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Obadiah (1 Kings 18)
I suspect that Elijah did not think much of Obadiah…. 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 it did not drive him out of the court…. 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 the governor of his palace, that he may break the news to his master, and prepare him for the interview.
CHS, 30:553–54
God will never leave himself without a witness in this 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 palace a sink of iniquity…. Joseph feared God in the court of Pharaoh. Daniel was a trusted counselor to Nebuchadnezzar. Mordecai waited at the gate of Ahasuerus … and there were saints in Caesar’s household.
CHS, 30:554–55
As it is horrible to find a Judas among the apostles, so it is grand to discover an Obadiah among Ahab’s courtiers.
CHS, 30:561
It is not burning quick to the death in martyrdom that is the hard work; roasting before a slow fire is a far more terrible test of firmness. To continue gracious during a long life of temptation is to be gracious indeed.
CHS, 30:559
Onesiphorus (2 Tim. 1:16)
There were some of Paul’s friends who were ashamed of his chains. In the day of danger and adversity they forsook him. But not this faithful friend from Ephesus. Chains are the test of friendship. They show whether it is just a fair-weather friendship or a friendship born for adversity.
CEM, The Woman of Tekoah, p. 64
All the elders in Ephesus loved Paul, and had good reason to love him, but all taken together they did not love Paul as Onesiphorus did.
AW-BC, p. 623
Noble-hearted Onesiphorus! … Thou hast taught us all a much-needed lesson tonight! For we also have friends, and especially in the ministry, whose backs are often at the wall, whose names are often under a cloud, and who are forsaken of all men who should have stood by them. May we all come to be of thy vigilant and hospitable household! May we all have thy life-long and unquenchable loyalty to all those who suffer for righteousness’ sake!
AW-BC, p. 626