“Pride Goes Before Destruction”
Obadiah 1:10-21
Message by Michael J. Barnard
28 October 2012
Teaching Aim: To understand nations that turn their back on Israel will have to answer to God. To
realize we are not to rejoice at the misfortune of our enemies, we should realize that we ourselves are
nothing more than sinners saved by grace. To look forward with anticipation to the day when Jesus
Christ returns to reign as King of kings and LORD of lords making things right and fulfilling all the
promises of the Abrahamic Covenant.
DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD’S WORD (BIBLE STUDY)
Part I: Edom should never have taken advantage of Judah’s defeat (Obad. 1:10-13)
1. What crime do we find Edom committing in verse 10? In what way had Edom mistreated God’s
chosen people Israel? (See Num. 20:14-21; Obad. 1:14) At the time the situation was desperate for
Judah and if a nation was seemingly to disappear from history, it would be Judah. Did they?
According to verse 10, who are the ones who will be shamed and cut off forever? Why?
2. How did Edom react to the enemy attacks on Judah (vs. 11a)? Edom and Judah were blood relatives,
how should Edom have responded in Judah’s time of need? Why didn’t they? According to verse
11b, how did the Edomites treat the evil invading army?
3. Edom “gloated” over Judah on the day of Judah’s calamity, in other words they stood back and
admired the destruction of Jerusalem as it was happening (vs. 12). Do you ever find yourself
“gloating” over the misfortune of people who have made your life difficult? If so why? Is it right?
According to Jesus, how should we respond when people are making our lives miserable? (See
Matt. 5:10-11,43-45) On a scale of 1-10, how are you doing at this? What should we do when
people won’t stop persecuting us? (See Rom. 12:18-21)
4. Verse 12b tells us that the Edomites spoke proudly as they watched Judah and Jerusalem being
destroyed, they admired the Jews being killed and in so much pain. Why did the Edomites think this
would never happen to them? (Hint: Google “Petra”) According to Prov. 16:18, what will happen
to people who are prideful? Have you ever seen the truth fromProv. 16:18 played out in your life?
If so how?
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5. According to verse 13, what did the Edomites do to Jerusalem after the enemy armies had done their
damage? “The day of their calamity” is repeated 3x in verse 13. Repetition in the Hebrew mindset
stresses importance, what important message was being relayed to the Edomites?
6. The Edomites and the Israelites were blood relatives; Esau was the oldest of the twins, Jacob the
younger. Which brother should have received the rights of the first born? (See Gen. 25:21-26) Who
actually ended up receiving these rights? Why? (See Gen. 25:29-34; 27:1-29) Do you think the
Edomites looted Jerusalem because they thought Judah’s possessions should have belonged to them
anyways? Why do you think there are so many family feuds today when it comes to inheritances?
Do we still see families tragically dividing like the Israelites and Edomites did?
Part II: God will turn Edom’s cruelty on their own heads (Obad. 1:14-16)
1. What unbelievable act did the Edomites do in verse 14? Why was this so reprehensible in God’s
sight? (See Deut. 23:7) What should the Edomites have done? Why? Why do you think the
Edomites hated the Jews like they did? What would you have done if you had lived in Nazi Germany
during the 1930’s and 40’s and fleeing Jews knocked at your door asking for help? Why? What
would you do today if God’s people were being persecuted for their faith and needed refuge?
2. The “lextalionis” is the Old Testament law of retribution. (See Exod. 21:23-25; Lev. 24:17-22; Deut.
19:21) “The day of the LORD” is a central theme throughout Old Testament scripture, why was this
day so significant? According to verse 15, what will happen to the nations that have persecuted the
Jews when that day comes? When will the “lextalionis” be carried out in an ultimate sense against
the ungodly nations? (See Rev. 19:11-17) What will happen on that day to the prideful and the
arrogant? (See Isa. 2:11-12)
3. Apparently the Edomites drank wine in celebration following the defeat of the Jews in Jerusalem, but
the LORD was watching (vs. 16). Is God watching us when we sin? Do we sin? (See Rom. 3:23; 5:8;
1 John 1:8-10) What should our first response be once we realize that we have sinned? What
judgment does God use on Edom according to verse 16? What cup is referred to here? (See Jer.
25:27,32,33; 49:12; Rev. 14:9-11)
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Part III: Messiah returns and the Abrahamic Covenant fulfilled (Obad. 1:17-21)
1. Who will ultimately bring deliverance to Mount Zion (vs. 17)? (See Rev. 19:16; 20:4-6) We don’t find
very much holiness on Mount Zion in Jerusalem today, so how can we know this holiness will be
there during the millennium? Today the Muslims have control much of the temple mount, who will
have control of all of Jerusalem during the millennium and forevermore?
2. “Jacob” is a synonym for the southern kingdom of Judah,“Joseph” is a synonym for the northern
kingdom Israel (vs. 18). What does Ezek. 37:15-20prophesy will happen to the divided tribes of
Judah and Israel in the future? According to Obad. 1:18, what does the restored house of Israel do
to Edom? Is there any question about the finality of this decision (vs. 18b)?Why or why not? Is
there a time when people can get beyond God’s grace? If so when?
3. Verses 19 & 20 describe the return of “the Promised Land” to Israel in a degree unlike anything we
have ever seen in history, this will be the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant under the
leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. This is all the more exciting because we have witnessed
Israel’s restoration to the land (to a lesser degree) in our own day following almost 2,000 years of
dispersion. How far will the borders of Israel extend during the millennium? (See Gen. 15:18-21;
17:8; 28:13-14)
4. “Saviors” in verse 21 is better translated“deliverers”. Who are these deliverers coming to Mount Zion
and who will they be delivering Mount Zion from? (Hint: Think about today.) Christ is reigning as
King of kings and LORD of lords during the millennium, but who will be reigning with Christ? (See
Matt. 19:27-30; 1 Cor. 6:2; Rev. 20:4-6) Will you?
5. Some people believe verse 21 indicates Edom will be raised up again as a nation in the last days only
to be destroyed again by the Jews. Agree or not, what do you think the main point of verse 21b is?
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6. The delay of the Kingdom of God is a manifestation of the grace and mercy of God. What can we
learn about God from 1 Pet. 3:8-9? Have you received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord? If not, why
not do so right now in prayer before that opportunity for God’s grace passes and all that is left is
wrath?
MINER’S CORNER ~ Manna to live by!
• The Book of Obadiah is a warning to all nations that seek to harm Israel.
• The Book of Obadiah is an encouragement to God’s people who are undergoing persecution for their
faith, it is a promise that God will make things right in the end, He has not forgotten them.
• The day of the LORD (or the day of God’s judgment) is coming soon to all nations.
• As nations have done to others, so God will allow to be done to them.
• Do not rejoice at the misfortunes of your enemies, we are all sinners saved by grace. As God has had
mercy on us, we should have mercy on others.
• Messiah will come soon and fulfill the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant to Israel.
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