It is not a little remarkable that while idolatry and wickedness reigned at the court of Ahab, Obadiah, a pious man and a devout worshipper of God, should have possessed such influence with the king as to be able to retain his high position and office as lord chamberlain, or mayor of the palace. No doubt it was in spite of his religion, and because, like Daniel at the royal court of Babylon, he was found to be thoroughly trustworthy and conscientious.
From the words of the text we may learn two valuable lessons:
I. The importance of early decision for God. Obadiah was not a particularly young man at this time; that is plain from his language; but his religious earnestness had dated from early life. His piety took the complexion of an awe-inspiring sense of a personal God. This is the most wholesome force by which a man's life can be guided. When we are on the verge of moral suicide, it is the felt presence of a personal God that holds us back from the pit of pollution. When men abandon this ground, and think of the Deity only as the great presiding force in nature, there is no longer any sound basis of morality or virtue.
II. The second lesson is the importance of courage in openly avowing our religious decision. The first thing is to have sound principles, and the second thing is not to be ashamed of them. Obadiah's piety must often have put his life in danger; but, for all that, he did not disavow his faith in Israel's God. The fear of the Lord took away every other fear.
It is a great help to us, if our faith is genuine, to meet with a little opposition at times. A man is none the worse a Christian for having occasionally to stand up for his principles. It makes our religion more real, and gives us greater confidence in its power.
J. Thain Davidson, The City Youth,p. 97.
References: 1 Kings 18:12. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxx., No. 1804; J. C. Harrison, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xix., p. 209. 1 Kings 18:17; 1 Kings 18:18. R. Heber, Parish Sermons,vol. ii., p. 104. 1 Kings 18:17-40. Parker, Fountain,Feb. 8th, 1877, and vol. viii., p. 32. 1 Kings 18:20. A. Mursell, Lights and Landmarks,p. 126.