And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:
The verse identifies Obadiah as the governor, or steward, of Ahab's household. It states that Obadiah feared the Lord greatly and remained faithful to God even while serving in the court of the apostate king. It belongs to the account of Elijah's confrontation with Ahab and ministry during the drought and famine, when Israel was in apostasy and national idolatry under Ahab's worship of Baal.
During the severe drought Ahab himself joined Obadiah in searching the land for water and pasture. Their object was to save their starving flocks and herds, and they divided the land between them so as to search separately. Obadiah's reverence for God was shown by his willingness to risk his life to preserve God's prophets.
In the larger account Elijah stood alone for God on Mount Carmel, where faith overthrew idolatry and the coming of rain testified to promised blessing. Afterward Elijah yielded to weakness and fear, and this failure of faith shortened the work he had begun so that God appointed another prophet to take his place, though God honored Elijah's faithful service by taking him to heaven rather than letting him die in the wilderness.
The verse identifies Obadiah as the governor, or steward, of Ahab's household. It states that Obadiah feared the Lord greatly and remained faithful to God even while serving in the court of the apostate king. It belongs to the account of Elijah's confrontation with Ahab and ministry during the drought and famine, when Israel was in apostasy and national idolatry under Ahab's worship of Baal.
During the severe drought Ahab himself joined Obadiah in searching the land for water and pasture. Their object was to save their starving flocks and herds, and they divided the land between them so as to search separately. Obadiah's reverence for God was shown by his willingness to risk his life to preserve God's prophets.
In the larger account Elijah stood alone for God on Mount Carmel, where faith overthrew idolatry and the coming of rain testified to promised blessing. Afterward Elijah yielded to weakness and fear, and this failure of faith shortened the work he had begun so that God appointed another prophet to take his place, though God honored Elijah's faithful service by taking him to heaven rather than letting him die in the wilderness.