The narrative turns from the explanation given for Obadiah’s fears to the reason that Elijah should spare him from risking his life. We are driven to recall the introduction of Obadiah where the narrator tells us that he feared the Lord greatly.
Obadiah reminds Elijah that from childhood he has feared the true God of Israel, and from profession he turns to the evidence of the fear of the Lord in his actions. In particular, this is his hiding of one hundred prophets of God by fifties in a cave. He also fed them with bread and water, which was no small undertaking in a time of famine and drought.
He assures Elijah that the circumstances of this deed made it extraordinarily risky. Jezebel at the time was killing any of the Lord's prophets that she could get her hands on. It is not hard to imagine what Obadiah would have faced if he had been caught. This reminds us of the risk taken by those hiding Jews during the time of the Holocaust in World War II.
It is despite these actions, Obadiah says, that Elijah’s deadly command is issued. He repeats that it is going to mean his life at the hands of Ahab
12 And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth.