When we shall see the doctrine of the individual responsibility of each Christian fully felt and carried out into individual action. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Why did Elijah kill the prophets of Baal? Surely you think he is talking or meditating (as the word is) or he is pursuing some deep thoughts, (in a brown study, as we say), thinking of somewhat else and not minding his own matter, when not your credit only, but all his honour lies at stake, and his interest in Israel. Three years and a half's famine would not bring them back to God. 46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. IV. We may suppose it was a great surprise to Ahab to hear that Elijah, whom he had so long sought and not found, was now found without seeking. 0 responses That wanting to get rich inevitably causes such destruction? Because our material possessions so often seduce us into worshiping them like gods, they pose possibly the preeminent threat to worshiping Jesus. 1. Transfers the title of honour he gave him to Ahab: "Call him thy lord, not me;" that is a fitter title for a prince than for a prophet, who seeks not honour from men. Each would take a bull and place it on their own altar. Pray to your god, but dont start the fire.. To this fair proposal of the case, which Elijah here makes, the people knew not what to say: They answered him not a word. He takes it for granted that Elijah would again withdraw (1 Kings 18:12; 1 Kings 18:12): The Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee (as it is likely he had done sometimes, when Ahab thought he had been sure of him) whither I know not. 3:24). Elijah told him to go and look again. 2. 9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? Their perishing thus is the using, as the apostle speaks of them (Colossians 3:22), was to intimate the utter abolition of them after a little while, Hebrews 8:13. Elijah does not say, "The God that answers by water" (though that was the thing the country needed), but "that answers by fire, let him be God;" because the atonement was to be made by sacrifice, before the judgment could be removed in mercy. Pray louder! he said. 29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. Compare Psalms 135:7. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. 36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Thats why Jesus warned his followers to watch out for all kinds of greed (see Luke 12:15). 1. 23Bring two bulls. 1621), of rich men sent to hell for their failure to let go of their wealth for the sake of their neighbor (see Luke 16:1931), and of eternal judgment declared on the basis of ones willingness to share with those in need (Matt. IV. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. They worshipped God to please the prophets, but worshipped Baal to please Jezebel and curry favour at court. If Jehovah be the true God, Baal is a false God, to whom these Israelites had revolted, and seduced others to the worship of him; and therefore, by the express law of God, they were to be put to death, Deuteronomy 13:1-11. Indeed, giving back to God and to his people is part of our DNA, a sign of our family resemblance to our generous Creator. II. He does not insist upon their relation to Jehovah--"Is he not yours, and the God of your fathers, while Baal is the god of the Sidonians? I brought them food and water. 25:3146). 1416). Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, he prayed. (1.) See how wonderfully God raises up friends for his ministers and people, for their shelter in difficult times, even where one would least expect them. As he had shown the tenderness of a father to the sons of the prophets, so he showed the reverence of a son to this father of the prophets; and by this made it appear that he did indeed fear God greatly, that he did honour to one that was his extraordinary ambassador and had a great interest in heaven. When they saw the fire consume both the burnt offering and the entire altar, they answered, " The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God " (1 Kings 18:39). Such living falls far short of the life Jesus invites us to experience. Giving is what we do best; the air into which we were born. Giving signals and solidifies our allegiance to and dependence on God and his kingdom. Those that procure God's judgments do the mischief, not he that merely foretels them and gives warning of them, that the nation may repent and prevent them. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. [3.] He pleads that he did not deserve to be thus exposed, and put in peril of his life: What have I said amiss?1 Kings 18:9; 1 Kings 18:9. I see nothing, he said. But it was utterly false concerning Elijah; so far was he from being an enemy to Israel's welfare that he as the stay of it, the chariots and horsemen of Israel. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient. Article Images Copyright , The Real Reason Israel Worshiped Baal (It Wasn't Just a Pretty Statue), Michael Rhodes, Robby Holt, and Brian Fikkert. Two things he pleads here:-- (1.) The steps taken towards redressing the grievance, by Elijah's appearing again upon the stage, to act as a Tishbite, a converter or reformer of Israel, for so (some think) that title of his signifies. He mentions this, not in pride or ostentation, but to convince Elijah that though he was Ahab's servant he was not in his interest, and therefore deserved not to be bantered as one of the tools of his persecution. 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. They just added Baal worship to their insurance policy. A deceived heart had turned them aside, they could not deliver their souls by saying, Is there not a lie in our right hand? He that can give fire can give rain; see Matthew 9:2; Matthew 9:6. (Obadiah was a true follower of the LORD. And there was a sore famine in Samaria. Those few that escaped the sword were forced to abscond, and hide themselves in caves, where they were buried alive and cut off, though not from life, yet from usefulness, which is the end and comfort of life; and, when the prophets were persecuted and driven into corners, no doubt their friends, those few good people that were in the land, were treated in like manner. 19Now tell all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel. 29The afternoon passed, and the prophets continued to act like this until it was time for the evening sacrifice. At the end of the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit had . (2.) Roumie said he was drawn to both "The Chosen" and "Jesus Revolution" because of their scripts and characters, which "spoke to his heart.". Stop for a moment. This happened seven times. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Ahab got in his chariot and started back to Jezreel. If we, in sincerity, offer our hearts to God, he will, by his grace, kindle a holy fire in them. He is sure Ahab would be so enraged at the disappointment that he would put him to death for making a fool of him, or for not laying hands on Elijah himself, when he had him in his reach, 1 Kings 18:12; 1 Kings 18:12. He did not think it enough to fear God himself, but, having wealth and power wherewith to do it, he thought himself obliged to assist and countenance others that feared God; nor did he think his being kind to them would excuse him from being good himself, but he did both, he both feared God greatly himself and patronised those that feared him likewise. Elijah did not interrupt them, but let them go on till they were tired, and quite despaired of success, which was not till the time of the evening sacrifice,1 Kings 18:29; 1 Kings 18:29. Deserters must not look for God's favour till they return to their allegiance. Why did Herod like to listen to John the Baptist, who criticized Herods lifestyle? Help us purchase electrical generators for churches. He insists upon it that we mortify our lusts and corruptions; but corporeal penances and severities, such as the Papists use, which have no tendency to that, are no pleasure to him. Has the book of Amos been fulfilled or is it a reference to end times? 26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. Money becomes a spiritual power that too often uses us rather than the other way around. Being an idolater, she was a persecutor, and made Ahab one. But there was no voice. Six times his servant goes to the point of the hill and sees nothing, brings no good news to his master; yet Elijah continues praying, will not be diverted so far as to go and see with his own eyes, but still sends his servant to see if he can discover any hopeful cloud, while he keeps his mind close and intent in prayer, and abides by it, as one that has taken up his father Jacob's resolution, I will not let thee go except thou bless me. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. 10As surely as the Lord your God lives, the king has sent people to every country to search for you. 1. Then he said, Do it a third time, and they did it the third time. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. (5.) Elijah, like himself, boldly returned the charge upon the king, and proved it upon him, that he was the troubler of Israel,1 Kings 18:18; 1 Kings 18:18. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. 6:9). 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. So Elijah issued a challenge. Asked April 28 2020 He went in quest of grass, and found him from whose word, at God's mouth, he must expect rain. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. It was great condescension in God that he would suffer so plain a case to be disputed, and would permit Baal to be a competitor with him; but thus God would have every mouth to be stopped and all flesh to become silent before him. (1.) 11Now you want me to go to my master and tell him, Elijah is here? His interview with Obadiah, one of Ahab's servants, by whom he sends notice to Ahab of his coming, 1 Kings 18:2-16. God has his remnant among all sorts, high and low; there were saints in Nero's household, and in Ahab's. One true prophet against 450 false prophets. We find that the beast which deceived the world does it. Does God gives us political leaders or do we vote them by choice? Dont let any of them run away! The people captured all the prophets. I would have healed Israel, but they would not be healed. They prayed to Baal from morning until noon, shouting Baal, answer us! But there was no sound, and no one answered. Maybe we can find enough grass to keep our horses and mules alive and not have to kill our animals. 6So each one chose a part of the country to search; Ahab went in one direction and Obadiah in another. (28-29) The prophets of Baal work harder at their prayer. This great good man used his power for the protection of God's prophets. 13Havent you been told what I did? How did the spirit of God move upon the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2? 41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. Ahab and the people expected that Elijah would, in this solemn assembly, bless the land, and pray for rain; but he had other work to do first. Obadiah recognized Elijah, so he bowed down to the ground and said, Elijah? Rain is the river of God,Psalms 65:9. There he would be alone. See 2 Kings 2:16. 5:3). Start FREE. Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord (1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 18:4), slew them,1 Kings 18:13; 1 Kings 18:13. God demands no more from us than he can make out a title to. The wind began to blow, and soon a heavy rain began to fall. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Note, It has been the lot of the best and most useful men to be called and counted the troublers of the land, and to be run down as public grievances. Ahab rode in his chariot, at ease and in state, 1 Kings 18:45; 1 Kings 18:45. He durst not strike him, remembering that Jeroboam's hand withered when it was stretched out against a prophet, but gave him bad language, which was no less an affront to him that sent him. 3King Ahab sent for Obadiah, who was in charge of the kings palace. 7While Obadiah was on his way, Elijah met him. Now in their experiment observe. The execution he did upon the prophets of Baal, 1 Kings 18:40. Twelve barrels of water (probably sea-water, for the sea was near, and so much fresh water in this time of drought was too precious for him to be so prodigal of it), thrice four, he poured upon his sacrifice, to prevent the suspicion of any fire under (for, if there had been any, this would have put it out), and to make the expected miracle the more illustrious. April 28 2020 And they limped [they hobbled] around the altar that they had made." I don't think those two uses of the word limp or hobble are an accident. 11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. He will put me to death. That man that is true to his God will be faithful to his prince. And all the people came near unto him. 44The seventh time, the servant said, I see a small cloud, the size of a human fist, coming from the sea., Elijah told the servant, Go to Ahab and tell him to get his chariot ready and go home now. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. It is a very bad thing to halt between God and Baal. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. It does not appear that either the increase of the provision or the raising of the child had caused him to be taken notice of at Zarephath, for then Ahab would have discovered him; he would rather do good than be known to do it. IV. 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, "Shout louder, for he is a god! Notice is hereby soon brought to Ahab that Elijah had sent him a challenge to meet him immediately at such a place, and Ahab accepts the challenge: He went to meet Elijah,1 Kings 18:16; 1 Kings 18:16. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. 30Then Elijah said to all the people, Now come to me. So they gathered around him, and Elijah rebuilt the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. Idols could do neither good nor evil. They cut themselves and cried out to Baal for hours, but 1 Kings 18:26 says, "There was no voice; no one answered." Their god was a non-entity, a nothing. To demonstrate that he was neither ashamed of, nor afraid for, what he had done, though he knew how Jezebel would resent it, but durst venture himself in the midst of his enemies, as being confident of the Divine power and protection. (Poole), ii. Jesus knew all about gods such as Baal. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! Carmel had neither tabernacle nor temple; it was a great way distant from the ark of the testimony and the place God had chosen; this was not the altar that sanctified the gift; yet never was any sacrifice more acceptable to God than this. And will a nation change their god?" 40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. He will kill me!, 15Elijah answered, As surely as the Lord All-Powerful lives, whom I serve, I will be seen by Ahab today.. And nothing can't answer you when you call out to it! The people must be brought to repent and reform, and then they may look for the removal of the judgment, but not till then. No one who was present that day missed the point. You can check these in your browser security settings. He turned the hearts of his people back to himself. 4. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. Moses's altar and Solomon's were consecrated by the fire from heaven; but this was destroyed, because no more to be used. 28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. Based only on the sighting of a cloud that was as small as a mans hand, he knew a torrent was on the way. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is. In a truly horrific passage, Jeremiah writes that our worship of idols consumes not only our flocks and herds but also our sons and daughters (Jer. Elijah Kills the Prophets of Baal - During the third year without rain, the LORD spoke his word to Elijah: "Go and meet King Ahab, and I will soon send rain." So Elijah went to meet Ahab. Having built his altar in the name of the Lord (1 Kings 18:32; 1 Kings 18:32), by direction from him and with an eye to him, and not for his own honour, he prepared his sacrifice, 1 Kings 18:33; 1 Kings 18:33. Though he expected an answer by fire, yet he came near to the altar with boldness, and feared not that fire. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. The prophets kept shouting louder and louder, and they cut themselves with swords and knives until they were bleeding. 7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah? The Holy Bible, New Century Version. The prophets of Baal went first. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Those halt between them that are unresolved under their convictions, unstable and unsteady in their purposes, promise fair, but do not perform, begin well, but do not hold on, that are inconsistent with themselves, or indifferent and lukewarm in that which is good. 46The Lord gave his power to Elijah, who tightened his clothes around him and ran ahead of King Ahab all the way to Jezreel. The God who answered by fire, igniting the sacrifice on the altar, was the true God. Excerpted from "Practicing the King's Economy: Honoring Jesus in How We Work, Earn, Spend, Save, and Give," by Michael Rhodes, Robby Holt and Brian Fikkert. So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. The Bible states that during the encounter with Elijah the prophets of Baal, "And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them." ( 1 Kings 18:28 ) Where Do We See God's Power over Baal? Yet his guilty conscience gave him little reason to hope for it, but, rather, to fear some other more dreadful judgment. 18During the third year without rain, the Lord spoke his word to Elijah: Go and meet King Ahab, and I will soon send rain. 2So Elijah went to meet Ahab. 40Then Elijah said, Capture the prophets of Baal! Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. This he calls (1 Kings 18:21; 1 Kings 18:21) halting between two opinions, or thoughts. Also bring the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebels table.. Practicing the King's Economy: Honoring Jesus in How We Work, Earn, Spend, Save, and Give, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The time was that of Ahab, king of Israel. Showdown on the mount Of course, most Israelites probably didnt totally reject Yahweh, the God of Israel. "In reconcilable differences (says bishop Hall) nothing more safe than indifferency both of practice and opinion; but, in cases of such necessary hostility as betwixt God and Baal, he that is not with God is against him." How importunate and noisy the prophets of Baal were in their applications to him. (Obadiah was a true follower of the Lord. He hid 100 of them in two caves, when the persecution was hot, and fed them with bread and water,1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 18:4. But, since Ahab invites him not to ride with him, he will run before him (1 Kings 18:46; 1 Kings 18:46) as one of his footmen, that he may not seem to be lifted up with the great honour God had put upon him or to abate in his civil respect to his prince, though he reproved him faithfully. Let us see if he speed better. Elijah vs. the priests of Baal. We become increasingly committed to a lifestyle of an abundance of possessions. Elijah, doubtless, had a special commission from God to put it to this test, otherwise he would have tempted God and affronted religion; but the case was extraordinary, and the judgment upon it would be of use, not only then, but in all ages. if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. Elijah told him to go and look again. He repaired this altar with twelve stones, according to the number of the twelve tribes,1 Kings 18:31; 1 Kings 18:31. But God would not suffer the devil to do it now, because the trial of his title was put on that issue by consent of parties. In it, Elijah, the prophet of Gd, puts to the test what was at the time perceived as the most supreme and powerful of all the godsBaal. This was not as a morning cloud, which passes away (though Israel's goodness was so), but one that produced a plentiful rain (Psalms 68:9), and an earnest of more. You have gone after the Baals. (2.) There he spoke with us. Log in, Barton W. Stone: The Preachers Are Working While the People Are Gazing, Thoughts on the Asbury Revival (02.23.23), The Serious Sin of Proselytism (02.16.23), Christians Becoming a Minority Group in America (02.02.23), Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. He also brought them food and water.) We dont know exactly why it was important to God for Elijah to reach Jezreel first; perhaps it was so that he would be the first to tell Queen Jezebel. Why in 1 Kings 18:40 did Elijah take the prophets of Baal down to the brook of Kishon to slew them? a. 2. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Elijah sought not his own glory but in subserviency to God's, and for his own necessary vindication. There he set himself, as it were, upon his watch-tower, like the prophet, Habakkuk 2:1. The priests and the Levites had all gone to Judah and Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 11:13; 2 Chronicles 11:14), but, instead of them, God raised up these prophets, who read and expounded the law in private meetings, or in the families that retained their integrity, for we read not of any synagogues at this time; they had not the spirit of prophecy as Elijah, nor did they offer sacrifice, or burn incense, but taught people to live well, and keep close to the God of Israel. Now if, upon trial, it appears that Baal is that one infinite omnipotent Being, that one supreme Lord and all-sufficient benefactor, you ought to renounce Jehovah and cleave to Baal only: but, if Jehovah be that one God, Baal is a cheat, and you must have no more to do with him." Do you believe that? He withdrew to a strange place, to the top of Carmel, which was very high and very private. 35So the water ran off the altar and filled the ditch. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. The service of God and the service of sin, the dominion of Christ and the dominion of our lusts, these are the two thoughts which it is dangerous halting between. (2.) 13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? 35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. All these parables point in the same direction: money wants our worship. Like madmen they cut themselves in pieces with knives and lancets (1 Kings 18:28; 1 Kings 18:28) for vexation that they were not . Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. God will provide himself fire. But God listened to his prophet. First, the Lord was the true God and men were to worship Him. These Jezebel aimed to extirpate, and put many of them to death, which was as much a public calamity as a public iniquity, and threatened the utter ruin of religion's poor remains in Israel. This happened seven times. If we can find one that has more right to us, or will be a better master to us, than God, we may take him at our peril. This was the way they worshiped, Douay-Rheims Bible So they cried with a loud voice, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till they were all covered with blood. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Though he was not at the place appointed, he chose the appointed time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, thereby to testify his communion with the altar at Jerusalem. The battle for their hearts took place in part on the battlefield of their bank accounts. 12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth. And he said, Go again seven times. Elijah might have looked for rain seventy times seven times, and not have seen it, if he had not thus begun his work at the right end. Jesus reminds us that when we try, we risk devoting ourselves to money and hating him (see Luke 16:13). Such was Elijah's zeal, no doubt, against the idolatry of Baal, and such his compassion to his people, that he thought it long to be thus confined to a corner; yet he appeared not till God bade him: "Go and show thyself to Ahab, for now thy hour has come, even the time to favour Israel." 'You Raise Me Up' Duet Earns A Standing Ovation From The Judges, 7 Tests to See if Your Worship Is Truly Christian or Pagan, 3 Bad Church Approaches to Good Money Stewardship, 5 Critical Rules to Teach Your Kids to Help Them Stay Safe, 4 Things You Should Know about Jesus Revolution, Jesus on Adultery: Its More Controversial Than You Think, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. God reveals his secrets to his servants the prophets; and yet, without a revelation, we may foresee that when man's judgments run down like a river God's mercy will. Now Elijah shows them the absurdity of this. A little cloud at length appeared, no bigger than a man's hand, which presently overspread the heavens and watered the earth, 1 Kings 18:44; 1 Kings 18:45. It was a very coarse compliment with which he accosted him at the first word: Art thou he that troubleth Israel?1 Kings 18:17; 1 Kings 18:17. No one answered; no one paid attention (v. 29 ESV). 34 And he said, Do it the second time. 43Then Elijah said to his servant, Go and look toward the sea.. I. English Revised Version 2. Then Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley, where he killed them. The sad state of Israel at this time, upon two accounts:--. V. The return of the mercy of rain, at the word of Elijah, 1 Kings . Those fear God greatly that keep up the fear of him in bad times and places; thus Obadiah did. Clarify 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 2. Why did the prophets of Baal cut themselves? The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. What occasion for addition to that which is perfect? Share We have here the meeting between Ahab and Elijah, as bad a king as ever the world was plagued with and as good a prophet as ever the church was blessed with.
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