Fall Bible Study 2026: Session 2

 We know very little about Obadiah - Unlikely to be the Obadiah mentioned in any of the other places in the Old Testament. - Could be 850 B.C. or 550 B.C. The message is the important thing To understand Obadiah's message, we need to understand Edom - Also mentioned in Joel, Amos and Malachi - Also mentioned in Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel Edom Edomites are the descendants of Esau Genesis 25:29-34 - 29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!" (Therefore his name was called Edom.) 31 Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright now." 32 Esau said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?" 33 Jacob said, "Swear to me now." So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing of Isaac and vowed to kill him Genesis 27:41-45 - Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob." 42 But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, "Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran 44 and stay with him a while, until your brother's fury turns away- 45 until your brother's anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?" Esau has moved to Seir - the land of Edom (in modern-day Jordan) Genesis 32:3 - And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom Genesis 33:16-17 - So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. (show slides) 2012 archaelogical expedition - probably Sela - capitol city of Edom Edom was conquered by King David 2 Samuel 8:11-14 - These also King David dedicated to the LORD, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, 12 from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13 And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 14 Then he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. Edom revolts against Judah 2 Kings 2:20-22 - 20 In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah and set up a king of their own. 21 Then Joram passed over to Zair with all his chariots and rose by night, and he and his chariot commanders struck the Edomites who had surrounded him, but his army fled home. 22 So Edom revolted from the rule of Judah to this day. Edom had a historic feud with Israel and with Judah - Obadiah prophesied in Judah and against Esau The prophecy Obadiah 1-9 - The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the LORD and a messenger has been sent among the nations: "Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!" 2 Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, "Who will bring me down to the ground?" 4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD. 5 If thieves came to you, if plunderers came by night-how you have been destroyed!- would they not steal only enough for themselves? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? 6 How Esau has been pillaged, his treasures sought out! 7 All your allies have driven you to your border; those at peace with you have deceived you; they have prevailed against you; those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you-you have no understanding. 8 Will I not on that day, declares the LORD, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau? 9 And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman, so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter. The reasons Obadiah 10-14 - Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. 11 On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. 12But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress. 13Do not enter the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; do not gloat over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not loot his wealth in the day of his calamity. 14 Do not stand at the crossroads to cut off his fugitives; do not hand over his survivors in the day of distress. The takeaway - Reciprocity Obadiah 15 -For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. Matthew 7:12 - "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:1-2 - Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Matthew 6:14-15 - For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. James 2:12-13 - So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment James 4:7-8 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:17 - 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. The message for us from the prophecy of Obadiah is that how we treat others matters - There is a sense of reciprocity in the Bible Next week - Joel FALL BIBLE STUDY 2026 -THE MINOR PROPHETS SESSION 2: OBADIAH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 2 | Page