Dare to Be an Obadiah

Daily Scripture Threshing for Today, Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Today's Text: 1 Kings 18:1-16; Obadiah 1:1-17; 1 Kings 18:3-4 (KJV)

Key Verse: 1 Kings 18:3-4 (KJV) — "And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: 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.)"

In the darkest hour of Israel, when Ahab sold himself to do evil and Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, one man dared to fear the Lord greatly — right inside the palace. Obadiah was governor of Ahab's house, the chief steward of a corrupt administration, yet Scripture says, "Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly." While the throne bowed to Baal, he bowed to Jehovah. Dare to be an Obadiah: dare to be godly in a godless system, and to keep your heart unpolluted when your workplace, city, and generation are polluted.

He refused to be passive. He could have said, "What can one man do?" But when Jezebel unleashed her purge, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water at the risk of his own life. One righteous administrator preserved the prophetic seed for a whole nation. His stewardship was not just of Ahab's goods, but of God's remnant. Dare to be an Obadiah: use your position, your paycheck, and your privilege to preserve what the enemy seeks to destroy, even if no one applauds you and everyone could betray you.

His courage was not noisy — it was costly. For years he served in silence, managing the affairs of a wicked king while secretly sustaining the cause of God. Then in one day, God sent Elijah to confront him on the road, and Obadiah, though afraid, obeyed and arranged the showdown on Carmel that would turn Israel's heart again. He chose loyalty to God over loyalty to the king, truth over tenure, and conviction over comfort. Dare to be an Obadiah: let your fear of God be greater than your fear of losing your position, your reputation, or your life.

Therefore Scripture's verdict remains — no book longer than twenty-one verses from the prophet Obadiah, and no chapter more heroic than one steward in 1 Kings 18, yet one hidden, faithful man kept the lamp of prophecy burning when Jezebel tried to quench it. God does not always need a palace prophet like Elijah; sometimes He needs a palace governor like Obadiah. God is still searching for that man who will be faithful in the house of Ahab but owned wholly by God. Dare to be faithful, dare to hide and feed the remnant, dare to stand for God in the palace — what begins as your private integrity in a corrupt system can preserve the voice of God for your generation.

Action Steps: Identify one righteous cause, person, or truth you can preserve with your position and resources that Jezebel has tried to cut off in your generation. Act today — feed it, hide it, fund it, defend it — even if you must do it quietly. Re-covenant to fear the Lord greatly where you are planted, and to use your palace for God's purposes.

Quote for the Day: "You do not need a pulpit to preserve a generation; one man who fears God greatly in a godless palace can hide a hundred prophets for the future." — (Simon Olatunji #quotablequotes)

Let Us Pray: Heavenly Father, like Obadiah, I choose to fear You greatly even while I serve in difficult places. Give me wisdom to manage what is in my hand for Your glory, courage to hide and feed Your remnant when wickedness seeks to cut it off, and boldness to stand for truth though I stand alone in the palace. Let my life preserve Your voice for my generation — in Jesus' most glorious name. Amen.

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Thank you for threshing the Word with me today. For further study on this topic, please read: 1 Kings 18:1-16; 1 Kings 18:3-4; Obadiah 1:1-17; Nehemiah 5:15; Proverbs 28:1; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Matthew 10:40-42.

With all my love and prayers,

Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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