Lesson 49
OBADIAH AND JONAH
The book of Obadiah is the shortest book in the Hebrew Scriptures. It is too short to justify division into chapters, but is merely divided into twenty-one verses. The opening words, which form a sort of title for the book, name the prophet Jehovah used to utter and record its prophecies: "The vision of Obadiah." And with this terse statement reliable information concerning Obadiah ends. His name means "servant of Jah". There are a number of other Bible characters so named, but none of them is identical with this one who is listed as the fourth of the minor prophets. Prom remote antiquity there is a multitude of opinions concerning the identity of Obadiah, but their very variety and wide discrepancy are the strongest proof of their worthlessness. However, identification of the individual is not the important thing, but the prophecy Jehovah used him to speak and write.
When attempt is made to fix the time in which Obadiah lived and wrote more uncertainty looms up. The Scriptures do not definitely set the time, but from the internal evidence of the book itself the probability is strong that it
was written shortly after Jerusalem's fall to Babylon. In his prophecy of doom against Edom Obadiah reminded them of the time they stood by and rejoiced at the fall of Jerusalem and the herding of its inhabitants off into captivity. Moreover, they joined in the plundering of the Jews' substance and cut off the escape of those fleeing. (Obad. 11-14; see also Psalm 137: 7; Lamentations 4: 21, 22; Ezekiel 35:1-15) Obadiah may have been referring to events that occurred at the time of the Babylonian captivity in 607 B.C., and then foretold the doom awaiting Edom, and which in later time did come upon typical Edom with such literalness that that nationality was lost forever. There is a noteworthy similarity between Obadiah's words in verses 1-9 and those of Jeremiah 49: 7-22. It is clearly possible that at about the same period of time Jehovah doubly assured Edom's end by the mouths of these two witnesses.
The book of Obadiah is a sustained denunciation of Edom and a judgment message declaring her utter destruction. From Jehovah come the rallying tidings, "Arise ye, and * let us rise up against her in battle." Though the heathen are summoned against Edom, still it is clear that Jehovah is the one who sees to it that she shall be brought down even unto the dust of the ground. Her pride has only deceived her into thinking her self-exalted habitation a place of untouchable height and security. Till no trace remains will Jehovah search out her iniquities long concealed and will destroy her! Her past confederates turn on her. The supposed wisdom of her wise men and the might of her mighty men give way to dismay; slaughter feeds in the mount of Esau till no inhabitant remains. Heavy woe! — 1-9.
Verses 10-16 tell why. "For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever." Then the prophet reminds how the Edomites forwarded the affliction upon Judah and Jerusalem in the day of the captivity, as previously mentioned in this lesson. Retributive justice from Jehovah will bring them to their everlasting end. The last five verses offset the vision
of Edom's woeful end by foretelling the future glories to come upon the house of Jacob. In contrast with Edom's desolation, a restoration from captivity and repossession of lands is forecast for the house of Jacob. Saviors shall appear on Mount Zion and "the kingdom shall be Jehovah's".
Obadiah's prophecy was literally fulfilled in miniature. Proof thereof is the capital of Edom, Petra, a city cut out of the rocky cliff. Today it is an uninhabited relic of the distant past. Typical Edom has been cut off forever. Their extermination began with the invasion by Nebuchadnezzar's army, about five years after Jerusalem's fall. Major fulfillment of this prophecy is under way in these "last days" against antitypical Edom and steadily mounts to its climax. All this evidences the canonicity of the book of Obadiah.
JONAH
The strange adventure of Jonah in the belly of a great fish for three days and three nights is one of the best-known stories of the Bible. It has roused widespread speculation as to the kind of fish it was that served as his submarine-transport, and has been the center of stormy debate challenging the believableness of the account. There is nothing in the record that permits viewing the matter as an allegorical legend. Its historical factualness is proved by Christ Jesus' reference to the events of the book, which discloses that the entire account narrates an important prophetic drama. (Matt. 12:38-41) Some of the far-fetched theories invented by theologians to deprive the story of its miraculous feature could not be swallowed by even the most gullible. Faith in God's Word and faith in the Creator's unlimited power combine to establish in faithful minds the integrity of the account as Jehovah caused it to be recorded.
Jonah wrote the book bearing his name and wherein he personally figured so prominently. His name means "dove". He was a prophet, the son of Amittai, a Galilean of the tribe of Zebulun. This information is drawn from the joint
consideration of Jonah 1:1 and 2 Kings 14: 25. And from the latter text it is clear that Jonah prophesied during or before the reign of Jeroboam II, who ascended the throne of the ten-tribe kingdom in 852 B.C. He was quite likely acquainted and in touch with the prophet Elisha.
In order to contrast the lack of faith on the part of His covenant people with that of a heathen people "the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me". But Jonah, shrinking from his commission to go as a missionary to the heathen of the far east, hastened down to the seaport of Joppa to take a ship to Tarshish in the farthest west, on the south coast of Spain. — 1:1-3, A.S.V.
A tremendous storm from God arose, which threatened to wreck the ship. All the mariners cried unto their gods; but Jonah slept in the hold of the ship. The captain roused the slumberer and exhorted him to call upon his God. By lot Jonah was singled out as the cause of their plight. Frantic rowing failed to bring the wallowing ship into port or to land. Then the terrified mariners, at the insistence of remorseful Jonah, cast him into the tempestuous sea, whereupon it ceased its raging. But Jehovah had work for his prophet. He saw to it that a mighty fish was on hand to swallow Jonah and save him from a watery grave. After parts of three days, spoken of as three days and three nights, and fervent supplication on Jonah's part, Jehovah caused the fish to vomit the prophet ashore. Bidden a second time to go to the capital of Nineveh, he did not dare disobey again. To Nineveh he went and publicly proclaimed, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." A wave of repentance swept through the great city; king and people alike fasted and humbled themselves in sackcloth and ashes. Jehovah mercifully spared the city. — 1: 4-3 :10.
Disappointed and displeased that his prediction had not come true, that grace had been granted a heathen nation, Jonah withdrew outside the city and planted himself
in a booth to pout, waiting in vain to see the execution of the judgment he had proclaimed. Then, by an object lesson in mercy and compassion, Jehovah reproved the moody prophet. God made a gourd vine shoot up to shelter the sulky watcher from the heat; its shade was greatly enjoyed. But the next morning God caused a worm to smite the gourd and its comfort was replaced by a burning east wind and a broiling sun. In anguish the prophet wished to die. He was angry because the gourd was taken away. The last two verses of the book disclose Jehovah skewing Jonah's inconsistency in the matter of mercy. The prophet wanted mercy for the gourd that it might live, that it might serve a merciful purpose in shielding him from the heat; but he was not interested in mercy for the repentant Ninevites. — 4:1-11.
Under Jehovah's maneuvering Jonah acted his part well in the prophetic drama. Thereafter he faithfully recorded the drama, not sparing himself. It may be presumed that he returned to Israel and continued faithful to Jehovah. Certainly the repentant course of heathen Nineveh was a rebuke to Israel, which had at that time broken covenant with Jehovah and was steeped in demonism.
REVIEW: 1. Who was Obadiah? 2. What is the probable time of Obadiah's prophesying, and why do you so answer? 3. What heavy woe is declared in the first nine verses of the prophecy? 4. Why is it declared? 5. What brightens the close of the book? 6. How would you argue for the canonicity of the book? 7. What establishes the actual occurrence of the events recorded in the book of Jonah? 8. What is told concerning Jonah and the time in which he wrote? 9. How did Jonah at first react to his commission? 10. What events later led him to fulfill it? 11. What was Jonah's reaction to Jehovah's mercy toward Nineveh? 12. In what sense can it be said that Jonah served God faithfully?
