Sermon Snippet – One of the Few
INTRODUCTION – We are all likely familiar with Elijah’s lament of I Kings 19:14: “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, thrown down Thine altars, and slain Thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” This great man of God was suffering from severe depression as he surveyed the land of Israel, the land that he loved. We know, of course, that we are never truly alone, for our Savior has promised, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5c). In addition, God reassures Elijah in verse 18, Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. Like Elijah in Israel, we are among the few in our nation. Let us learn from a man named Obadiah, who was one of the few believers in Elijah’s day (I Kings 18:1-16).
1. OBADIAH OPPOSED THE WICKED RULERS
Verse 4 reveals that this government official dared to disobey “Jezebel,” whose name is now a synonym for evil. Open rebellion against the king and queen would have been immediately punished with death. Obadiah was not a prophet like Elijah (the author of the book of Obadiah was a different man); thus, his role was different. From within the bureaucracy, he rescued a “hundred prophets,” who otherwise would have been executed. His moral courage is exemplary – and would have resulted in his own death had his actions become known to Ahab and Jezebel.
2. OBADIAH SIDED WITH GOD’S PEOPLE
Verse 4 records that Obadiah not only rescued the one hundred prophets (preachers in training) but also provided care for them. This active love was costly, for it was a time of drought and famine. He had saved these fellow believers from certain death; now he saved them from slow death by starvation. Without this personal care and intervention, the 7,000 would have become the 6,900. Obadiah simply did what was right, fulfilling Galatians 6:10 centuries before it was written: “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” The last part of this command reminds us that the need is so great because there are so few of us.
3. OBADIAH INFLUENCED AHAB
As the third most powerful person in the government of Israel, Obadiah provided wise
counsel. He had already frustrated Jezebel’s nefarious plan to kill the prophets; he served as an effective counterbalance, as Christians should today by voting wisely. His personal influence on Ahab is illustrated in verses 5-6. “Horses and mules” were crucial to the military protection of the nation, and Obadiah did his best to protect the people. However, Ahab was the worst king of Israel. Did Obadiah really make a difference politically? Matthew 5:13a reminds us that we “are the salt of the earth.” Salt is a preservative; it keeps things from decay. Could Ahab have been even worse? Yes, absolutely yes. You may be the only Christian or one of the few in your family or workplace. Such a situation is discouraging (remember Elijah’s discouragement), but our influence is essential. It is an unexciting but necessary role.
4. OBADIAH CONTINUED IN HIS FAITHFULNESS
He was called to deliver a message to Ahab, an unpleasant and potentially lethal task (verses 8-16). Obadiah obeyed. His confidence was in God, Who is not constrained by man’s majority opinion. May we be ready to continue in the minority.
CONCLUSION – The key to Obadiah’s life is found in verse 3: “He feared the LORD greatly.” This reverence was so strong that he was able to be in the worst of circumstances with the worst of powerful people and remain godly. Each one of us is called to make a similar deliberate decision. First, we must choose to follow Jesus Christ, God the Son, as Savior. Second, we must not forget Who God is and who we are. The world is wrong; our Savior God is right. As one of the few, each one of us needs to stand with Him. “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all” (Isaiah 7:9b – NIV).