During the month of August, we will be digging into the Zonegathering vaults to bring you some of our Bible Drill Wednesday Greatest Hits. I’m not sure I would classify today’s post as one of the greatest hits, but it’s the very first Bible Drill Wednesday we ever brought to zonegathering. Bible Drill Wednesday: Obadiah was written by Heather Zempel and was first published on Wednesday, November 2, 2005.
One of my favorite all-time quotes is from one of our favorite former small group leaders, Selina Maddock Wren. And this is a bit of a paraphrase, but it goes something like this: “I am scared that I will be seated next to someone like Obadiah at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and I am going to have to say, ‘Sorry, dude, I never got around to reading your book.’”
Today’s Bible Drill Wednesday is focused on the book of Obadiah. What’s the deal with Obadiah?
Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament, is one of the “minor” prophets tucked between Amos (the shepherd) and Jonah (the fish bait). It is “minor” because his book is short in length, not because Obadiah was short in stature, reputation, or theological importance.
The book of Obadiah fits into the narrative of the Old Testament sometime around 586 B.C., during Judah’s (the southern kingdom of Israel) fall to the Babylonians and conflict with the Edomites. Here’s a short summary of the situation. Obadiah was angry with Israel’s southern neighbor, Edom. The Israelites were the descendants of Jacob, and the Edomites were the descendants of Esau. Remember those guys and their sibling rivalry that started in the womb? Well, that rivalry continued for generations. The Edomites buddied up with the Babylonians to sack and desecrate Israel. After the Israelites were crushed by the Babyloniains, the Edomites took on a superior attitude and gloated over Israel’s defeat. And if that were not bad enough, they also pillaged and looted the city. Obadiah puts the Edomites in their place and warns them that similar destruction is coming their way, while Israel will be restored.
So what’s the point? Don’t kick your brother when he is down? Be careful what you dish out, because God might dish it right back to you? Those are probably good things to think about and apply. Here are some life applications to think about:
- God alone is our security. Check out verse 4: “Though you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing down. I, the Lord, have spoken.” God is our strength, fortress, and deliverer. It doesn’t matter how many degrees, titles, or credentials we have, ultimate, God is our security. As we walk through life, we should place our trust in God alone.
- Be careful in judging others. The judgment you dish out to others may backfire on you. Verse 15: “The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge the godless nations. As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads.” Kinda reminds me of the whole take out the plank from your own eye before removing the speck from your brother’s. Also, Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, they he will also reap.”
- God is a God of second chances (and third, and fourth…). Verse 17 says, “But Jerusalem will become a refuge for those who escape; it will be a holy place. And the people of Israel will come back to claim their inheritance.” The Israelites were not squeaky clean. In fact, at this point in history, God was not any happier with the Israelites than he was with the Edomites. But this verse demonstrates that God’s grace extends beyond our sins. He promises that the Israelites will eventually come back to their land.
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