Obadiah, Nahum and Zephaniah -- Minor Prophets
The Message of Obadiah, Nahum and Zephaniah
The kindness and severity of God
Gordon Bridger
Formerly Principal, Oak Hill College, London
Inter-Varsity Press
These seventh century BC prophets, Obadiah, Nahum and Zephaniah, however, were valiant for truth. They claimed to be speaking God’s Word to their contemporaries.
Obadiah, for example, introduces his prophecy with the words: This is what the Sovereign LORD says about Edom—We have heard a message from the LORD (1). On two further occasions in this short book (the shortest in the Old Testament), he uses the phrase, declares the LORD (4, 8); and he follows the phrase ‘There will be no survivors from the house of Esau’ with the words The LORD has spoken (18).
Nahum describes his oracle against Edom as The book of the vision of Nahum, the word for vision meaning a revelation from God (see pp. 36, 87). Yahweh speaks directly through Nahum’s words, as illustrated in the phrase, ‘I am against you,’ declares the Lord Almighty (3:5).
Zephaniah begins his writings with the phrase: The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah (1:1). He often records that Word in direct speech: ‘I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,’ declares the LORD (1:2). He ends the prophecy with the words: ‘I will give you honour and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,’ says the LORD (3:20).