Vote Up Elijah, in answer to him, [1.] We are fairly put to our choice whom we will serve,Joshua 24:15. But in this chapter his appearance was as public as before his retirement was close; the days appointed for his concealment (which was part of the judgment upon Israel) being finished, he is not commanded to show himself to Ahab, and to expect rain upon the earth, 1 Kings 18:1. 17When he saw Elijah, he asked, Is it youthe biggest troublemaker in Israel?, 18Elijah answered, I have not made trouble in Israel. Obadiah recognized Elijah, so he bowed down to the ground and said, Elijah? Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines. To this fair proposal of the case, which Elijah here makes, the people knew not what to say: They answered him not a word. 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. To win his people back, God demonstrated his power and mocked Baal along the way. Second, Baal was a false god and men were not to worship him. III. (28-29) The prophets of Baal work harder at their prayer. We may be sure it was not made necessary to qualify him for preferment that he should be of the king's religion, that he should conform to the statues of Omri, or the law of the house of Ahab. 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. Yahweh took care of his own while the king who had turned to Baal because of his claim to bring home the economic bacon wandered the countryside hoping to find a bit of grass for the few horses and mules who hadnt died yet (see 1 Kings 18:45). It is a chapter in which are many things very observable. 3. 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. Baal and his prophets were confounded. hear us, O Baal! Trust ye not in lying words, saying . 34Then he said, Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the meat and on the wood. Then Elijah said, Do it again, and they did it again. "Surely he is a god! 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. 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. Ahab rode in his chariot, at ease and in state, 1 Kings 18:45; 1 Kings 18:45. if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. 5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts. They prayed to Baal from morning until noon, shouting Baal, answer us! But there was no sound, and no one answered. 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? Let it go on therefore to a trial. What occasion for addition to that which is perfect? We become increasingly committed to a lifestyle of an abundance of possessions. Then Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley, where he killed them. (1.) 4. 40Then Elijah said, Capture the prophets of Baal! He turned the hearts of his people back to himself. Dont let any of them run away! The people captured all the prophets. He sent his prophet Elijah to tell Israel to stop limping between two different opinions (1 Kings 18:21 ESV). Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. 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. 732 views, 45 likes, 11 loves, 7 comments, 73 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from : 22 2023 . 22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 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. And will a nation change their god?" When we read about the Israelites worshiping the god Baal in 1 Kings 18, we tend to think of them developing a preference for wooden idol images. What he said we are not told; but, 1. Some, we hope, had their hearts thus turned back, but the generality of them were convinced only, not converted, yielded to the truth of God, that he is the God, but consented not to his covenant, that he should be theirs. It is said that Baal was the son of a god called el. They were very desirous to see the experiment tried, and seemed resolved to abide by the issue, whatever it should be. He ordered abundance of water to be poured upon his altar, which he had prepared a trench for the reception of (1 Kings 18:32; 1 Kings 18:32), and, some think, made the altar hollow. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Psalms 24:6, Thy face, O Jacob!Hosea 12:4. Idols could do neither good nor evil. a. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: 4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) He cast himself down on his knees upon the earth, in token of humility, reverence, and importunity, and put his face between his knees (that is, bowed his head so low that it touched his knees), thus abasing himself in the sense of his own meanness now that God had thus honoured him. Elijah first surrendered, or rather discovered, himself to Obadiah. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. 2. Obadiah saluted him with great respect, fell on his face, and humbly asked, Art thou that my lord Elijah?1 Kings 18:7; 1 Kings 18:7. He tells Elijah what great search Ahab had made for him and how much his heart was upon it to find him out, 1 Kings 18:10; 1 Kings 18:10. IV. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army. Why in 1 Kings 18:40 did Elijah take the prophets of Baal down to the brook of Kishon to slew them? Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word | . 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. They allow the proposal to be fair and unexceptionable "God has often answered by fire; if Baal cannot do so, let him be cast out for a usurper." He would not make use of theirs, which had been polluted with their prayers to Baal, but, finding the ruins of an altar there, which had formerly been used in the service of the Lord, he chose to repair that (1 Kings 18:30; 1 Kings 18:30), to intimate to them that he was not about to introduce any new religion, but to revive the faith and worship of their fathers' God, and reduce them to their first love, their first works. If the ruler said you were not there, Ahab forced the ruler to swear you could not be found in his country. 6:9). V. Elijah soon obtains from his God an answer by fire. There was a heavy rain: Gods word through Elijah was proved true. Though he expected an answer by fire, yet he came near to the altar with boldness, and feared not that fire. Little wonder, then, that when King Ahab chose to marry a woman from Baal territory, the farmers in Israel built a house for this new god and welcomed him to the neighborhood (see 1 Kings 16:31). He could not bring them to the altar at Jerusalem unless he could unite the two kingdoms again (which, for correction to both, God designed should not now be done), therefore, by his prophetic authority, he builds an altar on Mount Carmel, and so owns that which had formerly been built there. His new conquest will be lost if he do not look about him quickly." 25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. The manager of God's cause was but one man, lately a poor exile, hardly kept from starving; so that God's cause has nothing to support it but its own right. 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 Lord preserved Elijah's life for a reason. How sharp Elijah was upon them, 1 Kings 18:27; 1 Kings 18:27. "But there was no voice. Elijah vs. the priests of Baal. They just added Baal worship to their insurance policy. He sent the rain in torrents. It was strange that either he did not reform Ahab or Ahab corrupt him; but it seems they were both fixed; he that was filthy would be filthy still, and he that was holy would be holy still. Jesus reminds us that when we try, we risk devoting ourselves to money and hating him (see Luke 16:13). Does God gives us political leaders or do we vote them by choice? Has the book of Amos been fulfilled or is it a reference to end times? So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. 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. Prophets should be called seers, and shepherds, and watchmen, and ministers, rather than lords, as those that mind duty more than dominion. He maketh fire come down from heaven in the sight of men and so deceiveth them,Revelation 13:13; Revelation 13:14. Baal was chief of the Canaanite gods. Blessed are those that have not seen what they saw and yet have believed and been wrought upon by it more than those that saw it. Note, 1. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out on them. III. Nothing creates more trouble to a land than the impiety and profaneness of princes and their families. 14Now you want me to go and tell my master you are here? They likely continued going to church, paying their tithes, and saying a prayer or two now and againespecially on holidays. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. (1.) The sad state of Israel at this time, upon two accounts:--. He that can give fire can give rain; see Matthew 9:2; Matthew 9:6. 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. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. 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." Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Two things he pleads here:-- (1.) 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. 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. He will put me to death. When we cannot carry a reformation so far as we would we must do what we can, and rather comply with some corruptions than not do our utmost towards the extirpation of Baal. 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. It was strange that so good a man as Obadiah would accept of preferment in a court so addicted to idolatry and all manner of wickedness. 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. God's ministers should make it appear that, how great soever they look when they deliver God's message, yet they are far from affecting worldly grandeur: let them leave that to the kings of the earth. 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. The managers of Baal's cause were 450 men, fat and well fed (1 Kings 18:22; 1 Kings 18:22), besides 400 more, their supporters or seconds, 1 Kings 18:19; 1 Kings 18:19. Note, Those who profess religion should study to recommend themselves to the esteem even of those that are without by their integrity, fidelity, and application to business. His prayer was not long, for he used no vain repetitions, nor thought he should be heard for his much speaking; but it was very grave and composed, and showed his mind to be calm and sedate, and far from the heats and disorders that Baal's prophets were in, 1 Kings 18:36; 1 Kings 18:37. And all the people came near unto him. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. 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. Note, Early piety, it is to be hoped, will be eminent piety; those that are good betimes are likely to be very good; he that feared God from his youth came to fear him greatly. But there was no voice. Does the Bible encourage the practice of Lent? 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? 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 . 31He took twelve stones, one stone for each of the twelve tribes, the number of Jacobs sons. King Ahab sent for Obadiah, who was in charge of the king's palace. 1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. Do you believe that? 30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. He solicited their allegiance, work, and worshipfor himself and his kingdom. 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. Such living falls far short of the life Jesus invites us to experience. It is a very bad thing to halt between God and Baal. Wasnt killing too severe a punishment for the prophets of Baal? They explore six key biblical themes of worship, community, work, equity, creation care, and rest to dig into what the Gospel means for how we use our resources. Ahab got in his chariot and started back to Jezreel. However, it is put to this experiment, "Let each side prepare a sacrifice, and pray to its God, and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God; if neither shall thus answer, let the people turn Atheists; if both, let them continue to halt between two." But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention. 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. The glory of God: "Lord, hear me, and answer me, that it may be known (for it is now by the most denied or forgotten) that thou art God in Israel, to whom alone the homage and devotion of Israel are due, and that I am thy servant, and do all that I have done, am doing, and shall do, as thy agent, at thy word, and not to gratify any humour or passion of my own. The people, as the jury, gave in their verdict upon the trial, and they are all agreed in it; the case is so plain that they need not go from the bar to consider of their verdict or consult about it: They fell on their faces, and all, as one man, said, "Jehovah, he is the God, and not Baal; we are convinced and satisfied of it: Jehovah, he is the God" (1 Kings 18:39; 1 Kings 18:39), whence, one would think, they should have inferred, "If he be the God, he shall be our God, and we will serve him only," as Joshua 24:24. I. II. Those that fear God need not go out of the world, bad as it is. 1. 5:3). But God listened to his prophet. Why did king Ahab have to die? 29The afternoon passed, and the prophets continued to act like this until it was time for the evening sacrifice. IV. 10 As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. We left the prophet Elijah wrapt up in obscurity. 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." Baal's 450 prophets worked themselves into a frenzy, cutting themselves, dancing, and chanting to their god. Didnt the prophet trick him? There needed no proof of the fact; all Israel were witnesses of it: and therefore Elijah (acting still by an extraordinary commission, which is not to be drawn into a precedent) orders them all to be slain immediately as the troublers of the land, and Ahab himself is so terrified, for the present, with the fire from heaven, that he dares not oppose it. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. The servant went and looked. You can check these in your browser security settings. He also brought them food and water.) 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. Ahab had continued fasting all day, either religiously, it being a day of prayer, or for want of leisure, it being a day of great expectation; but now let him eat and rink for, though others perceive no sign of it, Elijah, by faith, hears the sound of abundance of rain,1 Kings 18:41; 1 Kings 18:41. Deserters must not look for God's favour till they return to their allegiance. New Century Version (NCV). Jack Gutknecht. Obadiah would not have accepted the place if he could not have had it without bowing the knee to Baal, nor was Ahab so impolitic as to exclude those from offices that were fit to serve him, merely because they would not join with him in his devotions. 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