Early Piety—Eminent Piety

Next Part Early Piety—Eminent Piety 2

"I, your servant, have feared the Lord from my youth." 1 Kings 18:12

I suspect that Elijah did not think very much of Obadiah. He does not treat him with any great consideration—but addresses him more sharply than one would expect from a fellow-believer. Elijah was the man of action—bold, always to the front, with nothing to conceal. Obadiah was a quiet believer, true and steadfast—but in a very difficult position, and therefore driven to perform his duty in a less open manner. His faith in the Lord swayed his life—but did not drive him out of Ahab's court. I notice that even after Elijah had learned more of him at this interview, he speaks concerning God's people as if he did not reckon much upon Obadiah, and others like him. He says, "They have thrown down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away!" He knew very well that Obadiah was left, who, though not exactly a prophet, was a man of God; but he seems to ignore him as if he were of small account in the great struggle. I suppose it was because this man of iron, this prophet of fire and thunder, this mighty servant of the Most High God, set small store by anybody who did not come to the front and fight like himself.

I know it is the tendency of brave and zealous minds, somewhat to undervalue quiet, retired piety. True and accepted servants of God may be doing their best under great disadvantages, against fierce opposition—but they may scarcely be known, and may even shun the least recognition; therefore men who live in the fierce light of public life are apt to under-estimate them. These minor stars are lost in the brilliance of the man whom God lights up like a new sun to flame through the darkness.

Elijah flashed over the sky of Israel like a thunderbolt from the hand of the Eternal God, and naturally he would be somewhat impatient of those whose movements were slower and less conspicuous. It is Martha and Mary over again—in some respects. The Lord does not love that His servants, however great they are, should think lightly of their lesser comrades, and it occurs to me that He so arranged matters that Obadiah became important to Elijah when he had to face the wrathful king of Israel. The prophet is bidden to go and show himself to Ahab, and he does so; but he judges it better to begin by showing himself to Obadiah, who was in charge of Ahab's palace, that Obadiah may break the news to his master, and prepare him for the interview. Ahab was exasperated by the terrible results of the long drought, and might in his sudden fury attempt to kill the prophet; and so he is to have time for consideration, that he may cool down a little.

Elijah has an interview with Obadiah, and bids him go and say to Ahab, "Behold, Elijah is here." It may sometimes be the nearest way to our object—to go a little round about. But it is remarkable that Obadiah should thus be made useful to a man so much his superior, He who never feared the face of kings nevertheless found himself using as his helper a far more timid individual.

The Lord may put you, my dear brother, who are so eminent, so useful, so brave and, perhaps, so severe, into a position in which the humbler and more retiring believer, who has not half the grace, nor half the courage that you have, may, nevertheless, become important to your mission! And when He does this, He would have you learn the lesson, and learn it well—that the Lord has a place for all His servants, and that He would not have us despise the least of them, but value them and cherish the good that is in them.

"The head must not say to the foot—I have no need of you!" Those members of the mystical body which are weakest—are yet necessary to the whole fabric. The Lord does not despise the day of small things, neither will He have His people do so. Elijah must not deal harshly with Obadiah. I wish that Obadiah had had more courage—I wish that he had testified for the Lord, His God, as openly as Elijah did—but still, every man in his own order—to his own master every servant must stand or fall. All lights are not suns! Some are only stars and even one star differs from another star in glory. God has His praise out of the least known of His holy people—even as the night has its light out of those glimmering bodies which cannot be discerned as separate stars, but are portions of nebulous masses in which myriads of far off lights are melted into one.

We learn further from the narrative before us, that God will never leave Himself without witnesses in this world. Yes, and He will not leave Himself without witnesses in the worst places of the world. What a horrible abode for a true believer, Ahab's court must have been! If there had been no sinner there but that woman Jezebel, she was enough to make the place a sink of iniquity. That strong-minded, proud, Sidonian Queen twisted poor Ahab round her fingers just as she pleased. He might never have been the persecutor he was—if his wife had not stirred him up; but she hated the worship of Jehovah intensely, and despised the plainness of Israel in comparison with the more pompous style of Sidon. Ahab must yield to her imperious demands, for she would brook no contradiction, and when her proud spirit was roused, she defied all opposition. Yet in that very court where Jezebel was mistress, Obadiah was a man who feared God greatly. Never be surprised to meet with a believer anywhere! Grace can live where you would never expect to see it survive for an hour!

Joseph feared God in the court of Pharaoh, Daniel was a trusted counselor of Nebuchadnezzar, Mordecai waited at the gate of Ahasuerus, Pilate's wifepleaded for the life of Jesus, and there were saints in Caesar's household. These are examples of finding diamonds on dunghills. Those who feared God in Rome were not only Christians—but they were examples to all other Christians for their brotherly love and generosity. Surely there is no place in this land where there is not some gospel light—the darkest cavern of iniquity has its gospel torch. Be not afraid; you may find followers of Jesus in the precincts of Pandemonium! In the palace of Ahab you meet an Obadiah who rejoices to hold fellowship with despised saints, and supplies the needs of persecuted Christians. "While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water!" 1 Kings 18:4

I notice that these witnesses for God are very often people converted in their youth. God seems to take a delight to make these His special standard-bearers in the day of battle. Look at Samuel! When all Israel became disgusted with the wickedness of Eli's sons the child Samuel ministered before the Lord. Look at David! When he is but a shepherd boy he wakes the echoes of the lone hills with his psalms and the accompanying music of his harp. See Josiah! When Israel had revolted—it was a child, Josiah by name, who broke down the altars of Baal and burned the bones of his priests.Daniel was but a youth when he took his stand for purity and God.

The Lord has today—I know not where—some little Luther on his mother's knee, some young Calvin learning in our Sunday-school, some youthfulZwingli singing a hymn to Jesus. This age may grow worse and worse; I sometimes think it will, for many signs look that way; but the Lord is preparing for it. The days are dark and ominous; and may darken down into a blacker night than has been known before; but God's cause is safe in God's hands! His work will not tarry for lack of men. Do not put forth the hand of Uzzah to steady the ark of the Lord—it shall go safely on in God's predestined way! Christ will not fail nor be discouraged. God buries His workmen—but His work lives on!

If there is not in the palace, a king who honors God—there shall yet be found there, one like Obadiah, who fears the Lord from his youth, who shall take care of the Lord's prophets, and hide them away until better days shall come.

Therefore be of good courage, and look for happier hours. Nothing of real value is in jeopardy—while Jehovah is on the throne. The Lord's young reserves are coming up, and their drums beat victory!

I wish to speak with you, this morning, concerning Obadiah. His piety is the subject of discourse and we wish to use it for stimulating the zeal of those who teach the young.

1. OBADIAH'S EARLY PIETY

"I, your servant, have feared the Lord from my youth." 1 Kings 18:12

Obadiah possessed early piety. Oh, that all our youth who may grow up to manhood and womanhood may be able to say the same! Happy are the people who are in such a case! How Obadiah came to fear the Lord in youth—we cannot tell. The instructor by whom he was led to faith in Jehovah, is not mentioned. Yet we may reasonably conclude that he had believing parents. As slender as this may seem to be, I think it is pretty firm, when I remind you of his name.

This would very naturally be given him by his father or his mother, and as it signifies "the servant of Jehovah," I would think it indicated his parent's piety. In the days when there was persecution everywhere against the faithful servants of Jehovah, and the name of Jehovah was in contempt: because the calves of Bethel and the images of Baal were set up everywhere, I do not think that unbelieving parents would have given to their child the name of "the servant of Jehovah," if they themselves had not felt a reverence for the Lord. They would not idly have courted the remarks of their idolatrous neighbors, and the enmity of Ahab and Jezebel. In a time when names meant something, they would have called him "the child of Baal," or "the servant of Chemosh," or some other name expressive of reverence to the popular gods—if the fear of God had not been before their eyes.

The selection of such a name, manifests to me their earnest desire that their boy might grow up to serve Jehovah, and never bow his knee before the abhorred idols of the Sidonian queen. Whether this is so or not, it is quite certain that thousands of the most intelligent believers owe their first bent towards godliness—to the sweet associations of home. How many of us might well have borne some such a name as that of Obadiah; for no sooner did we see the light—than our parents tried to enlighten us with the truth. We were consecrated to the service of God—before we knew that there was a God! Many a tear of earnest prayer fell on our infant brow; we were nursed in the atmosphere of devotion. There was scarcely a day in which we were not urged to be faithful servants of God, and entreated while we were yet young—to seek Jesus and give our hearts to Him. Oh, what we owe, many of us, to the Providence which gave us such a happy parentage! Blessed be God for His great mercy to the children of His chosen!

If he had no gracious parents, I cannot tell how Obadiah came to be a believer in the Lord in those sad days, unless he fell in with some kind teacher, tender nurse, or perhaps godly servant in his father's house, or pious neighbor—who dared to gather little children round about him and tell of the Lord God of Israel. Some holy woman may have instilled the Law of the Lord into his young mind before the priests of Baal could poison him with their falsehoods.

No mention is made of anybody in connection with this man's conversion in his youth—and it does not matter, does it? You and I do not want to be mentioned if we are humble-hearted servants of God. Not unto us be the glory! If souls are saved, God has the honor of it! He knows what instrument He has used—and as He knows it, that is enough. The favor of God is fame enough for a believer. All the blasts of fame's bronze trumpet are but so much wasted wind, compared with that one sentence from the mouth of God, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Go on, dear Teachers—since you are called to the sacred ministry of instructing the young, do not grow weary of it! Go on, though you may be unknown, for the seed you sow in the darkness, shall be reaped in the light! You may be teaching an Obadiah, whose name shall be heard in future years—you may be providing a father for the Church and a benefactor for the world! Though your name is forgotten, your work shall not be. When that illustrious day shall dawn, compared with which all other days are dim—when the unknown shall be made known to the assembled universe—what you have spoken in darkness shall be declared in the light!

If it were not in this way that Obadiah was brought to fear the Lord in his youth, we may think of methods such as the Lord devises for the bringing in of His banished. I have been very pleased, lately, when I have been seeing enquirers, to talk with several young people who have come out from utterly worldly families. I put to them the question, "Is your father a member of a Christian Church?" The answer has been a shake of the head. "Does he attend a place of worship?" "No, Sir, I never knew him to go to one." "What about your mother?" "Mother does not care about religion." "Have you any brother or sister like-minded with yourself?" "No, Sir." "Have you any single relative who knows the Lord?" "No, Sir." "Were you brought up by anyone who led you to attend the means of Grace and urged you to believe on the Lord Jesus?" "No, Sir, and yet from my childhood I have always had a desire to know the Lord."

Is it not remarkable that it should be so? What a wonderful proof of the Election of Grace! Here is one taken out of a family—while all the rest are left! What do you say to this? Here is one called in early childhood and prompted by the secret whispers of the Spirit of God to seek after the Lord—while all the rest of the family slumber in midnight darkness! If that is your case, dear friend, magnify the Sovereignty of God and adore Him as long as you live, for, "He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy."

Still, I take it, the major part of those who come to know the Lord in their youth, are people who have had the advantage of godly parents and holy training. Let us persevere in the use of those means which the Lord ordinarily uses, for this is the way of wisdom and duty.

This early piety of Obadiah's had special marks of genuineness about it. The way in which he described it is very instructive, "I, your servant, havefeared the Lord from my youth." I hardly remember in all my life, to have heard the piety of children described in ordinary conversation by this term, though it is the common word of the Scriptures. We say, "The dear child loved God." We talk of their "being made so happy," and so forth, and I do not question the rightness of the language. Still, the Holy Spirit speaks of "the fear of the Lord" as "the beginning of wisdom;" and David says, "Come, you children, hearken unto me—I will teach you the fear of the Lord." Children will get great joy through faith in the Lord Jesus; but that joy, if true, is full of humble reverence and awe of the Lord.

You do not need that I should speak to you at large, upon the advantages of early piety. I will, therefore, only SUM them up in a few sentences. To be a believer in God early in life—is to be saved from a thousand regrets! Such a man shall never have to say that he carries in his bones—the sins of his youth. The Christian young man will not fall into the common sins of other young men, and injure his bodily health by excesses.

He will be likely to be married to a Christian woman, and so to have a holy companion in his march towards Heaven.

Early piety helps us to form friendships for the rest of life which will prove helpful—and it saves us from those which are harmful. He will select as his associates, those who will be his friends in the church—and not in the tavern. They will be his helpers in virtue—and not his tempters to vice. Depend upon it—a great deal depends upon whom we choose for our companions in early life. If we start in bad company—it is very hard to break away from it.

The man brought to Christ early in life has this further advantage—that he is helped to form holy habits—and he is saved from being the slave of their opposites. Habits soon become a second nature; to form new ones is hard work; but those formed in youth—remain in old age.

Moreover, I notice that, very frequently, those who are brought to Christ while young, grow in grace more rapidly and readily than others do. They have not so much to unlearn, and they have not such a heavy weight of old sinful memories to carry. The scars and bleeding sores which come from having spent years in the service of the devil—are missed by those whom the Lord brings into His church, before they have wandered far into the sinful pleasures of this evil world.

Early piety also has its bearing upon others—and I cannot too highly commend it. How attractive it is! Grace looks loveliest in youth. That which would not be noticed in the grown-up man, strikes at once the most careless observer when seen in a child. Grace in a child has a convincing force—the infidel drops his weapon and admires. A word spoken by a child abides in the memory, and its artless accents touch the heart. Where the minister's sermon fails—the child's prayer may gain the victory.

Moreover, piety in children suggests encouragement to those of riper years; for others seeing the little one saved say to themselves, "Why should not I also be saved?" By a certain secret power it opens closed doors—and turns the key in the lock of unbelief. Where nothing else could win a way for truth—a child's love has done it. It is still true, "From the lips of babes and infants, you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger." Psalm 8:2

Go on, go on, dear teachers, to promote this most precious of all things beneath the sky—true religion in the heart—especially in the heart of the young! I have taken up, perhaps, too much time upon this early piety and, therefore, I will only give you hints, in the next place, as to its results.

II. Youthful piety leads on to PERSEVERING PIETY.

"Ahab had summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of his palace. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the LORD. While Jezebel was killing off the LORD's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.) 1 Kings 18:3-4

Obadiah could say, "I, your servant, have feared the Lord from my youth." Time had not changed him; whatever his age may have been, his piety had not decayed. We are all fond of novelty, and I have known some men go wrong, as it were, for a desire for something new. It is not burning quickly to the death in martyrdom that is the hard work; the slow roasting over hot coals is a far more dreadful test of firmness. To continue gracious during a long life of temptation—is to be gracious indeed.

For the grace of God to convert a man like Paul, who is full of threatenings against the saints, is a great marvel. But for the grace of God to preservea believer for ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years—is quite as great a miracle and deserves more of our praise than it usually commands. Obadiah was not affected by the lapse of many years; he was found to be when old—exactly what he was when young!

Nor was he carried away by the fashion of those evil times. To be a servant of Jehovah was thought to be a base thing, old-fashioned, ignorant, a thing of the past. But the worship of Baal was the fashion and idol of the day. All the court worshiped the god of Sidon, and all the courtiers went in the same way. My lord worshiped Baal, and my lady worshiped Baal—for the Queen worshiped Baal. But Obadiah said, "I, your servant, have feared the Lord from my youth." Blessed is the man who cares nothing for the FASHION, for it passes away. If for a while it rages towards evil—what has the believing man to do but to abide steadfastly by the right?

Obadiah was not even affected by the absence of the means of grace. The priests and Levites had fled into Judah—and the prophets had been killed or hidden away—and there was no public worship of Jehovah in Israel. The temple was far away at Jerusalem; therefore Obadiah had no opportunity of hearing anything that could strengthen him or encourage him; yet he held on his way, fearing the Lord. I wonder how long some professors would keep up their profession—if there were no places of worship, no Christian associations, no ministrations of the Word? But this man's fear of the Lord was so deep—that the absence of that which is usually needed for the sustenance of piety, did not cause him to decline.

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