Lessons Learned from Elijah and Obadiah 1 Kings

Lessons Learned from Elijah and Obadiah 1 Kings 18: 1 -16 Sculpture of Elijah on top of Mt. Carmel in Israel

The Prophet Elijah • Among the greatest of • Note: “a man with a the prophets nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly” • Appeared with Moses (cf. James 5: 16) at Jesus’ transformation (cf. Mt. 17: 1 -13) • Austere man, and straightforward in • Great signs dealing with the sin accompanied his he witnessed (1 Kings ministry (Drought, 18: 18; 18: 27; 21: 20 Ravens, Oil and Flour, 24) Fire from Heaven)

1 Kings 18: 18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals. ” To King Ahab, when accused by the King.

1 Kings 18: 27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened. “ Mocking the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel

1 Kings 21: 20 -24 So Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy? ” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD: 21 ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. 22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin. ’ 23 And concerning Jezebel the LORD also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. ’ 24 The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field. ”

1 Kings 21: 19 “You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Have you murdered and also taken possession? ”’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours. ”’” We know his plain speech was appropriate, because they were words from God Himself

Obadiah – The servant of Ahab & God • Lesson 1: Obadiah’s • In charge of Ahab’s (and our) primary house (18: 3) allegiance is to God! • There was a limit to (Acts 5: 27 b-29) Obadiah’s faithfulness to Ahab (Thwarted Jezebel’s attempt to kill all of Jehovah’s prophets, by hiding 100 of them in caves). (3 -4)

Acts 5: 27 -29. . . And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!” 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. ” – Shadrach, Meshach & Abed-Nego refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 3: 14 -15) – Daniel continued to pray (and prospered) despite King Darius’ prohibition (Dan. 6: 28)

Obadiah – The servant of Ahab & God • In charge of Ahab’s • Lesson 1: Obadiah’s house (18: 3) (and our) primary allegiance is to God! • There was a limit to (Acts 5: 27 b-29) Obadiah’s faithfulness to Ahab (Thwarted • Lesson 2: Entangle. Jezebel’s attempt to ments with the world kill all of Jehovah’s do not make us prophets, by hiding worldly, if we 100 of them in caves). maintain personal (3 -4) righteousness (1 Corinthians 5: 9 -10)

1 Corinthians 5: 9 -10 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. – Pay Taxes to evil government (Romans 13: 1 -7) – Provide for family (even if, as Obadiah, our employer is ungodly (1 Timothy 5: 8) – Avoid sinning brethren (1 Corinthians 5: 11)

Observations from the Conversation • Obadiah was respectful of the great prophet (18: 7) (Some are worthy of special respect: 1 Tim. 5: 1; Heb. 13: 17; Gal. 6: 6)

1 Timothy 5: 1 Do not rebuke an older man, exhort him as a father, men as brothers. but younger Those who are our elders are deserving of great respect and honor. They are to be treated with dignity.

Hebrews 13: 17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. The elders of our local congregation are deserving of great respect.

Galatians 6: 6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Those who instruct us in the word should receive special consideration as well.

Observations from the Conversation • Obadiah was respectful of the great prophet (18: 7) (Some are worthy of special respect: 1 Tim. 5: 1; Heb. 13: 17; Gal. 6: 6) • Elijah accepted Obadiah’s testimony of his faithfulness (18: 12 -13) (Be careful when judging another: Rom. 10: 3)

Romans 10: 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. One only has to raise himself to God’s standards, not man’s. “To his own master he stands or falls” (Romans 14: 4).

Observations from the Conversation • Obadiah was respectful of the great prophet (18: 7) (Some are worthy of special respect: 1 Tim. 5: 1; Heb. 13: 17; Gal. 6: 6) • Elijah accepted Obadiah’s testimony of his faithfulness (18: 12 -13) (Be careful when judging another: Rom. 10: 3) • Obadiah did not compromise! (18: 12) (No man can appeal to Obadiah as an example of compromise with sin!) • Elijah showed great courage (18: 1, 18) (Preachers, elders & stand at the battle front should be encouraged. )

Is There Room in the Kingdom? • The Elijahs of our day are heavily criticized. • However, they are righteous servants. • True Elijahs are not: – Sectarians – Prideful – Lacking in personal integrity – Improperly motivated • Some Obadiahs are criticized as well. • They too are righteous servants • True Obadiahs are not: – Sectarians – Prideful – Compromisers, fellowshipping errorists – Compromisers with the world

Conclusion We are not all the same. However, we all, despite different temperaments and different positions, can be faithful to God. If one is faithful, he should be respected by all his brethren. This is necessary for the unity demanded by our Lord!