Obadiah – A Friend of Preachers

I Kings 18:4 – “For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.”

The name of Ahab, king of Israel, is synonymous with wickedness. His idolatrous reign saw God’s judgment brought against His people. Our text tells us that Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, “cut off the prophets of the LORD.” She hated the true prophets of God and sought to have them all slain. Instead of listening to God’s servants, she and Ahab surrounded themselves with false prophets.

Obadiah was the governor of Ahab’s house. Obadiah feared the Lord greatly, and according to our text, took it upon himself to personally hide and sustain one hundred of the Lord’s prophets. To do such a thing required great courage and faith. In the case of the men of God, he sided against his ruthless master and on the side of godliness and truth. Obadiah was truly “A FRIEND OF PREACHERS.” Thank God for those like Obadiah who see the value in befriending the men of God.

Just as Jezebel hated and sought to remove the true prophets, there are spiritual enemies today that despise those who faithfully proclaim God’s Word. There remains a great need for those like Obadiah who are supportive of those whom God has called to preach the truth and renounce evil. One of the most important things we can do as friends of preachers is pray for them. The apostle Paul often requested prayer for himself that he might be bold in proclaiming God’s message. Remembering how Satan seeks to hinder God’s servants, we should intercede for them often.

Another way we can help preachers is by encouraging them. Preachers need encouragement just as much as you do. As a matter of fact, they spend much of their time trying to encourage the people of God, only to find that they as preachers sometimes also stand in need of encouragement. A note of thanks or a verbal word of affirmation means a lot to a faithful servant. Preachers are also greatly bolstered by the faithfulness and participation of their flock.