Minor Prophets 04 - Obadiah - Prophet of Edom’s Doom

(Sources include The Wiersbe Bible Commentary and the ESV Study Bible.)

Name: “Servant of Yahweh (the LORD).” Shortest book in the Bible. Not quoted in the NT.

Date and setting: The fall of Jerusalem is (586 BC) is past (vs. 11); the fall of Edom to Babylon (to occur in 553 BC) is future. When Jerusalem fell, the people of Edom helped capture fleeing Israelites and turn them over to the Babylonians. They even took up residence in some Judean villages. This angered the Lord. The Edomites, as descendants of Esau, were related to the Israelites (Gen 25:21–26, 30); therefore they should have helped them. Edom would be repaid for mistreating God’s people. God is sovereign over the nations; the house of Jacob would be restored because of God’s covenant love for his people.

Outline:

To Edom’s Neighbors: Rise to Fight Edom!              (vs. 1)

To Edom Itself:            Prepare to Fall!            (vss. 2-16)

Divine judgment declared (vss. 2-9)

Edom’s pride brought down (2-4)

Edom’s wealth plundered (5-6)

Edom’s alliances broken (7)

Edom’s wisdom destroyed (8)

Edom’s army defeated (9)

Divine judgment defended (vss. 10-16)

Violence against the Jews (10-11)

Rejoicing at the Jews’ plight (12)

Assisting the enemy (13-14)

Ignoring God’s wrath (15-16)

The prophets compared experiencing God’s wrath to drinking the cup of his judgment (Isa 51:17–23; Jer 25:15–29; Ezek 23:31–34; Rev 14:10). Jesus referred to this cup (Mark 10:38; Matt. 26:39, 42; John 18:11), which he drank for us. See also John 19:28-30.

To Judah:                      Expect God to Save!              (vss. 17-21)

God will deliver His people. (17-18)

God will defeat their enemies. (19-20)

God will establish their kingdom. (21)

Key verses from Obadiah:

Ob 1:10 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.

2 Cor 9 - The Fruit of the Giver

9:1-5 Confirming and Completing

Do you like / do you need reminders? Why?

Why would Paul brag on the Corinthians in Achaia to the Macedonians to the north, and vice versa? Compare this to his words in 2 Cor 8:1-5. Aha!

What concerns Paul now?

Why is he sending these brothers on ahead?

What does he want to ensure?

Note: “bountiful gift” = “blessing” in Greek.

“As a blessing” contrasts with “as coveting.”

Grace-based, not greed-based, stingy, giving.

9:6-11 Sowing and Reaping

How is the Christian life like agriculture?

The obvious: Why does a farmer plant seed?

How much? When? Where? Expecting what?

Why might a farmer not plant his seed?

“Sparingly” – sparsely, in a limited or stingy manner, keeping the seed for …

“Bountifully” – lit., “upon blessings.”

As each decides in his heart. Not set 10% (tithe).

My heart + my purpose + my means = my action.

Not reluctantly or under compulsion. Why not?

Deut 15:10 Freely, not grudgingly. So – blessings.

Cheerful (Gk. hilaros): joyful, delighted.

Who is verse 9 talking about? Surprise! Ps 112:9

Who created the seed? Who provides the harvest?

I am a tenant farmer, an agent planting God’s seed in God’s land. God has entrusted His seed to me!

Since God owns it, He is to control it.

It’s to go where, when, and how He wants.

Givers will be enriched, for greater generosity.

I sow what I choose, whatever I want to grow.

I sow in proportion to my supply, faith, hope, love, ability, desire, gratitude, and/or concern.

I reap exactly what I sow, later than I sow, in proportion to what I sow.

I sow in response to grace. God makes His grace abound. So, I have all I need (sufficiency, contentment). So, I can abound in all things, at all times, in every good work.

I sow what I choose, whatever I want to grow.

I sow in proportion to my supply, faith, hope, love, ability, desire, gratitude, and/or concern.

I reap exactly what I sow, later than I sow, in proportion to what I sow.

I sow in response to grace. God makes His grace abound. So, I have all I need (sufficiency, contentment). So, I can abound in all things, at all times, in every good work.

Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

9:12-15  Serving and Supplying

Giving is a “ministry” (diakonia), a formal religious “service” (leitourgia). That is, an act of worship.

What are the results?

Note the cause-effect chain in 9:13-14.

Gospel of Christ – your confession – obedience – this ministry – liberal contribution – their prayers – their longing (yearning, craving) for you – all because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

Needs met. Thanks multiplied. God glorified. Prayers offered. Relationships formed.

9:15 What is God’s “inexpressible gift” here?

While of course Jesus Christ is the greatest gift of all, the context may suggest another idea. In the preceding verse Paul speaks of “the surpassing grace of God in you.” Now he thanks God for this specific indescribable gift – God’s amazing grace at work in the lives of generous Christians!

Minor Prophets 02 - Joel - Prophet of the Day of the Lord

(Sources include The Wiersbe Bible Commentary and the ESV Study Bible.)

Name: “Yahweh (the LORD) is God.” Primary audience: South Judah. Date: uncertain (no kings listed in Joel 1:1ff). Dates from the 9th century BC to the 6th have been proposed.

Setting: The land has suffered from swarms of locusts that have devoured all the crops and from a severe drought that has dried up all the water sources. Result: starvation and economic decline.

Message: The locust attack (1:1-20) foreshadows the invasion of a foreign army (2:1-27) and the ultimate “Day of the Lord” (2:28—3:21). That Day will bring both judgment to the wicked and deliverance to the faithful.

Past: Locusts – the eighth plague in Egypt in Moses’ day. Ex 10:3-6, 12-20.

Future: Peter explained on Pentecost (Acts 2) that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit fulfilled the inspired words of Joel’s prophecy.

Outline:

The Immediate Day of the Lord   (1:1—2:27)

Joel 1 calls various groups to note from the locust plague and take action.

         To the elders and citizens in general: “Hear this!” (1:2-4)

“Cutting,” “swarming,” “hopping” and “destroying” – successive attacks of locusts.

         To the drunkards: “Wake up and weep!” (1:5-7)

         To the farmers: “Despair and wail!” (1:8-12)

The Hebrew words for “be ashamed” and “dry up” sound alike. (1:10-12, 17)

         To the priests: “Call a fast!” (1:13-20)

Fasting would express repentance, as the people cried out to the Lord for deliverance.

Because of the locusts and the drought, the priests had no offerings to present.

Joel 2 describes the locusts “like horses … a powerful army … warriors.”

         “Blow the trumpet!” (2:1-11)

“Earth-shaking,” cosmic language is used to describe God’s judgment. (2:2, 10)

See Isa 13:9-13; 34:4; Jer 4:23-26; Ezek 30:3; Amos 8:9. See also Matt 24:29-31; Rev 6:12-13.

         “Rend your hearts!” (2:12-17)

Do all you can possibly do to beg God to turn, relent, and leave a blessing.

         “Believe His promises!” (2:18-27)

God would remove the locusts, send the rain, and restore all that was lost.

The Ultimate Day of the Lord        (2:28—3:21)

Before That Day: The Spirit Poured Out (2:28-32)

Telescoping: Some OT prophecies have a partial fulfillment in the OT era, but they point primarily to the coming of Christ and the blessings He would bring. This text shows that God would bless OT Judah after her repentance, but it also points to Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit would be poured out on the apostles. Acts 2:14-21

         “I will pour out My Spirit.” (2:28-29)

         “I will show wonders.” (2:30-31)

Again, prophetic imagery uses “cosmic language” to paint a picture for heightened effect.

         “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (2:32)

Acts 2:36-41 – We call on His name when we repent and are baptized. (See also Acts 22:16.)

During That Day: Judgment Poured Out (3:1-16)

         “Nations, prepare for judgment!” (3:1-8)

When God restores Judah, He will also judge the nations who oppressed her.

The “Valley of Jehoshaphat” not an actual place. Name means, “Yahweh (the LORD) judges.”

         “Nations, prepare for war!” (3:9-15)

Cosmic imagery appears again in 3:15-16.

         “Nations, prepare for defeat!” (3:16)

After That Day: Blessing Poured Out (3:17-21)

         A holy city (3:17).

         A restored land (3:18-19).

         A cleansed people (3:20-21a).

         A glorious King (3:21b).

Key passages from Joel:

Joel 2:12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.