From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
November 19th - The Holy Prophet Obadiah
Also known as Abdias, Abdis
Memorial
19 November
15 Tobi (Coptic)
This name is the Greek form of the Hebrew `Obh=C3=A1dhyah, which means "the servant [or worshipper] of Yahweh". The fourth and shortest of the
minor prophetical books of the Old Testament (it contains only 21
verses) is ascribed to Abdias. In the title of the book it is usually
regarded as a proper name. Some recent scholars, however, think that
it should be treated as an appellative, for, on the one hand, Holy
Writ often designates a true prophet under the appellative name of
"the servant of Yahweh", and on the other, it nowhere gives any
distinct information concerning the writer of the work ascribed to
Abdias. It is true that in the absence of such authoritative
information Jews and Christian traditions have been freely circulated
to supply its place; but it remains none the less a fact that "nothing
is known of Abdias; his family, station in life, place of birth,
manner of death, are equally unknown to us" (Abb=C3=A9 Trochon, Les petits proph=C3=A8tes, 193). The only thing that may be inferred from the work concerning its author is that he belonged to the Kingdom of Juda.
The short prophecy of Abdias deals almost exclusively with the fate of
Edom as is stated in its opening words. God has summoned the nations
against her. She trusts in her rocky fastnesses, but in vain. She
would be utterly destroyed, not simply spoiled as by thieves (1-6).
Her former friends and allies have turned against her (7), and her
wisdom shall fail her in this extremity (8,9). She is justly punished
for her unbrotherly conduct towards Juda when foreigners sacked
Jerusalem and cast lots over it (10-11). She is bidden to desist from
her unworthy conduct (12-14). The "day of Yahweh" is near upon "all
the nations", in whose ruin Edom shall share under the united efforts
of "the house of Jacob" and "the house of Joseph" (16-18). As for
Israel, her borders will be enlarged in every direction; "Saviours"
shall appear on Mount Sion to "judge" the Mount of Esau, and the rule
of Yahweh shall be established (19-20).
The Holy Prophet Obadiah [or Abdia] is the fourth of the 12 Minor
Prophets, and he lived during the ninth century B.C. He was from the
village of Betharam, near Sichem, and he served as steward of the
impious Israelite King Ahab. In those days the whole of Israel had
turned away from the true God and had begun to offer sacrifice to
Baal, but Obadiah faithfully served the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob in secret.
When Ahab's wife, the impious and dissolute Jezebel, hunted down all
the prophets of the Lord (because of her quarrel with the Prophet
Elias), Obadiah gave them shelter and food (3/1 Kgs 18:3 ff). Ahab's
successor King Okhoziah [Ahaziah] sent three detachments of soldiers
to arrest the holy Prophet Elias (July 20). One of these detachments
was headed by St. Obadiah. Through the prayer of St. Elias, two of the detachments were consumed by heavenly fire, but St. Obadiah and his
detachment were spared by the Lord 4/2 Kgs 1).
From that moment St. Obadiah resigned from military service and became
a follower of the Prophet Elias. Afterwards, he himself received the
gift of prophecy. The God-inspired work of St. Obadiah is the fourth
of the Books of the 12 Minor Prophets in the Bible, and contains
predictions about the New Testament Church. The holy Prophet Obadiah
was buried in Samaria.
Saint Quote:
If then you remain constant in faith in the face of trial, the Lord
will give you peace and rest for a time in this world, and for ever in
the next.
--Saint Jerome Emiliani from a letter to his brothers
Bible Quote:
But according to him that hath called you, who is holy, be you also in
all manner of conversation holy: Because it is written: You shall be
holy, for I am holy.=C2 (1 Peter 1:15-16 ) DRB
<><><><>
I have a place in God's counsels, in God's world, which no =
one else has;
whether I be rich or poor, despised or esteemed by man,
God knows me and calls me by my name.
God has created me to do Him some definite service;
He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another.
I have my mission'I never may know it in this life, but I shall be
told it in the next.
Somehow I am necessary for His purposes,
as necessary in my place as an Archangel in his
'if, indeed, I fail, He can raise another, as He could make the sto=
nes
children of Abraham. Yet I have a part in this great work;
I am a link in a chain, a bond of connexion between persons.
He has not created me for naught.
I shall do good, I shall do His work;
I shall be an angel of peace,
a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it,
if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling.
Therefore I will trust Him.
Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away.
If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him;
in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him;
if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.
My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes
of some great end, which is quite beyond us.
He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life, He may shorten it;
He knows what He is about.
He may take away my friends,
He may throw me among strangers,
He may make me feel desolate,
make my spirits sink, hide the future from me
'still He knows what He is about.
-- Blessed John Henry Newman
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* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)