DAILY TEXT, From today Friday, February 7, 2025, Obadiah feared Jehovah greatly (1 Ki. 18:3).

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Friday February 7, 2025

Obadiah feared Jehovah greatly (1 Kings 18:3).

How did the fear of God help Obadiah? On the one hand, it made him an honest and trustworthy man. Because of this, the king appointed him in charge of the royal household (compare Nehemiah 7:2). And, on the other hand, it helped him demonstrate extraordinary bravery, a quality that he undoubtedly needed. Because? Because he lived during the reign of the wicked Ahab (1 Kings 16:30). Ahab was married to Jezebel, who worshiped Baal and hated Jehovah with all his being, so much so that he wanted to end pure worship in Israel, the northern kingdom. He even killed many prophets of the true God (1 Kings 18:4). When Jezebel began to persecute Jehovah's prophets to kill them, Obadiah hid 100 of them in caves “in groups of 50” and took it upon himself “to give them bread and water” (1 Kings 18:13, 14). If Jezebel had found out, this brave man would have been executed. Of course, like any person of flesh and blood, Obadiah did not want to die. But the love he felt for Jehovah and his servants was greater than the love he had for his own life. w23.06 16 paras. 9, 10.

How did Obadiah demonstrate extraordinary courage?

How did Obadiah demonstrate extraordinary courage? When Jezebel began to persecute Jehovah's prophets to kill them, Obadiah hid 100 of them in caves “in groups of 50” and took it upon himself “to give them bread and water” (1 Kings 18:13, 14). If Jezebel had found out, this brave man would have been executed. Of course, like any person of flesh and blood, Obadiah did not want to die. But the love he felt for Jehovah and his servants was greater than the love he had for his own life.

How do many of Jehovah’s servants follow Obadiah’s example? (See also the image).

Today, many of Jehovah's servants live in places where our work is prohibited. They respect authorities, but like Obadiah, our dear brothers give Jehovah what belongs to him alone: ​​their worship. (Matt. 22:21) They show that they fear God by obeying him instead of men (Acts 5:29). That is why they continue to preach the good news and meet without attracting attention (Matt. 10:16, 28). In addition, they ensure that their brothers receive the spiritual food they so desperately need. Let's look at the example of Henri, who lives in a country in Africa where our work was banned. At that time, Henri offered to bring Bible literature to the brothers. He wrote: “The truth is that I am very shy. So I am convinced that what helped me to be brave was the deep respect I have for Jehovah.” You too can be as brave as Henri if you learn to fear God.

How did Jehoiada and his wife show that they were very loyal to Jehovah?

The high priest Jehoiada feared Jehovah, and this motivated him to be loyal and to promote true worship. When Jezebel's daughter Athaliah illegally seized the throne of Judah, Jehoiada demonstrated how much she feared God. Athaliah was a fearsome woman. He was so cruel and thirsty for power that in order to reign he tried to kill all the king's heirs, his own grandchildren! (2 Chron. 22:10, 11). But thanks to Jehosabeat, Jehoiada's wife, one of them was saved, a little boy named Jehoash. She and her husband hid him and took care of him. Thus they protected the line of kings of David's family. Jehoiada was loyal to Jehovah and did not stand idly by for fear of Athaliah (Prov. 29:25).

How did Jehoiada prove his loyalty again?

When Jehoash was seven years old, Jehoiada again demonstrated his loyalty to Jehovah. He devised a plan. If things went well, the king would be Jehoash, a legitimate heir to David. But if he failed, Jehoiada would most likely lose his life. Thanks to Jehovah's blessing, the plan was a complete success. With the support of the heads of the paternal households and the Levites, Jehoiada appointed Jehoash king and ordered Athaliah to be killed (2 Chron. 23:1-5, 11, 12, 15; 24:1). Then “he made a covenant between Jehovah and the king and the people; In it they committed themselves to continue being the people of Jehovah” (2 Kings 11:17). “He also placed the gatekeepers at the doors of the house of the Lord so that no one who was in any way unclean could enter” (2 Chron. 23:19).

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