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THE PROPHET OBADIAH
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
Obadiah might be an eminent servant in the Church of the Lord in his sermons, and preaching, and ministry: but in his writings he is very short. But certainly, short as it is, for it contains only a single Chapter, it carries with it the mark of divine inspiration.
The name of Obadiah is not without meaning. It signifies a laborer of the Lord. There are several of this name in scripture. There is an Obadiah mentioned in 1 Chronicles 3:21. and another the grandson of Uzzi, a chief man in his day with his brethren, 1 Chronicles 7:3. One also, a valiant man in David's army. 1 Chronicles 12:9. But neither of these was our Prophet. As he opens his prophecy without any account of himself, it is not very easy to determine, either his connection or the precise time of his labours. Some have thought that he was the same Obadiah that was a steward in Ahab's family, see
1 Kings 18:1. Reader let us beg the Lord God of the Prophets, so to bless our present attention to this man's labours, that they may be rendered profitable to our hearts, through the faith that is in Christ Jesus. Amen.