Dr. Pothana's Teaching

3. Obadiah
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The only “1 chapter” book in the Old
Testament.
The message is still important.
Obadiah 1:10 For violence against your
brother Jacob, Shame shall cover you,
And you shall be cut off forever.
A simple yet powerful message.

4. Obadiah
Pride vs Humility
Humility wins
and it wins big
(and all in one short chapter)

5. 1The vision o f Obadiah.
Edomites were descendants of Esau
The hairy red brother of Jacob
who sold his birthright for a red stew
(even the rocks were reddish
like Esau and his stew)

6. 1The vision o f Obadiah.
Edom’s city was on a plateau
with a 2 mile corridor between cliffs
seemingly safe
and overlooking green lands
and the dead sea

7. verse 1 - The vision o f Obadiah.
Edom’s
geography

8. This is w h a t t h e Sovereign Lord says a b o u t
Edom—
We have h e a r d a message f r o m t h e Lord:
An envoy w a s sent t o t h e n a t i o n s t o say,
“Rise, l e t us go a g a i n s t h e r f o r battle”—
2
“See, I w i l l m a k e you s m a l l a m o n g t h e
nations; you w i l l be u t t e r l y despised.
God calls to the nations to
do battle against Edom
to cut down to size
and be humbled

9. 3
The pride o f y o u r h e a r t h a s deceived you,
y o u w h o live i n t h e c l e f t s o f t h e rocks[a]
a n d m a k e y o u r h o m e o n t h e heights,
y o u w h o say t o y o u r s e l f ,
‘Who c a n b r i n g m e d o w n t o t h e ground?’
4
Though y o u s o a r like t h e eagle
a n d m a k e y o u r nest a m o n g t h e s t a r s ,
f r o m t h e re I w i l l b r i n g y o u down,”
d e c l a re s t h e Lord.

10. Part 1
The Humbling of Edom
‘Pride goes before destruction
as humility before honor’ Proverbs

11. Part 1
The Humbling of Edom
Nations called to fight against Edom
Edom made small
Total destruction
Even worse than a thief would treat you
You’re wisdom will not save
You’re warriors will not save

12. 5
“If thieves c a m e t o you,
i f robbers i n t h e n i g h t —
oh, w h a t a disaster a w a i t s you!—
w o u l d t h ey n o t s t e a l o n l y as m u c h as t h ey w a n t e d ?
If g r a p e pickers c a m e t o you,
w o u l d t h ey n o t leave a f e w grapes?

13. 6
But h o w Esau w i l l be r a n s a c k e d ,
his hidden treasures pillaged!
7
A l l y o u r allies w i l l f o r c e you t o t h e
border;
y o u r friends w i l l deceive a n d
o v e r p o w e r you;
those w h o ea t y o u r b r ea d w i l l set a
t r a p f o r you,
b u t you w i l l n o t detect it.
RUINS OF EDOM
"Edom shall be a desolate wilderness." Joel 3:19.
image from http://www.ubooks.pub/Books/ON/B0/
E897R0931/04MB897.html

14. 8
“In t h a t day,” d eclares t h e Lord,
“will I n o t destroy t h e wise m e n o f Edom,
those o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g in t h e m o u n t a i n s o f
Esau?

15. Part 2
Reasons behind Judgment..
Joel 3:19 “Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a
desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of
Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their
land.

16. Part 2
Reasons behind Judgment..
A betrayal of brotherhood
Esau was Jacobs brother
. Edom’s Passive Support of Israel’ s Destruction
Edom’s Active Support of Israel’ s Destruction .
They looted so they will be Looted
. Mistreatment and Betrayal of Jewish Refugees

17. 9
Y o u r w a r r i o r s , Teman, w i l l be t e r r i fi e d ,
a n d everyone in Esau’s m o u n t a i n s
w i l l be c u t d o w n in the s l a u g h t e r.
10
Because o f the violence against y o u r b ro t h e r Jacob,
you w i l l be covered w i t h shame;
you w i l l be destroyed f o re v e r.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edomite_warrior._Qitmit._Israel_Museum,_Jerusalem.JPG
warrior
goddessgoddess

18. 11
On t h e d a y yo u stood a l o o f
w h i l e s t r a n g e r s c a r r i e d o f f his w e a l t h
a n d f o re i g n e r s en t ered his gates
a n d c a s t l o t s f o r Jerusalem,
yo u w e re like one o f t h em.
12
Yo u s h o u l d n o t g l o a t o v e r y o u r b r o t h e r
i n t h e d a y o f his m i s f o r t u n e ,
n o r rejoice o v e r t h e people o f Judah
i n t h e d a y o f t h e i r destruction,
n o r boast so m u c h
i n t h e d a y o f t h e i r t ro u b l e.

19. 13
Yo u s h o u l d n o t m a r c h t h r o u g h t h e
gates o f m y people
i n t h e d a y o f t h e i r disaster,
n o r g l o a t o v e r t h e m i n t h e i r
c a l a m i t y
i n t h e d a y o f t h e i r disaster,
n o r seize t h e i r w e a l t h
i n t h e d a y o f t h e i r disaster.
14
Yo u s h o u l d n o t w a i t a t t h e
crossroads
t o c u t d o w n t h e i r fugitives,
n o r h a n d o v e r t h e i r s u r v i v o r s
i n t h e d a y o f t h e i r t ro u b l e .
15
“The d a y o f t h e L ord is n e a r
f o r a l l n a t i o n s.
As y o u h a v e done, it w i l l be d o n e t o
you;
y o u r deeds w i l l r e t u r n u p o n y o u r
o w n head.

20. 16
Just as yo u d r a n k o n m y h o l y h i l l ,
so a l l t h e n a t i o n s w i l l d r i n k c o n t i n u a l l y ;
t h ey w i l l d r i n k a n d d r i n k
a n d be as i f t h ey h a d n e v e r been.
17
But o n M o u n t Zion w i l l be deliverance;
it w i l l be holy,
a n d Jacob w i l l possess his i n h er i t a n ce.

21. Part 3
The Day of the Lord
Ephesians 4:8
Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a
host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

22. Part 3
The Day of the Lord
A day of judgment
A day of deliverance
Jesus may lead captivity captive
but those humble redeemed also spread
redemption and freedom to others

23. 18
Jacob w i l l be a fi r e
a n d Joseph a fl a m e ;
Esau w i l l be stubble,
a n d they w i l l set h i m o n fi r e a n d destroy him.
There w i l l be n o s u r v i v o r s
f r o m Esau.”
The Lord h a s spoken.

24. 19
People f r o m t h e Negev w i l l occupy
t h e m o u n t a i n s o f Esau,
a n d people f r o m t h e f o o t h i l l s w i l l possess
t h e l a n d o f t h e Philistines.
They w i l l occupy t h e fi e l d s o f E p h r a i m a n d S a m a r i a ,
a n d Benjamin w i l l possess Gilead.

25. 20
This c o m p a n y o f Israelite exiles w h o a r e i n C a n a a n
w i l l possess t h e l a n d as f a r as Z a re p h a t h ;
t h e exiles f r o m Jerusalem w h o a r e i n Sepharad
w i l l possess t h e t o w n s o f t h e Negev.
21
Deliverers w i l l go up o n M o u n t Zion
t o g o v e r n t h e m o u n t a i n s o f Esau.
And t h e k i n g d o m w i l l be t h e Lord’s.
Man proposes
God disposes

26. Edom was a specific
people in a specific time range.
The book speaks broadly to
of judgement of pride, oppression,
betrayal of brotherhood as well as
the sovereignty of God
and his eventual everlasting rule
for all people and time
Man proposes
God disposes

27. And redemption is both
here and not yet
God delivered Israel from Edom
and yet when Jesus was born Herod an Ideomean
rules for a time
Man proposes
God disposes

28. Herod’s palace near Bethlehem image from
http://www.luxuryfred.com/features/travlj/exploring-herodium-the-ancient-palace-of-king-herod/

29. The Lessons from Obadiah
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1] There is no place of safety from
God's judgment
Though you ascend as high as the eagle, And
though you set your nest among the stars,
From there I will bring you down," says the
Lord.
Obadiah 1:4

30. The Lessons from Obadiah
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2] God hates Pride
16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven
are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A
lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
Proverbs 6:16-17
Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to
the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go
unpunished. Proverbs 16:5

31. The Lessons from Obadiah
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3] We cannot hide from God
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where
can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend
into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in
hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings
of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts
of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead
me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
Psalms 139:7-10

32. The Lessons from Obadiah
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4] Man's wisdom and power will fail
8 "Will I not in that day," says the Lord, "Even
destroy the wise men from Edom, And
understanding from the mountains of Esau? 9
Then your mighty men, O Teman, shall be
dismayed, To the end that everyone from the
mountains of Esau May be cut off by slaughter.
Obadiah 1:8-9

33. The Lessons from Obadiah
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5] What goes around comes around
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"For the day of the Lord upon all the
nations is near; As you have done, it shall
be done to you; Your reprisal shall return
upon your own head.
Obadiah 1:15

34. The Lessons from Obadiah
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6] We can possess our possessions
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"But on Mount Zion there shall be
deliverance, And there shall be holiness;
The house of Jacob shall possess their
possessions.
Obadiah 1:17