Obadiah Verses 1 thru 4

OBADIAH (SERVENT OF YAHWEH

There is at least twelve people name Obadiah in the Bible. Smiths Bible Dictionary 

The book itself does not include much information about Obadiah, nor the date and place of the book being written. 

The book of Obadiah is about Edom’s judgment and Israel’s restoration.

In this morning’s study I will begin to ‘Unravel the Words of Obadiah’. We will take a look at verses 1 thru 4. I will also read from 1 Kings 8 beginning with verse 16.

Obadiah means “Servant of Yahweh”. As a servant of Yahweh our desire is to work for Him and also to be pleasing to Him. This is really where it begins for each of us. Yahweh is not going to teach us, illuminate Biblical texts for us, or give us insight if we are not interested in serving Him or doing His work. 

1  Thus saith, &c. = The words of this prophecy, therefore, are not Obadiah's, but Yahweh's.

the Lord GOD. = Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. 

concerning Edom. = This is a unique prophecy. The audience is not Israel, but it is a prophecy spoken to the nations. The Edomites are descended from Esau.

a rumour = tidings. 

the LORD. = Hebrew. Yahweh. Supply the logical Ellipsis: "from Yahweh [that Edom is to be attacked]". 

And = or, and [already]. 

Ambassador = This prophet, like an apostle, was sent forth among the nations (the Gentiles) to proclaim a message to them – he was not sent solely to Israel, as was so often the case with these prophets.

2  Behold = Figure of speech As-ter-is-mos. A calling of attention to a thing by making an asterisk. Calling attention to the words of Yahweh. This means we need to pay attention to what follows, as it is very important. 

Thee = Yahweh is now speaking to Edom. 

Small = This is a word for abbreviated or little - in this context it means insignificant. 

Despised = Contemptible. This is the same word used to describe how Esau thought of his birth right. He had contempt for it. He thought little of it. 

3   The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee = The Edomites were proud of their wealth and riches, which they had by stealing when combined together; and of their military skill and courage, and of their friends and allies;

Pride = zaw-done' From ‘zood’ or ‘zeed’; arrogance. The Bible refers to two types of sin: Intentional sin and unintentional sin. Unintentional sin is sin that is done without intent (You did wrong, but you didn’t have the intent to do wrong). It is done out of negligence or carelessness. It is still a sin, however, and it still needs to be dealt with – all sin has consequences. 

Intentional sin, on the other hand, has a degree of rebellion, forethought and intent attached to it. This is a more serious form of sin. This intentional sin is what Yahweh is referring to here in regard to the people in the last days – Edom (Proverbs 18:12) 

High = Elevated. Lifted high, out of reach. Who will bring me down? This is Edom’s question. We know the answer to this…Yahweh! Yahweh humbles the proud (Proverbs 29:23)

4  among the stars = Figure of speech Hy-per-bo-le. (a casting or going beyond, overshooting, excess. The figure is so called because the expression adds to the sense so much that it exaggerates it, and enlarges or diminishes it more than is really meant in fact. Or, when more is said than is meant to be literally understood, in order to heighten the sense.) 

Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!

Have any questions? Feel free to email me; keitner2024@outlook.com