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Bible Study: Obadiah’s good news


NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.

This week’s Bible study is adapted from The Gospel Project curriculum.

Bible Passage: Obadiah

Discussion Questions:
— Think about a time when you saw someone you viewed as an opponent or enemy fall (e.g., a coworker, celebrity, or politician). How did you feel when you heard what happened, and why?
— What books of the Bible do you struggle to read? Why?

Food for Thought:

Read Obadiah 1:1-21. Obadiah delivered his message during a dark time in Israel’s history, most likely after the Babylonian exile. Jerusalem was in ruins, and only a handful of people remained. But the Edomites felt no remorse over the fall of Judah. The Edomites, descendants of Esau — Jacob’s older brother — rejoiced in Judah’s downfall. The Edomites had a perverse delight in Judah and Israel getting what was deserved.

God directly confronted Edom’s arrogance, which was at the heart of Edom’s response to Judah’s situation. The Edomites believed they were untouchable, like a soaring eagle, but their arrogance deceived them. Rather than letting the Edomites’ arrogance stand, God was personally active in cutting them down to size, causing nations to rise up and war against Edom. God was going to bring them down, and nothing could stop the downfall.

It’s hard to imagine that there’s much good news for us in an obscure book of the Bible like Obadiah. Tucked away in the Minor Prophets, it is the least read book of the Bible. But through its warnings against the arrogance of Edom and the hope of restoration present in its pages, Obadiah reminds us of an important truth: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

God inspired every page of the Bible, and every word is meant for our good and growth in godliness. That includes Obadiah, which powerfully points us to God’s compassion and mercy even as it condemns the sinful deeds of the arrogant.

Every word of Scripture points us to the Good News — the Gospel — showing us the reason for the hope we have in Christ. May it never be said of us that we left a page of Scripture unturned and missed an opportunity to glory in Christ. Instead, let us rejoice in every word, and feast on every page as we see Jesus on every page — even the obscure ones like the Book of Obadiah.

The Gospel Project
The Gospel Project is a chronological, Christ-centered study for kids, students and adults. The Bible is not a collection of stories. It is one story of God’s plan to rescue His people from sin and death. It is the story of redemption, the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. More information can be found at LifeWay.com/gospelproject .

Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool or ordered at LifeWay Christian Stores.
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