Amos 9, Obadiah, Jonah 1

Amos 9

 Vision of the Lord at the altar

• Likely Bethel (false worship center)
• God commands destruction of the structure

No one escapes

• God reaches into those who escape to Sheol (grave) 
• Brings down those who escape to Heaven 
• God finds those hiding in Carmel (mountain) 
• Hide in the bottom of the sea, He commands serpent bites
• Psalm 139 7-10

God touches the earth and it melts

• He controls creation (waters, heavens)

Israel compared to Cushites (Ethiopia)

• God also brought:
  • Philistines from Caphtor
  • Syrians from Kir

Sifting judgment

• Kingdom destroyed
• But not total annihilation “Sifted among the nations”
  • Like grain shaken with impurities removed

“I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen”

• “Booth” (סֻכָּה, sukkah) =fragile structure
• David’s kingdom will be restored
• Expansion beyond Israel:
  • “all the nations who are called by my name”
• Acts 15:16-17 (applied to Gentile inclusion)

Reversal of Curse

• Plowman overtakes reaper
• Mountains drip sweet wine
• Cities rebuilt
• Joel 3:18

“I will plant them on their land”

Obadiah

Setting: After the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon (586 BC)

The people of Edom (descendants of Esau) took advantage of Judah’s destruction

What Edom did:

• Stood by while Jerusalem was invaded
• Rejoiced over Judah’s downfall
• Participated in looting
• Captured fleeing survivors

See

• Psalm 137 7
• Lamentations 4:21-22

From https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/obadiah-1/:  Obadiah 1:1-9 is paralleled remarkably in Jeremiah 49:7-22, so Jeremiah probably had Obadiah’s prophecy before him as he wrote and ministered.

Several Obadiah’s in Bible:

One Obadiah served in the court of King Ahab of Israel and protected God’s prophets by hiding them in a cave (1 Kings 18:3).

Another Obadiah was sent by King Jehoshaphat of Judah to teach the Law throughout the cities of Judah (2 Chronicles 17:7).

A different Obadiah was among the overseers who helped repair the temple during the reign of King Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:12).

Another Obadiah is listed as a priest in the time of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 10:5).

Edom lived in high mountain fortresses (rock cities like Sela/Petra)

• Believed they were untouchable

“You who live in the clefts of the rock…”

Unlike normal theft, nothing will be left behind. Allies will betray Edom

Edom known for wisdom (Teman region)

• God will destroy both:
  • wisdom
  • warriors

“Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob”

• They stood aloof during Jerusalem’s fall

Series of accusations:

• Rejoiced over Judah’s destruction
• Boasted in the day of distress
• Entered the city to loot
• Cut off fugitives

Edom moved from: indifference to celebration to participation

“The day of the LORD is near upon all the nations”

• What Edom did will return on them “As you have done, it shall be done to you”
• Galatians 6:7

A remnant will be saved and holiness restored

Reversal of Roles

• House of Jacob = fire
• House of Esau = stubble

Israel will possess land again

• People from the Negeb (south) will possess Edom (Mount Esau)
• People from the Shephelah (lowlands) will possess Philistine land
• Israel will take back:
  • Ephraim
  • Samaria
• Benjamin will possess Gilead

Exiles of Israel will return and possess land as far as Zarephath

• Exiles of Jerusalem (in Sepharad) will return
• They will possess the cities of the Negeb

“Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion… and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s”

Jonah 1

Jonah was a prophet in Israel

• Mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25 during the reign of Jeroboam II (~8th century BC)

Context: Israel was politically strong but spiritually corrupt (same era as Amos)

God sends Jonah not to Israel but to Nineveh (Assyria)

• Known for:
  • extreme violence
  • cruelty in warfare

“Arise, go to Nineveh…”

• Jonah instead flees to Tarshish (opposite direction)
• Nineveh = east (Assyria)
• Tarshish = far west (likely Spain)

 Jonah is not just avoiding he is going as far away as possible “from the presence of the LORD”

God “hurls” a great wind

• Ship threatened with breaking apart

Interesting contrast 

• Pagan sailors are afraid, praying
• Jonah is asleep

Sailors cast lots and it falls on Jonah. They question him

Jonah’s confession:

• “I am a Hebrew”
• “I fear the LORD… who made the sea and the dry land”

The storm worsens and Jonah tells them to throw him into the sea

Sailors try to row back (show compassion) and pray to the LORD before throwing Jonah overboard

• Sea calms immediately

Result:

• They fear the LORD
• Offer sacrifices and vows

“The LORD appointed a great fish…”

• in the fish 3 days and 3 nights
• Matthew 12:40

Application

In Amos 9, we are reminded that no one can escape God’s justice, yet His ultimate purpose is to restore us. In Obadiah, the warning against pride and indifference shows that how we respond to others’ suffering matters to God. In Jonah 1, we see that resisting God’s call not only affects us but also those around us.