Obadiah

AI summary: This Obadiah matters because the cross references present him as a servant of God working under hostile power without surrendering his fear of the Lord. He preserves prophets at great personal risk, manages royal duties in a drought crisis, and nervously but obediently facilitates Elijah's encounter with Ahab. His faithfulness is quiet, strategic, and brave. Taken together, the material presents this Obadiah as a righteous court official whose hidden obedience protects God's servants in a dark time.¹

An Israelite who was chief in the household of King Ahab (1 Kings 18:3). Amid great spiritual degeneracy he maintained his fidelity to God, and interposed to protect The Lord’s prophets, an hundred of whom he hid at great personal risk in a cave (4, 13). Ahab seems to have held Obadiah in great honour, although he had no sympathy with his piety (5, 6, 7). The last notice of him is his bringing back tidings to Ahab that Elijah, whom he had so long sought for, was at hand (9-16). “Go,” said Elijah to him, when he met him in the way, “go tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.” ³