Early Piety—Eminent Piety 2
Back to Charles Spurgeon
May you and I personally feed upon the Lord Jesus in the secret of our souls, so that we may flourish even though we should be far removed from a profitable ministry! May the Holy Spirit make us steadfast and unmovable forever!
Added to this, there were the difficulties of his position, "Ahab had summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of his palace." 1 Kings 18:3. If he had pleased Jezebel and worshiped Baal—he might have been much easier in his situation, for he would have enjoyed her royal patronage; but there he was, governor in Ahab's house, and yet fearing Jehovah! He must have had to walk very delicately, and watch his words most carefully. I do not wonder that he became a very cautious person, and was a little afraid even of Elijah—lest Elijah should give him a commission which would lead to his destruction. He came to be extremely prudent, and looked on things round about—so as neither to compromise his conscience nor jeopardize his position.
It needs an uncommonly wise man to do that—and he who can accomplish it is to be commended. He did not run away from his position, nor retreat from his religion. If he had been forced to do wrong, I am sure he would have imitated the priests and Levites and have tied into Judah, where the worship of Jehovah continued. But he felt that without yielding to idolatry, he could do something for God in his advantageous position, and therefore he determined to stop and fight it out. When there is no hope of victory—you may as well retire; but he is the brave man who when the bugle sounds retreat—does not hear it; who puts his blind eye to the telescope—and cannot see the signal to cease firing—but just holds his position against all odds, and does all the damage he can to the enemy.
Obadiah was a man who did in truth "hold the fort," for he felt that when all the prophets were doomed by Jezebel, it was his part to stay near thetigress—and save the lives of at least a hundred servants of God from her cruel power. If he could not do more—he would not have lived in vain if he accomplished so much. I admire the man whose decision was equal to his prudence, though I should greatly fear to occupy so perilous a place. His course was something like walking on the tight rope over Niagra Falls. I would not like to try it myself, nor would I recommend any of you to attempt a feat so difficult.
The part of Elijah is much safer and grander. The prophet's course was plain enough; he had not to please—but to reprove Ahab; he had not to be wary—but to act in a bold outspoken manner for the God of Israel. How much the greater man he seems to be—when the two stand together in the scene before us. Obadiah falls on his face and calls him "My lord Elijah;" and well he might, for he was far Elijah's inferior. Yet it was a greater thing for Obadiah, that he could manage Ahab's household with Jezebel in it, and yet, for all that—win this commendation from the Spirit of God, that he feared the Lord greatly! He persevered, too, notwithstanding his success in life; and that I hold to be much to his credit.
There is nothing more perilous to a man—than to prosper in this world and become rich and respectable. Of course we desire it, wish for it, strive for it; but how many in winning it have lost all, as to spiritual wealth! The man used to love the people of God, and now he says, "They are a vulgar class of people." So long as he could hear the Gospel, he did not mind the architecture of the house. Now he has grown aesthetic and must have a spire, gothic architecture, a marble pulpit, priestly millinery, a conservatory in the Church and all sorts of pretty things! As he has filled his pockets—he has emptied his brains and especially emptied his heart! He has got away from truth and principle, in proportion as he has made an advance in his estate. This is a mean business, which, at one time, he would have been the first to condemn. There is no chivalry in such conduct—it is dastardly to the last degree! God save us from it!
But a great many people are not saved from it! Their religion is not a matter of Scriptural principle—but a matter of selfish interest; it is not the pursuit of the Truth of God—but a hankering after society, whatever that may mean! It is not their objective to glorify God—but to get rich husbands for their girls! It is not conscience that guides them—but the hope of being able to invite Sir John to dinner with them and of dining at the Country Club in return. Do not think I am being sarcastic—I speak in sober sadness of things which make one feel ashamed. I hear of them daily, though they do not personally affect me, or this Church. God send us men of the stuff of John Knox, or, if you prefer it, of the adamantine metal of Elijah! And if these should prove too stiff and stern, we could even be content with such men as Obadiah! Possibly these last might be harder to produce than Elijahs—but with God all things are possible!
III. Obadiah, with his early grace and persevering decision, became a man of EMINENT PIETY. This is the more remarkable considering what he was and where he was. Eminent piety in King Ahab's court! This is, indeed, a wonder of grace! This man's religion was intense within him. If he did not make the open use of it that Elijah did—he was not called to such a career. But it dwelt deep within his soul and others knew it. Jezebel knew it, I have no doubt whatever. She did not like him—but she had to endure him. She looked askance at him—but she could not dislodge him. Ahab had learned to trust him and could not do without him, for he probably furnished him with a little strength of mind.
Possibly Ahab liked to retain him just to show Jezebel that he could be obstinate if he liked and was still a man! I have noticed that the most yielding husbands like to indulge in some notion that they are not quite governed by their spouses—and it is possible that for this reason Ahab retained Obadiah in his position. At any rate, there he was, and he never yielded to Ahab's sin, nor countenanced his idolatry. Account for it how you may—it is an amazing circumstance that in the center of rebellion against God, there was one whose devotion to God was intense and distinguished! As it is horrible to find a Judas among the Apostles—so it is astonishing to discover an Obadiah among Ahab's courtiers. What grace must have been at work to maintain such a fire in the midst of the sea, such godliness in the midst of the vilest iniquity!
And his eminent piety was very practical, for when Jezebel was slaying the Prophets, he hid them away from her—100 of them. I do not know how many servants of the Lord any of you support—but I have not the privilege of knowing any gentleman who sustains 100 ministers! This man's hospitality was on a grand scale. He fed them with the best he could find for them and risked his life for them from the search of the queen, by hiding them away in caves. He not only used his purse—but risked his life when a price was set upon these men's heads. How many among us would place our lives in jeopardy for one of the Lord's servants? At any rate, Obadiah's fear of the Lord brought forth precious fruit and proved itself to be a powerful principle of action.
His godliness was such, too, that it was recognized by the believers of the day. I feel sure of that, because Obadiah said to Elijah, "Haven't you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the LORD? I hid a hundred of the LORD's prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water?" Now, Elijah was the well-known head and leader of the followers of Jehovah throughout that whole nation, and Obadiah was a little astonished that somebody had not told the great Prophet about his deed. Though his generous act may have been concealed from Jezebel and the Baalites, it was well known among the servants of the living God. He was well reported of among those whose good report is worth having. It was whispered about among them that they had a friend at court, that Obadiah, the governor of Ahab's palace, was on their side. If anybody could rescue a Prophet, he could and, therefore, the Prophets of God felt secure in giving themselves up to his care. They knew that he would not betray them to the bloodthirsty Jezebel. Their coming to him and confiding in him shows that his faithfulness was well known and highly esteemed. Thus he was strong enough in Divine Grace to be a leader recognized by the godly party.
Early piety—is likely to become eminent piety; the man who is likely to greatly fear God—is the man who serves God early! You know the old proverb, "He who would thrive—must rise at five." It is as applicable to piety as to anything else! He who would thrive with God—must be with God early in his days. He who would make great progress in the heavenward race—must not lose a moment! Let me urge young people to think of this and give their hearts to God even now!
Sunday school teachers! You may be training today—the men who will keep the truth of God alive in this land in years to come—the men who will take care of God's servants and be their best allies—the men and women who will win souls to Christ! Go on with your holy work! You do not know whom you have around you. You might well imitate the tutor who took his hat off to the boys in his school, because he did not know what they would turn out to be. Think very highly of your class—you cannot tell who may be there—but assuredly, you may have among them some who shall be, in years to come, pillars in the house of God!
IV. Obadiah's early religion became COMFORTABLE PIETY to him afterwards. When he thought Elijah was about to expose him to great danger, he pleaded his long service to God, saying, "I, your servant, have feared the Lord from my youth," just as David, when he grew old, said, "O God, You have taught me from my youth: and up to now have I declared Your wondrous works; now, also, when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not."
It will be a great comfort to you young people, when you grow old, to look back upon a life spent in the service of God. You will not trust in it. You will not think that there is any merit in it—but you will bless God for it! A servant who has been with his master from his youth ought not to be turned adrift when he grows gray. A right-minded master respects the person who has served him long and well. Suppose you had, living in the family, an old nurse who had nursed you when you were a child and had lived to bring up your children—would you turn her into the street when she was past her work age? No! You will do your best for her. If it is in your power, you will keep her out of the workhouse.
Now, the Lord is much more kind and gracious than we are, and He will never turn away His old servants. I anticipate the time when I shall not be able to do all that I now do. You and I may look forward, a little, to the nearing period when we shall pass from middle life to declining years—and we may be assured that our Lord will take care of us to the last. Let us do our diligence to serve Him while we have health and strength, and we may be sure that He is not unrighteous to forget our work of faith and labor of love. It is not His way! "Having loved His own which were in the world—He loved them to the end."
Oh, believe me, there is no better crutch on which an old man can lean—than the fact of God's love to him when he was young! You cannot have a better outlook to your window when your eyes begin to fail—than to remember how you went after the Lord in the days of your youth and devoted your vigor to His service!
Dear young people, if any of you are living in sin, I beg you to remember that if you are seeking the pleasures of this world, today—you will have to pay for it, by-and-by! "Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the sights of your eyes; but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment!" If your childhood is vanity and your youth is wickedness, your later days will be sorrow. Oh, that you would be wise and offer to Christ your flower in its bud with all its beauty upon it! You can not be too soon holy, for you can not be too soon happy! A truly merry life must begin in the great Father's house.
And you, teachers, go on teaching the young the ways of God! In these days the State is giving them secular instruction all day long—six days in the week. Pious teaching is greatly needed to balance it—or we shall soon become a nation of infidels! Secular teaching is all very well and good—we never stand in the way of any sort of light—but teaching that does not have piety blended with it—will simply help men to be bigger rascals than they would be without it! A rogue with a short crowbar is bad enough—but a rogue with a pen and a set of account books, robs a hundred for the other's one! Under our present regimen of state education, children will grow up with greater capacity for mischief—unless the fear of the Lord is set before them and they are taught in the Scriptures and the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. Instead of relaxing Sunday-school efforts, we shall be wise to greatly increase them!
As to you that have grown old in sin, I cannot talk to you about early piety—but there is a passage of Scripture which ought to give you great hope. Remember how the landowner went out at the 3rd, the 6th, the 9th and, at last, at the 11th hour and found some still standing in the marketplace idle? It was late, was it not? Very late. But, blessed be God, it was not too late! They had but one hour left—but the master said, "Go, work in my vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you."
Now you 11th-hour people, you people of sixty, sixty-five, seventy, seventy-five, eighty—you may still come and enlist in the service of the gracious Lord! He will give you your "full day's wage" at the close of the day even as He will give to the rest of the laborers! May the Lord bring you to His feet by faith in Christ. Amen.
Back to Charles Spurgeon