V.1-6 “Obadiah” means “Servant of Jehovah.” He risked his job to save some of the Lord’s servants from his master’s wife. These 100 prophets are a picture of the remnant of Israel, after we believers are in heaven, who will be preserved in the awful persecutions by the Antichrist.
V.7-8 Obadiah may have feared the Lord, but he was serving a wicked, idolatrous king. Therefore, he had no courage to tell the truth to king Ahab. Obadiah knew the good things of this earth, Elijah knew the good things of heaven.
V.17-20 How hardened was Ahab! How courageous was Elijah! (verse 15 tells why).
V.21-24 Elijah asks a good question.
V.21 The disobedient people, following a sinful leader, are silent and then answer insincerely.
V.25-29 The false teachers have no power, and only make fools of themselves in the presence of God’s servant.
V.30-39 The false prophets had made their own altar (v. 26), but Elijah restores and uses the altar of the Lord. This altar and the sacrifice represent Christ in His death on the cross, suffering under the fire of God’s judgment against sin, and alone bringing glory to the Name of Jehovah on behalf of all 12 tribes of Israel — the whole nation, 12 stones.
V.40 All the false teachers die.
V.41-46 Showers of blessing through God’s servant so will it be in the millennium; punishment first, then blessing (see Psa. 72, especially verse 6).