlessly, the prophet delivered God’s message: disaster was coming. Despite the Edomites’ arrogant pride and the supposed security provided by their natural defenses, the nation would be destroyed because of their treachery toward their “brothers” in Judah.

After delivering his scathing denunciation, Obadiah’s concluding words contain a foreshadowing of end times in a reference to the Day of the Lord, a prominent Old Testament theme. In that great day, Edom will be among the godless nations to be judged. By contrast, Mount Zion will be a scene of holiness and deliverance. The house of Jacob (Israel and Judah) will possess the territories God gave their forefathers, and “the kingdom shall be the Lord’s” (Obadiah 1:21).

While we do not know if Obadiah’s prophecy stirred a reaction in the streets or palaces of Edom, it has unquestionably provided a somber reminder for the children of God through the ages. His message tells all Christians everywhere that God’s perfect justice will one day prevail over those who ignore the needs of others, rejoice at their problems, or take advantage of their crises. 

QUESTIONS

1. Obadiah’s prophecy was inspired by a “vision” or divine revelation. As an ambassador (or messenger), he had been sent among the people of Judah with a “rumour [report or tidings] from the Lord” (verse 1). According to verse 2, what was the rumor, and how would you explain what this message meant?
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2. Verse 3 begins a series of detailed indictments against Edom. First, the prophet stated that the Edomites were filled with pride, and that their pride had deceived them. In what ways do you think pride is deceptive? 
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3. Verses 3-4 point to one source of the Edomites’ feeling of security — the fact that they lived in a location with unique natural fortifications. The capital of the Edomites, known then as Sela (and later as Petra), was a city carved into rock cliffs, and was accessible only by a narrow canyon almost a mile long. Since the Edomites dwelt “in the clefts of the rock,” they thought they were impregnable to invading armies. However, God indicated that their trust was misplaced, and that He would bring them down from their lofty location. What are some aspects of life that people of our day put their trust in? Why is such trust so precarious?
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4. In verses 5-6, what two types of individuals did Obadiah refer to, and how did he describe the extent of Edom’s devastation?
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5. According to verse 7, by whose hand would the destruction of Edom come?
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6. The Edomites were proud of their wise men. In spite of the reputation of these supposedly wise individuals, how do we know that they were actually foolish? Obadiah 1:8-9
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7. God never sends judgment that is not deserved. In verses 10-14, Obadiah told the Edomites why this awful devastation was coming upon them. What did he say Edom had done that resulted in God’s judgment?
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8. Today, we can see people who are much like the Edomites of Obadiah’s time. Arrogance, pride, dishonesty, and envy are all around us. What is the appropriate response when we observe such individuals suffering distress or calamity?
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9. Obadiah’s prophecy ends with hope and encouragement (verses 17-21). The prophet looked forward to a day when “the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites,” when “saviors” (deliverers) will come to Mount Zion, and “the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.” What parallel do you see between the prophet’s final statement of hope to the people of Judah, and the hope we have for the future?

CONCLUSION

Through the prophet Obadiah, God told Edom that the people of Judah whom they had viewed with disdain, plundered, and killed, would one day be restored and enriched. Let us learn from this book not only how certainly God will judge the wicked, but also how much He values His own!