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Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Spurgeon - Mark the holy boldness of Elijah, and how it awed the king. Elijah was far more royal than Ahab, for faith made him a king before the Lord. Be it ours to act in the same heroic spirit, never fearing the face of man, but facing the Lord’s foes with unflinching valour. So shall we win the “well done, good and faithful servant,” which should be the highest object of our ambition. F B
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Spurgeon - That lone man, of heroic soul, stemmed the fearful torrent of idolatry, and like a rock in mid-current, firmly stood his ground. He, alone and single-handed, was more than a match for all the priests of the palace and the groves, even as one lion scatters a flock of sheep....The whole band of eight hundred and fifty priests, in all their gaudy attire, gathered upon the mountain’s brow to confront the one lone prophet of the living God. John Schultz: We are not told how much time elapsed between Elijah’s private meeting with King Ahab and the gathering on Mount Carmel. It must have taken several weeks to organize a large meeting like that, where not only the Baal priests, but most of the people of the kingdom gathered. Peter Pett: In what follows we gather that there was at Mount Carmel, a long mountain ridge stretching out into the sea, divided by many ravines, a true sanctuary dedicated to YHWH which had been allowed to fall into disuse. There was also there a sanctuary and altar of Baal which were flourishing, no doubt encouraged by Jezebel. Mount Carmel with its periodic rains and storms, which regularly included lightning, together with its abundant fruitfulness, would be very suitable as a site for Baal worship. (The lightning dancing around the hills is a spectacular feature of life in Palestine). It may have been partly this contrast in the sanctuaries that made Elijah choose Mount Carmel, for it was his purpose to illustrate the revival of Yahwism, and this site on the borders of Israel and Phoenicia, revered by all, was a good place to do it. There is also a good possibility that it was because he knew that the true prophets of YHWH were hiding in the caves there. Hebrews 11:32-34; 1 Kings 18:1-40 How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. - 1 Kings 18:20 TODAY IN THE WORD Pioneer missionary Robert Moffatt served for years in South Africa without seeing any converts. But when friends in England wrote to ask Moffatt what they could send him as a gift, he replied that he wanted a Communion set. The friends were surprised, knowing the difficult struggle Moffatt was having, but they sent him the set anyway. By the time it arrived, enough people had come to Christ under Moffatt’s ministry that he was able to hold a Communion service. There’s a certain kind of confidence that comes when you’re living by faith in the God “who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were” (Rom. 4:17). By faith, Robert Moffatt could see those first converts as if they were already there. God’s prophets spoke and acted with the same confidence. Of all the people and events mentioned in today’s verses, we chose one of the Bible’s best-known examples of the confidence that faith produces. Elijah served during the reign of Ahab and Jezebel, arguably the darkest period in Israel’s early history. These two were so fearsome in their opposition to God that anyone with less fire and courage than Elijah might not have been able to stand against them. When Ahab and Jezebel filled the land with idolatry and supported a total of 850 false prophets, Elijah stood in their path to stop the madness and call the people back to God. Elijah was not afraid of Ahab, even though the king’s servant Obadiah reminded Elijah that Ahab could order anyone killed any time he wanted. Elijah’s confidence was not self-focused but anchored in the Lord (v. 15), which explains why he called for the contest on Mount Carmel with absolute assurance that God would answer and glorify His name. Allen Ross - The Spiritual Showdown on Mount Carmel” Mount Carmel is a range of mountains not one mountain. It was an area that was known for its rich growth because it received a great deal of rain. This fact is reflected in the name; “Carmel” probably means “the vineyard of God,” a way of saying it was the richest vineyard in the land. It is no surprise, then, that the worshipers of Baal had made this mountain a holy mountain. The ancient Canaanites designated any fruitful region or any oasis in the wilderness as a holy place, because to them it could only be well-watered and fruitful if their gods were there. Baal was in their religion the storm god. Little statues of Baal show him with a lightning bolt in one hand like a javelin. Whenever it rained, they would proclaim that that was Baal opening the windows of heaven. Their whole religious system was oriented to the continuation of the cycle of life, so that every year they would have the rains and every year they would have the harvests. Baal worship was the religion of ancient Canaan, but in the time of the Israelite kingdoms it was confined more to Phoenicia in the north—that is until Jezebel brought it in and tried to make it the state religion. Mount Carmel is pretty close to the border between Israel and Phoenicia, which lay just north across the valley. This mountain, because of its association with Canaanite worship, and because of its location on the religious border, was ideal for the showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). Knowing what the worshipers of Baal believed helps us to understand the challenge. If anyone should be able to bring fire from heaven, it should be this lightning wielding storm god called Baal. And so Elijah challenged them on that very point. But of course after cavorting all day around the altar the priests of Baal were unable to rouse Baal to the task. Elijah taunted them with prods about Baal’s being on a trip, or musing—expressions actually found in their literature to explain Baal’s being unavailable. But finally Elijah prayed his simple prayer, and the fire fell from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, the altar, the water in the trough, and the dust. His prayer was simply that Yahweh show everyone that He is the true God. And down through the ages these supernatural interventions in the lives of believers have likewise witnessed to the truth of the faith. They may be answers to prayer, marvelous conversions, divine protection and provision, or a host of other things. But they have regularly reversed the drift away from the faith by people easily influenced with the pull of beliefs and arguments from the world. The church must be demonstrating to the world that the Lord is God; and they must do this by showing how the Lord is at work in their midst in amazing ways. 1 Kings 18:21 Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word. KJV 1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. BGT 1 Kings 18:21 καὶ προσήγαγεν Ηλιου πρὸς πάντας καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ηλιου ἕως πότε ὑμεῖς χωλανεῖτε ἐπ᾽ ἀμφοτέραις ταῖς ἰγνύαις εἰ ἔστιν κύριος ὁ θεός πορεύεσθε ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ εἰ δὲ ὁ Βααλ αὐτός πορεύεσθε ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ λαὸς λόγον LXE 1 Kings 18:21 And Eliu drew near to them all: and Eliu said to them, How long wilt ye halt on both feet? if the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, follow him. And the people answered not a word. NET 1 Kings 18:21 Elijah approached all the people and said, "How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? If the LORD is the true God, then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!" But the people did not say a word. CSB 1 Kings 18:21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him." But the people didn't answer him a word. ESV 1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word. NIV 1 Kings 18:21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing. NLT 1 Kings 18:21 Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, "How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!" But the people were completely silent. NRS 1 Kings 18:21 Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." The people did not answer him a word. NJB 1 Kings 18:21 Elijah stepped out in front of all the people. 'How long', he said, 'do you mean to hobble first on one leg then on the other? If Yahweh is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.' But the people had nothing to say. NAB 1 Kings 18:21 Elijah appealed to all the people and said, "How long will you straddle the issue? If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him." The people, however, did not answer him. YLT 1 Kings 18:21 and Elijah cometh nigh unto all the people, and saith, 'Till when are ye leaping on the two branches? -- if Jehovah is God, go after Him; and if Baal, go after him;' and the people have not answered him a word. How long will you hesitate: De 4:35 2Ki 17:41 Zep 1:5 Mt 6:24 Lu 6:13 Ro 6:16-22 1Co 10:21,22 2Co 6:14-16 Rev 3:15,16 If the LORD is God: 1Ki 18:39 Ex 5:1,2 Jos 24:15,23,24 1Sa 7:3 1Ch 17:26 2Ch 33:13 Ps 100:3 But the people did not answer him a word: Ge 24:50 44:16 Job 40:4,5 Mt 22:12,34,36 Ro 3:19 6:21 James Hastings 16 page message on 1 Kings 18:21 Halting Between Two Opinions (16 pages) THE KEY QUESTION WHO WILL YOU WORSHIP? Elijah came near to all the people - The people presumably refers to lay Israelites who had gathered for the "Super Bowl" confrontation of Jezebel's prophets and God's prophet. and said, “How long will you hesitate (pasach) between two opinions? - Heb “How long are you going to limp around on two crutches?" NET = "How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision?" ESV = "How long will you go limping between two different opinions?" NJB = "Do you mean to hobble first on one leg then on the other?" Septuagint = How long wilt ye halt on both feet?" What is Elijah implying? He is clearly implying that the people are engaging in syncretistic worship of false gods and the true and living God. THOUGHT - Those who limp between two opinions never fall on their knees in humble adoration of Yahweh. Uncertainty will never lead you to deep intimacy. Divided affections will never lead you into devoted worship to God. Who is God? If Yahweh is God, then worship Him. (Tony Merida) John Olley - Elijah portrays the people’s situation picturesquely. ‘Limp’ (NRSV) is preferable to waver (NIV, v. 21): they are hobbling around or ‘hopping’ (NJPSV), either at the fork of a road trying to go both directions, or perhaps on crutches. The same word is used of the prophets: ‘they limped about the altar’ (v. 26; NIV danced)....Elijah’s rhetorical question may be a deliberate wordplay: ‘How long will you go limping (pōsĕḥîm) with two different opinions (ḥassĕ‘ippîm)?’ (cf. Sweeney, p. 227). The word translated ‘opinions’ occurs only here and related words suggest a translation ‘crutches’ (HALOT; Gray, p. 396; DeVries, p. 228). (See The Message of Kings - Page 172) Spurgeon on how long - “How many more sermons do you want? How many more Sundays must roll away wasted? How many warnings, how many sicknesses, how many toilings of the bell to warn you that you must die? How many graves must be dug for your family before you will be impressed? How many plagues and pestilences must ravage this city before you will turn to God in truth? How long halt ye between two opinions?” MacArthur on hesitate (pasach) between two opinions - Lit. “limp along on or between two twigs.” Israel had not totally rejected the Lord, but was seeking to combine worship of Him with the worship of Baal. The issue posed by Elijah was that Israel had to choose who was God, the Lord or Baal, and then serve God wholeheartedly. (See MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition) Spurgeon - In silent awe the crowd listened to the one undaunted man of God, as he offered them the great choice of God or Baal, and proposed by one grand test to prove which was truly God. Adam Clarke had a slightly different understanding: “Literally, ‘How long hop ye about upon two boughs?’ This is a metaphor taken from birds hopping about from bough to bough, not knowing on which to settle.” If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him - Elijah is not forcing Yahweh on anyone. He is saying you each need to make your personal choice, but you cannot follow both. Jesus gave a similar warning in the Sermon on the Mount declaring "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." (Mt 6:24+) One is reminded of some of Joshua's last words to Israel - “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15+) Amy Carmichael, "Everyday we live, we have to choose whether we should follow in the way of Ahab or of Elijah." Spurgeon explained “I know you are not decided in opinion, because you are not decided in practice. If God be God, follow him; if Baal, follow him. You are not decided in practice.” B. S. Childs suggests that "The issue is not that Israel wanted to reject Yahweh and choose Baal, but rather to serve them both. Elijah called for an either/or decision." (ED: While that may be true clearly Jezebel wanted to reject Yahweh and she was the de facto leader over spineless Ahab). But the people did not answer him a word - Their silence is telling and it was not "golden!" Clearly their hearts were divided between Jehovah and Baal. THOUGHT - Isn't that the temptation/test for all of us? Our fallen flesh continually, daily entices us to bow down to the idols of this world (1Pe 2:11b+) and God's Word and Spirit draw us toward the true God. To whom have you been drawn predominantly (not perfectly) this past week? If you are having difficulty answering this question, you might consider sincerely Psalm 139:23-24 - "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." Warren
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Spurgeon adds that "Judgment alone cannot soften the heart, for alt that Ahab cared for when under the chastising hand of God was to preserve his stud. He thought more of his horses than of his soul, or his starving subjects." F B Meyer on Ahab's focus - We might have supposed that he would set himself to alleviate the miseries of his people; and, above all, that he would have turned back to God: but no – his one thought was about the horses and mules of his stud; his only care was to save some of them alive… What selfishness is here! Mules and asses before his people! Seeking for grass, instead of seeking for God!” John Schultz: The fact that the king of Israel had to go around the country, looking for grass, is the most ridiculous scene imaginable. It emphasized what happens when the living God, the Creator of the universe is being replaced by idols. Idols cannot create anything, not even grass! Dale Ralph Davis: Here is an interesting contrast between Ahab and Obadiah. Obadiah saves prophets. Ahab wants to save mules and horses (v. 5). That is typical of kings and governments: the economy is everything. (1 Kings: The Wisdom And the Folly ) 1 Kings 18:6 So they divided the land between them to survey it; Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way by himself. Ahab went: Jer 14:3 So they divided the land between them to survey it; Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way by himself. Bob
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Spurgeon - To unbelief this would have appeared like a command to plunge into the raging waves of the sea, or to walk into a lion’s den, but soldiers of the Heavenly King do not reason, but obey. James Smith - ELIJAH, THE FAITHFUL WITNESS 1 Kings 18:1–39 “Could we but crush that ever-craving lust For bless, which kills all bless, and lose our life— Our barren unit-life—to find again A thousand lives in those for whom we die, So were we men and women! and should hold Our rightful rank in God’s great universe.” —KINGSLEY. The third year of the famine was now running its course. All this time Elijah, as the mouthpiece of God, had no message for the guilty nation. Jehovah Himself was speaking through those barren fields and sealed-up heavens, calling for confession and repentance. There are times when God’s servants have to be silent, when He is speaking loudly by some crushing providence. Elijah had a long silence before he made that bold and tragic declaration on Carmel. In this chapter we get a fuller view of the faithfulness of this prophet of fire in his— I. Readiness to Obey. When the call came, “Go, show thyself unto Ahab,” immediately “Elijah went to show himself” (vv. 1, 2). He had been commanded to hide himself (chap. 17:3). Now he is to show himself. He was equally ready for the one or the other. The man who is set on witnessing for God, as Elijah was, and is willing to hide himself, is sure to be lifted up, brought out, and set before the people as one having authority. To show himself to Ahab was to show himself to one who had been eagerly hunting for his life (v. 12). But the righteous are bold as a lion (Prov. 28:1). II. Boldness to Rebuke. When Ahab found Elijah he seemed as if he had found a “pestilent fellow.” But was there not a tremor of fear in that question so awkwardly put, “Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” How could he trouble Israel by shutting up the heavens when the king was utterly helpless? The prophet’s answer was straight and piercing as an arrow to his heart from the quiver of the Almighty. “I have not troubled Israel, but thou … in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord” (v. 18). What constitutes a troubler? “Forsaking the Word of the Lord.” Every backslider is a troubler in the Church of God. Achan’s secret sin brought trouble into the whole camp of Israel. What should be said of those infidel “critics” who pose as religious teachers and are troubling the whole land with their soul-damning heresies? The need of the age is Elijahs. III. Call for Decision. The prophet commands the king, and his eight hundred and fifty false prophets are summoned, with the nation, to meet Elijah on Mount Carmel. It was a big order, but the man who “stands before God” will go in for great things. “How long halt ye between two opinions?” is the pointed question rung out as soon as the people had gathered themselves together. This solitary man of God was intensely practical. Well he knew that “no man can serve two masters,” and that indecision about the service of God was ruinous. Their decision for God or Baal was to be evidenced by their “following Him.” The outward life must declare the inward purposes of the heart. IV. Desire to put God to the Test. “Let them choose one bullock, and I will dress the other, … and the God that answereth by fire, let Him be God” (vv. 23, 24). Better test our theories and principles in time than to have them breaking down on the border of eternity. The man of faith is never afraid to risk his all on the honour of God (Heb. 11:17). An “answer by fire” was quite a reasonable test for them, as they worshipped Baal, the god of fire. Surely the great “sun god” would not fail such a multitude of prophets. At midday, when the sun was at its hottest, they got frantic, and “leaped upon the altar” as if they themselves were ready to be sacrificed for their faith, but there was “neither voice, nor any to answer.” Their god was the voiceless myth of their own imagination. The “two opinions” between which they halted were MAN’S and GOD’S. “My thoughts are not your thoughts, saith the Lord.” Prove your own selves. V. Believing Prayer. There is no fuss, no excitement betrayed by the man of God, as he calmly builds the altar and drenches the sacrifice and the wood with “barrels” of water from the sea (Jer. 46:18). He does not seek to make it easy for God to answer by fire, but to make it sure that the fire is from God. His prayer is simple, because it is the prayer of faith. “Let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel,” etc. (vv. 36, 37). The prophet urges a fourfold reason for this special miraculous manifestation of His power. 1. That it might be known that THOU ART GOD. 2. That I AM THY SERVANT. 3. That I have done all these things AT THY WORD. 4. That the HEART of the people might be TURNED BACK. It was a cry for the vindication of God’s own honour, a cry that was immediately answered, for “Then the fire of the Lord fell” (v. 38). This was a Pentecostal day for Israel. Those who are truly faithful to God must expect great things from Him, that His own Name may be glorified in them and by them. It is because of our unbelief that signs and wonders are not still being wrought among us. “Command ye me.” VI. Bringing Others to Confession. “When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, The Lord, He is God” (v. 39). It was such a revelation as Thomas had when he said, “My Lord and my God.” There is nothing like the down-coming of the fire of God—the Holy Ghost—to burn off the masks from the faces of self-deceived religionists. The “one man ministry” of Elijah was an overwhelming force in the kingdom of Israel. The man that “stands before God” has always God to stand by Him. There is no other way to bring deluded sinners to their knees but by the power of God in answer to the daring faith of His believing servants. ILLUSTRATION - John Steinbeck's description of a severe drought in the 1930's - "The surface of the earth crusted, a thin hard crust, and as the sky became pale, so the earth became pale, pink in the red country and white in the gray country. In the water-cut gullies the earth dusted down in dry little streams. Gophers and ant lions started small avalanches. And as the sharp sun struck day after day, the leaves of the young corn became less stiff and erect; they bent in a curve at first, and then, as the central ribs of strength grew weak, each leaf tilted downward. Then it was June, and the sun shone more fiercely. The brown lines on the corn leaves widened and moved in on the central ribs. The weeds frayed and edged back toward their roots. The air was thin and the sky more pale; and every day the earth paled." (See Grapes of Wrath page 1) GOD’S POWER REVEALED - Croft Pentz 1 Kings 18:1, 17–46 Elijah faced the power of sin and Satan. However, he did not stand alone—God stood with him. God was trying to speak to man through the three and a half years of drought. Now He sends Elijah to challenge the worshipers of Baal. 1. THE CONFRONTATION—1 Kings 18:1, 7–18 2. THE CHALLENGE—1 Kings 18:19–24 3. THE COMPLETENESS—1 Kings 18:25–46 Elijah’s prayer was: simple, short, and sincere. His prayer was to advance God’s work. Too often our prayers become selfish and self-centered. 1 Kings 18:2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. went to show: Ps 27:1 51:4 Pr 28:1 Isa 51:12 Heb 13:5,6 Now the famine was severe: Lev 26:26 De 28:23-24 2Ki 6:25 Jer 14:2-6,18 Joel 1:15-20 Related Passages: Deuteronomy 28:15, 23-24+ “But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you..... 23 “The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you, iron. 24“The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust; from heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed. 2 Kings 6:25 There was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. Ruth 1:1 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. ELIJAH OBEYS, GOES & SHOWS So - Term of conclusion. Elijah's "conclusion" is to immediately respond to God's Word. And this Word is one that was not without some danger to Elijah given Ahab and Jezebel's murderous hatred of Elijah. Elijah went to show himself to Ahab He did not say "but God you know Ahab wants to kill me." He just went! Now the famine was severe in Samaria - The famine is secondary to no dew or rain and is clearly the judgment of the sovereign God Who controls every drop of dew or rain that ever falls on the earth. Note there is no record of a famine in Judah, so presumably Judah was not impacted by the drought. Of course Baal was the northern kingdom's pagan god of fertility and this famine is a clear assault on the people's false belief that Baal was in control of fertility if he could not even produce a few rain showers. Bob
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Spurgeon - “Ahab called for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. Obadiah was a man who greatly feared the LORD and took a hundred prophets and hid them, fifty men to a cave, and provided them with food and water when Jezebel slaughtered the LORD’s prophets.” God will never leave himself without witnesses in this world, even in the worst places of the world. What a horrible abode Ahab’s court must have been for a believer! If there had been no sinner there but that woman, Jezebel, she was enough to make the palace a sinkhole of iniquity. Yet in that court where Jezebel was mistress, the chamberlain was a man who greatly feared God. We should never be surprised to meet with a believer anywhere. Grace can live where we would never expect to see it survive for an hour. Joseph feared God in the court of Pharaoh. Daniel was a trusted counselor of Nebuchadnezzar. Mordecai waited at the gate of Ahasuerus, and there were saints in Caesar’s household. Think of finding diamonds on such a dunghill as Nero’s palace. Those who feared God in Rome were not only Christians, but they were examples to all other Christians for their brotherly love and generosity. Surely there is no place without some light of God—the darkest cavern of iniquity has its torch. QUESTION - Who was Obadiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org ANSWER - Thirteen different men are named Obadiah in the Bible, including the minor prophet who wrote the book of Obadiah. The name Obadiah was common in ancient Israel and Judah. It means “the Lord’s servant” or “worshiper of Yahweh.” One of the twelve minor prophets: Other than what is disclosed through the book of Obadiah, nothing more is known about Obadiah the prophet. His book, the shortest of the Old Testament with only twenty-one verses, reveals that Obadiah probably lived in the harsh and bitter era after the capture and destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. He was most likely a contemporary of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Obadiah’s prophecies focus on God’s judgment against the Edomites (a hostile neighbor of Israel) for their part in destroying Jerusalem. Obadiah’s message is that God will not forget His people even in their captivity but will accomplish His purpose through and beyond the appalling conditions they endure. Some of Obadiah’s words are remarkably similar to a few verses in Jeremiah 49, leading some scholars to think that Jeremiah quoted or paraphrased some of Obadiah’s prophecy as he was writing his own oracle against Edom. A governor: Although he served as overseer of the household of the evil King Ahab, this Obadiah remained a devoted servant of God. He is known for safeguarding 100 prophets of Yahweh from Ahab’s wife, the wicked Queen Jezebel, by secreting them in a cave and bringing them food and water. He also served as emissary between Ahab and the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 18:1–16). A descendant of David: The son of Arnan and father of Shecanian was named Obadiah. He was a descendant of King David through Zerubbabel (1 Chronicles 3:21). A descendant of Issachar: One of the sons of Izrahiah, a descendant of Issachar, was called Obadiah. He was one of the tribal leaders (1 Chronicles 7:3). A descendant of Saul: A Benjamite named Obadiah was one of the six sons of Azel and a descendant of King Saul (1 Chronicles 8:38; 9:44). The son of Shemaiah: A member of the tribe of Levi named Obadiah was part of the group of Jews who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity. He was the son of Shemaiah (1 Chronicles 9:16). One of David’s mighty men: Obadiah was listed as the second of eleven experienced warriors from the tribe of Gad who joined David’s army at Ziklag. These men were “fierce as lions and as swift as deer on the mountains. . . . The weakest among them could take on a hundred regular troops, and the strongest could take on a thousand!” (1 Chronicles 12:8–14). The father of Ishmaiah: During King David’s reign, Ishmaiah served as chief officer of the tribe of Zebulun. Ishmaiah’s father was named Obadiah (1 Chronicles 27:19). An official: One of King Jehoshaphat’s officials sent to teach the law in the cities of Judah was called Obadiah (2 Chronicles 17:7). An overseer: A Levite named Obadiah supervised the work of repairing and restoring the temple during the reign of Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:12). A descendant of Joab: This Obadiah was the son of Jehiel and a leader of the family of Joab. He led a group of 218 men who returned from exile with Ezra (Ezra 8:9). A witness: During the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, Obadiah was a priest and one of the leaders of the postexilic Jewish community who signed and sealed the written covenant to obey the laws of God (Nehemiah 10:1–27). A gatekeeper: In the time of Nehemiah, one of the gatekeepers who stood guard at the storehouses was named Obadiah (Nehemiah 12:25). 1 Kings 18:4 for when Jezebel destroyed the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water.) destroyed the prophets of the LORD: Ne 9:26 Mt 21:35 Rev 17:4-6 in a cave: Heb 11:38 provided them: 1Ki 18:13 2Ki 6:22,23 Mt 10:40-42 25:35,40 with bread and water. 1Ki 13:8,9,16 OBADIAH'S FAITH IN ACTION For - This is a great term of explanation. What is the writer explaining in context? When Jezebel destroyed (cut off, destroy = karath; Lxx - tupto/typto = strike in present tense - her continual activity against) the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water - This would suggest that Obadiah was not overt in his testimony or she would have destroyed him. This would have been quite a job to feed 50 men in one cave and then go to fed 50 men in another cave. The job would be made difficult by the fact that he might be discovered by Jezebel or her spies. Finally, the job would be difficult in this time of drought when there were decreased food and water reserves. These combined obstacles make one wonder if Obadiah had supernatural assistance? (Note - On the schools of the prophets, see 1 Samuel 10:5 and 2 Kings 2:3-7 and 2 Kings 6:1-2) Matthew
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Spurgeon - “Account for it how you may, it is a singular circumstance that in the center of rebellion against God there was one whose devotion to God was intense and distinguished. As it is horrible to find a Judas among the apostles, so it is grand to discover an Obadiah among Ahab’s courtiers. What grace must have been at work to maintain such a fire in the midst of the sea, such godliness in the midst of the vilest iniquity!” Bob
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Spurgeon - see full sermon Obadiah; or, Early Piety Eminent Piety ‘I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.’ 1 Kings 18:12 To be a believer in God early in life is to be saved from a thousand regrets. Such a man shall never have to say that he carries in his bones the sins of his youth. Early piety helps us to form associations for the rest of life which will prove helpful, and it saves us from those which are harmful. The Christian young man will not fall into the common sins of young men, and injure his constitution by excesses. He will be likely to be married to a Christian woman, and so to have a holy companion in his march towards heaven. He will select as his associates those who will be his friends in the church and not in the tavern, his helpers in virtue, and not his tempters to vice. Depend upon it, a great deal depends upon whom we choose for our companions when we begin life. If we start in bad company, it is very hard to break away from it. The man brought to Christ early in life has this further advantage, that he is helped to form holy habits, and he is saved from being the slave of their opposites. Habits soon become a second nature; to form new ones is hard work, but those formed in youth remain in old age. There is something in that verse, ‘’Tis easier work if we begin to serve the Lord betimes But sinners who grow old in sin are hardened in their crimes.’ Moreover, I notice that, very frequently, those who are brought to Christ whilst young grow in grace more rapidly and readily than others do. They have not so much to unlearn, and not such a heavy weight of old memories to carry. The scars and bleeding sores which come of having spent years in the service of the devil are missed by those whom the Lord brings into his church before they have wandered far into the world. 1 Kings 18:13 “Has it not been told to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, that I hid a hundred prophets of the LORD by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water? what I did: 1Ki 18:4 Ge 20:4,5 Ps 18:21-24 Ac 20:34 1Th 2:9,10 I hid an hundred: Mt 10:41,42 fed them: Mt 25:35 FAITHFUL SERVICE SHOULD COUNT FOR SOMETHING! Has it not been told to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, that I hid a hundred prophets of the LORD by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water - This is rhetorical and expects an affirmative reply. James Smith - HIDDEN THINGS FOR HIDDEN ONES. It was a gracious and merciful act when Obadiah hid an hundred men of the Lord's prophets by fifty in a cave, and "fed them with bread and water" (1 Kings 18:13). But how much better is it to be the Lord's hidden ones? Who shall discover those whom He hath concealed? We ask— I. Who are They? "They have taken counsel against Thy people, and consulted against Thy hidden ones" (Psa. 83:3). Then those hidden ones are— 1. HIS OWN. Sought out by His love, convicted by His Spirit, redeemed by His blood. "Your body and your spirit which are God's" (1 Cor. 6:20). 2. HE HIDES THEM. "Thy hidden ones." "Your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3), and hid by God Himself. What a place of safety! He takes us under the feathers of His own wings. "I flee to Thee to hide me" (Psa. 143:9). II. Where He Hides. In the safest place in the universe. 1. IN THE PAVILION OF HIS GRACE. "He shall hide me in His pavilion" (Psa. 27 5). We are not under the cloud of the law, but under the covering of His redeeming grace. The word atonement means covering. 2. IN THE SECRET OF HIS TABERNACLE (Psa. 27:5). The secret place of the Tabernacle was where God Himself dwelt, in the Holy of Holies. Into the secret of His own presence hath He brought us. "Your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). "Abide in Me." What a blessed hiding-place is ours! "God is our Refuge, we shall not be moved" (Psa. 46:1). III. What They are Hidden From. The— 1. PRIDE OF MAN (Psa. 31:20). To be saved from the pride of one's own heart is a great deliverance. The pride of man is the source of many evils. Our security is in the bosom of Him who is the meek and lowly in heart. 2. STRIFE OF TONGUES (Psa. 31:20). The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. God's hidden ones are lovers of peace, and know the peace of God. The confusion of tongues belong to the world, but Thou art my hiding-place (Psa. 32:7). Thy Word is pure, Thy voice is clear and unmistakable. IV. The Privilege Enjoyed by the Hidden Ones. They dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in a sure dwelling, and in a quiet resting-place (Isa. 32:18). They— 1. ARE TAUGHT HIDDEN WISDOM (1 Cor. 2:7). We have received the Spirit of God that we might know the things that are freely given us of God. Wise in Christ. Secret things belong to God (Psa. 31:19; Matt. 13:11). 2. RECEIVE HIDDEN RICHES. "I will give thee the hidden riches of secret places" (Isa. 45:3). Being in Christ, we are in the secret places where the unsearchable riches are (Eph 3:8). "In Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3). 3. EAT HIDDEN MANNA. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna" (Rev. 2:17). Those bidden by God have a meat to eat that others know not of (John 4:32), they are fed by the finest of the wheat. "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. for I am called by Thy Name, O Lord God of Hosts" (Jer. 15:16). "Thou blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee." 1 Kings 18:14 “And now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here”’; he will then kill me.” He will then kill me (KJV): Mt 10:28 REITERATES FEAR OF BEING KILLED And now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here”’; he will then kill me Even God's prophets are human and have the emotion of fear of men in certain circumstances as in our present pericope. Spurgeon - The good man was timid, for he had not been living the separated life, and therefore was far inferior in faith to the lonely Elijah, but the prophet bore with his weakness, for he knew him to be right at heart. We that are strong must bear the infirmities of the weak, and not expect all men to be equally bold. 1 Kings 18:15 Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.” As the Lord: 1Ki 18:10 Heb 6:16,17 of hosts lives: Ge 2:1 De 4:19 Job 25:3 Ps 24:8-10 103:21 148:2,3 Isa 6:3 Jer 8:2 Lu 2:13,14 before whom I: 1Ki 17:1 De 1:38 Lu 1:19 I will surely: Isa 51:7,8 ELIJAH'S AFFIRMATION ASSUAGES OBADIAH'S FEARS Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts (SEE Jehovah Sabaoth) lives, before Whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today - Elijah gives his word essentially swearing an oath before the LORD that he will go to Ahab. Bob
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Spurgeon - How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.” It was a day to be remembered when the multitudes of Israel were assembled at the foot of Carmel and when the solitary prophet of the Lord came forth to defy the 450 priests of the false god. We have on that hill of Carmel and along the plain three kinds of persons. We have first the devoted servant of Jehovah, a solitary prophet. We have, on the other hand, the decided servants of the evil one, the 450 prophets of Baal. But the vast mass of that day belonged to a third class—those who had not determined whether to fully worship Jehovah, the God of their fathers, or Baal, the god of Jezebel. Their ancient traditions led them to fear Jehovah, but their interest at court led them to bow before Baal. Many of them were secret and halfhearted followers of Jehovah while they were the public worshipers of Baal. Elijah’s discourse was directed to this third group. Most of the people who were before him thought Jehovah was God and Baal was God, too. For this reason the worship of both was consistent. “I will build in my house,” said one of them, “an altar for Jehovah here and an altar for Baal there. I am of one opinion; I believe them both to be God.” “No, no,” said Elijah, “it cannot be so! They are two and must be two.” Many today say, “I am worldly but I am religious, too!” It can’t be done; they are distinct and separate. If God is God, serve him and do it thoroughly. But if this world is god, serve it and make no profession of religion. “No one can serve two masters” (Mt 6:24). How many respectable churchgoers think they can be covetous and grasping in business and grind the faces of the poor and yet be saints. How many women received into church fellowship are found to be full of wrath and bitterness—slaves of mischief and of sin—slanderers and busybodies. If we make a profession to be a Christian, we must be one! But if we are not Christian, we must not pretend to be. If we love the world, then let’s love it, but let’s cast off the mask and not be hypocrites. The double-minded person, who wears two faces, is the most despicable because he is not honest enough to go through with what he professes. Hesitate (06452) pasach means to leap, to pass over, to halt, to limp, to be lame. Before Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal, he confronted the Israelites for their syncretism. He asked them how long they would bounce back and forth between the Lord and Baal (1 Ki. 18:21). Then during Elijah's confrontation, the prophets of Baal began to dance on the altar that they had constructed (1 Ki. 18:26). This was probably some sort of cultic dance performed as part of the sacrifice ritual. Pasach is used with the sense of to limp in 2 Sam. 4:4 and 1 Ki. 18:21 and the sense of to leap in 1 Ki. 18:26 Note the same verb is behind pesaḥ, ‘Passover’, describing Yahweh’s ‘passing over’ (Exod. 12:13, 27) and another form describes ‘crippled’ Mephibosheth (2 Sam. 4:4). Bob
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Spurgeon - Elijah's Appeal to the Undecided (full sermon) “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: if Baal, then follow him.” 1 Kings 18:21 I insist that it is your bounden duty, if you believe in God, simply because he is God, to serve him and obey him. I do not tell you it is for your advantage—it may be, I believe it is—but that I put aside from the question; I demand of you that you follow God, if you believe him to be God. If you do not think he is God; if you really think that the devil is God, then follow him; his pretended godhead shall be your plea, and you shall be consistent; but if God be God, if he made you, I demand that you serve him; if it is he who puts the breath into your nostrils, I demand that you obey him. If God be really worthy of worship, and you really think so, I demand that you either follow him, or else deny that he is God at all. Now, professor, if thou sayest that Christ’s gospel is the only gospel, if thou believest in the divinity of the gospel, and puttest thy trust in Christ, I demand of thee to follow out the gospel, not merely because it will be to thy advantage, but because the gospel is divine. If thou makest a profession of being a child of God, if thou art a believer, and thinkest and believest religion is the best, the service of God most desirable, I do not come to plead with thee because of any advantage thou wouldst get by being holy; it is on this ground that I put it, that the Lord is God; and if he be God, it is thy business to serve him. If his gospel be true, and thou believest it to be true, it is thy duty to carry it out. Four things God will not accept—hypocrisy (Luke 6:46), half-heartedness (Luke 9:59–62), double-mindedness (James 1:6–8) and lukewarmness (Revelation 3:15, 16). John
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Spurgeon - Numbers are no test of right; but brave is he who dares to hold the truth, where thousands love the lie. Warren
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Spurgeon - “As when a wave, That rears itself, a wall of polished glass, For leagues along the shore, and hangs in air, Falls with one deafening crash, so rose the shout Of answering acclamation from the crowd. White-faced, with restless lips and anxious eyes, Baal’s prophets heard, their hundreds cowed and mute Before one man. They dared not, in mere shame, Decline the challenge.” Vance Havner - The Lesson of Carmel: God's Power The God that answereth by fire, let him be God (1 Kings 18:24). The great day on Carmel had all the elements of a mighty moving of God. 1. The promise of showers of blessing (v. 1). 2. The human efforts of Ahab and Obadiah to meet the need of the hour (vv. 2-16). 3. God's man who was in a sense the troubler of Israel as the disturber of a false peace (vv. 17-20). 4. The call to take a stand for God or Baal (v. 21). 5. The test of fire. Not "the God that answereth by finances or fame or feelings" but "by fire" (v. 24). 6. The repairing of broken altars (v. 30). "Then the fire of the Lord fell" (v. 38). "There is a sound of abundance of rain" (v. 41). Elijah prayed down both fire and water. We need both today. And we can have both. When the fire of His Spirit falls from above, the floods of His blessing are sure to follow. 1 Kings 18:25 So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” Related Passages: 1 Kings 16:30-31 Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him. 31 It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him. THE RULES FOR THE TEST OF DIVINITY So - Term of conclusion. Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it - Note the crucial instruction was NO FIRE! One can imagine the faces of the prophets of Baal! Remember this was as we say in the sports world today "sudden death" competition, for the first one to bring fire from heaven would win. And as the scenario unfolded, the ones who failed to bring fire experienced literal sudden death by sword! Spurgeon - He knew their cunning, and that by sleight of hand they would cheat if they could; hence he said, suggestively, “but put no fire under.” Believer’s Bible Commentary - The Israelites were constantly prone to pay homage to other deities, even though the Law expressly forbade it. After the settlement in Canaan, there were strong temptations to conform to the local fertility cults, in which Baal played a leading role. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of the northern kingdom did evil in the sight of God more than all before them (1Ki 16:30) because they made Baal worship official in Israel (16:31). Jezebel was not content with Baal worship as merely coexisting with the worship of Yahweh; she wanted to supplant Yahweh worship with that of the Baal cult. This involved an outright substitution -- a pagan god for the true God. Elijah solemnly protested the practice of idolatry and pagan worship in Israel. He proclaimed that Yahweh was still to be the God of Israel, and vindicated this claim by means of several dramatic events recorded in the Book of 1 Kings. 1 Kings 18:26 Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.” But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they made. from morning: Mt 6:7 no voice: 1Ki 18:24 Ps 115:4-8 135:15-20 Isa 37:38 44:17 45:20 Jer 10:5 Da 5:23 Hab 2:18 1Co 8:4 10:19,20 12:2 leaped upon the altar: Zep 1:9 DESPERATE ATTEMPTS OF FALSE PROPHETS Then - Time phrase marking progression in a narrative. They took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.” - Elijah makes sure the false prophets cannot say "You did not give us enough time to call on Baal." But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they made - No voice or answer because Baal was not a god but a figment of their fallen imaginations (see the pathogenesis of idols in Ro 1:22-25+). Spurgeon - They multiplied their litanies and genuflections; they exhausted their whole round of performances, but the sun-god lent them not a spark of his fires. Paul Apple sums up the scene and advantages of the Baal priests... – You have first crack at choosing the ox you want to use – You have the advantage of greater numbers – You have the home-field advantage here on Mt. Carmel – You have the advantage of going first in the contest – You can use as much time as you need – no time pressure put on your efforts – You can use whatever theatrics and gymnastics you want to try to arouse Baal Peter Pett: Elijah then turned to the prophets of Baal and called on them to go first because they were many. He wanted them to have as much time as they wanted. He knew perfectly well that what he was asking of them was impossible, for there was no one who would hear their cries. Then they were to prepare their sacrifice, but without putting fire under it, and pray as much as they liked. The more they prayed, the more futile their prayers would appear. Bob Deffinbaugh: We find no mention of these prophets having to construct or rebuild an altar. I suspect that there was already a functioning pagan altar there, which they utilized. 1 Kings 18:27 It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.” KJV 1 Kings 18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. BGT 1 Kings 18:27 καὶ ἐγένετο μεσημβρίᾳ καὶ ἐμυκτήρισεν αὐτοὺς Ηλιου ὁ Θεσβίτης καὶ εἶπεν ἐπικαλεῖσθε ἐν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ὅτι θεός ἐστιν ὅτι ἀδολεσχία αὐτῷ ἐστιν καὶ ἅμα μήποτε χρηματίζει αὐτός ἢ μήποτε καθεύδει αὐτός καὶ ἐξαναστήσεται LXE 1 Kings 18:27 And it was noon, and Eliu the Thesbite mocked them, and said, Call with a loud voice, for he is a god; for he is meditating, or else perhaps he is engaged in business, or perhaps he is asleep, and is to be awaked. NET 1 Kings 18:27 At noon Elijah mocked them, "Yell louder! After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip. Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened." CSB 1 Kings 18:27 At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, "Shout loudly, for he's a god! Maybe he's thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he's on the road. Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake up!" ESV 1 Kings 18:27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." NIV 1 Kings 18:27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." NLT 1 Kings 18:27 About noontime Elijah began mocking them. "You'll have to shout louder," he scoffed, "for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!" NRS 1 Kings 18:27 At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud! Surely he is a god; either he is meditating, or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." NJB 1 Kings 18:27 Midday came, and Elijah mocked them. 'Call louder,' he said, 'for he is a god: he is preoccupied or he is busy, or he has gone on a journey; perhaps he is asleep and needs to be woken up!' NAB 1 Kings 18:27 When it was noon, Elijah taunted them: "Call louder, for he is a god and may be meditating, or may have retired, or may be on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." YLT 1 Kings 18:27 And it cometh to pass, at noon, that Elijah playeth on them, and saith, 'Call with a loud voice, for he is a god, for he is meditating, or pursuing, or on a journey; it may be he is asleep, an doth awake.' GWN 1 Kings 18:27 At noon Elijah started to make fun of them. "Shout louder, since he is a god. Maybe he's thinking, relieving himself, or traveling! Maybe he's sleeping, and you have to wake him!" Elijah: 1Ki 22:15 2Ch 25:8 Ec 11:9 Isa 8:9,10 44:15-17 Eze 20:39 Am 4:4,5 Mt 26:45 Mk 7:9 14:41 for he is a god: Isa 41:23 must be awaked: Ps 44:23 78:65,66 121:4 Isa 51:9 Mk 4:38,39 Elijah Confronts Prophets of Baal THE TRUE PROPHET MOCKS THE FALSE GOD It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked (begin to taunt) them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey or perhaps he is asleep (contrast Yahweh - Ps 121:3,4) and needs to be awakened.” - NET - "Yell louder! After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip. Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened."" NLT - "About noontime Elijah began mocking them. "You'll have to shout louder," he scoffed, "for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!"" Ryken called this "holy sarcasm." Elijah refuses to give the non-entity Baal one iota of respect! Elijah was cutting Baal down to size (so to speak), mocking his impotence, and he would soon follow by cutting Baal's prophets "down to size" (so to speak)! NET NOTE - Elijah’s sarcastic proposals would have been especially offensive and irritating to Baal’s prophets, for they believed Baal was imprisoned in the underworld as death’s captive during this time of drought. Elijah’s apparent ignorance of their theology is probably designed for dramatic effect; indeed the suggestion that Baal is away on a trip or deep in sleep comes precariously close to the truth as viewed by the prophets. Bob
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Spurgeon - How much torture is there in false religion: our God takes no pleasure in the miseries of his children. Hair-shirts, lacerated backs, and skeletons macerated with fasting, are fit worship for a demon god; but the blessed God loves them not. NET NOTE - This self-mutilation was a mourning rite designed to facilitate Baal’s return from the underworld. Olley - Self-mutilation is known in similar ancient Near Eastern and hellenistic contexts (Cogan, p. 441). NIV’s frantic prophesying (v. 29) recognizes that group ‘prophesying’ was often accompanied by music and rhythmical dancing leading to an ecstatic state where it was believed the gods communicated messages; cf. 1 Sam. 10:5–6; 18:10; 2 Kgs 3:15 (P. A. Verhoef, ‘Prophecy’, NIDOTTE 4, pp. 1067–1078). (See The Message of Kings - Page 37) August Konkel: The customary gashing with knives and blades may be part of a blood ritual seeking the first rainfall. Blood letting was a rite of imitative magic to prompt a release of vital rain. Ecstatic prophesying may be a frenzied activity indistinguishable from mad behavior (cf. 1 Sam. 19:24). These rituals would take place at a fall festival for the Baal cult in anticipation of the early rains. (See 1 and 2 Kings - Page 300) Bob
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Spurgeon - The challenge was made in the name of all Israel; therefore were twelve stones set up; the whole nation was now to put the grand question to the test, and see whether Jehovah would answer by fire. The prophet would have nothing to do with Baal’s altar; Christ has no concord with Belial Norman Geisler - When Critics Ask 1 KINGS 18:32–35—Where did Elijah get all the water if there had been a drought for three years? PROBLEM: Even the brook had dried up because the drought was so severe (1 Kings 17:7; cf. 18:2). Yet before Elijah prayed for fire from heaven he doused the sacrifice with water three times until it filled the trenches around the altar. SOLUTION: There was a severe drought, but there was still water to drink, both for man and beast, from the springs around the land (1 Kings 18:5), and from the brook Kishon (v. 40). The drought was not so bad that the people were literally dying from thirst. The amount of water Elijah used was not astronomical, being only twelve “waterpots” full (18:33–34). Although waterpots varied in size from those small enough to be carried by one person, some were big enough to hold 20 gallons. However, the author of Kings notes that the trench was big enough to hold about two seahs of seed, equivalent to about one-fourth of a bushel. The fact that Elijah commanded his servants to fill the waterpots indicates that they were small enough for one person to carry. The total amount of water probably amounted to about 13 quarts. 1 Kings 18:33 Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. he put: Ge 22:9 Lev 1:6-8 Related Passages: Leviticus 1:6-8+ ‘He shall then skin the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces. 7 ‘The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8 ‘Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head and the suet over the wood which is on the fire that is on the altar. ELIJAH'S FAITH IN ACTION Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood - Elijah follows the pattern laid out in Leviticus (see text above). F B
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Spurgeon - Till twelve barrels of water filled the trench, and damped all the materials for sacrifice; thus every notion of any concealed fire was effectually removed, and the trial was proved to be a fair and honest one. John Gates: Elijah insisted on making the test as difficult as possible for God to meet, that the answer might stand out in clearer, sharper contrast to the impotency of Baal and his prophets. Henry
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Spurgeon - It was no whim of his to chastise the nation with a drought. It was no scheme of his, concocted in his own brain, that he should put the Godhead of Jehovah or of Baal to the test by a sacrifice to be consumed by miraculous fire.” John Schultz: Elijah opens his prayer with the words: “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel.” The Pulpit Commentary comments: “Two things are to be noticed here: first, that this formula had only once before been used, and that by God Himself, before the giving of law, at the burning bush. It was when God revealed Himself in flaming fire that He had proclaimed Himself the God of Abraham, etc. Secondly, that the variation ‘Israel’ is made designedly (cf. ver. 31), not only to proclaim the Lord as the ‘God of Israel’ (cf. … 1 Kings 17:1), but also to suggest that the name and privileges of Israel belonged to all the sons of Jacob.” R. D. Patterson: At the precise moment when all hope of igniting the wood seemed totally lost, Elijah stepped forward and called on God (v. 36). He pled with the covenant God of Israel to validate that he alone was still God in Israel and this Elijah, who had prophesied the drought and was now calling for a miracle, was truly his servant. He asked God to answer him so that all would know that the Lord was ever anxious for their repentance and return to him (v. 37). Striking with lightning like power, God answered, and such an answer! Heavenly fire fell and consumed not only the wood and sacrifice, but the stones, the soil, and even the surrounding water (v. 38). What a contrast! The prophets of Baal had kept up their wailing and wild ritual for the better part of a day and met with dead silence. Elijah’s petition had lasted less than a minute but produced spectacular results. The difference lay in the One addressed. (See The Expositor's Bible Commentary- Page 530) Spurgeon - Let it be known that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that at your word I have done all these things.” We might question what right the prophet had to restrain the clouds or to put God’s honor to the test. Suppose the Lord had not willed to answer him by fire? Had he any right to make the God’s glory hang on such terms as he proposed? The answer is that he had done all these things according to God’s word. It was no whim of his to chastise the nation with a drought. It was no scheme of his, concocted in his own brain, that he should put the Godhead of Jehovah or of Baal to the test by a sacrifice to be consumed by miraculous fire. Whenever he takes a step, it is preceded by the Lord’s word. He never acts by himself; God is at his back. He moves according to the divine will and speaks according to the divine teaching. Elijah’s character stands out not as an example of reckless daring but as the example of a man of sound mind. Faith in God is true wisdom, the highest form of common sense. To believe the one who cannot lie and trust the one who cannot fail is a kind of wisdom that only fools laugh at. An ambassador never dreams that his authorized acts will be repudiated by his king. If someone acts as our agent and does our bidding, the responsibility for his acts lies with us, and we must back him up. If we will only trust the Lord so as to do what he says, he will never fail us, and he will see us through, though earth and hell should stand in the way. Spurgeon - Elijah's Plea (full sermon) ‘Let it be known … that I have done all these things at thy word.’ 1 Kings 18:36 Let every worker who has not been successful answer this question: have you done all these things at God’s word? Come. Have you preached the gospel? Was it the gospel? Was it Christ you preached, or merely something about Christ? Come. Did you give the people bread, or did you give them plates to put the bread on, and knives to cut the bread with? Did you give them drink, or did you give them the cup that had been near the water? Some preaching is not gospel; it is a knife that smells of the cheese, but it is not cheese. See to that matter. If you preached the gospel, did you preach it rightly? That is to say, did you state it affectionately, earnestly, clearly, plainly? If you preach the gospel in Latinized language, the common people will not know what it means, and if you use great big academy words and dictionary words, the market people will be lost while they are trying to find out what you are at. You cannot expect God to bless you unless the gospel is preached in a very simple way. Have you preached the truth lovingly, with all your heart, throwing your very self into it, as if beyond everything you desired the conversion of those you taught? Has prayer been mixed with it? Have you gone into the pulpit without prayer? Have you come out of it without prayer? Have you been to the Sabbath-school without prayer? Have you come away from it without prayer? If so, since you failed to ask for the blessing, you must not wonder if you do not get it. And another question: has there been an example to back your teaching? Brethren, have we lived as we have preached? Sisters, have you lived as you have taught in your classes? These are questions we ought to answer, because perhaps God can reply to us, ‘No, you have not done according to my word’. 1 Kings 18:37 “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.” Answer me, O LORD: 1Ki 18:24,29,36 Ge 32:24,26,28 2Ch 14:11 32:19,20 Isa 37:17-20 Da 9:17-19 Lu 11:8 Jas 5:16,17 You have turned their heart back again Jer 31:18,19 Eze 36:25-27 Mal 4:5,6 Lu 1:16,17 TWO PURPOSES OF ELIJAH'S PETITION Answer me, O LORD, answer me, (1) that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and (2) that You have turned their heart back again - The prophets of Baal futilely tried to get Baal to answer their frenzied cries for 6 hours, while Yahweh answers Elijah's prayer almost immediately! As an aside power in prayer is not related to length or volume, but in the heart of the one praying and aligning his/her will with God's will (cf Mt 6:7-8+). Alan Carr: His prayer was constructed to accomplish three things. A. That God be glorified. B. That the prophet be vindicated. C. That the people be revived. Spurgeon - Bishop Hall well observes, “The Baalites’ prayers were not more tedious than Elijah’s was short, and yet it was more pithy than short, charging God with the care of his covenant, of his truth, and of his own glory.” The priests of Baal were full of outward vehemence and fantastic action; Elijah’s vehemence was inward, and his manner simple, but devout. His faith was the power of his prayer. His God helped him to pray believingly, and the issue was certain. Faith uses no machinery but that of prayer, but superstition overflows with ceremonials 1 Kings 18:38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. Then the fire of the LORD fell : Ge 15:17 Lev 9:24 Jdg 6:21 1Ch 21:26 2Ch 7:1 fire: 1Ki 18:24 Lev 10:2 2Ki 1:12 Job 1:16 Isa 31:9 ALL CONSUMING FIRE Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench - The result was in essence an all consuming fire, consuming even the stones and dust, in addition to completely drying the water. August Konkel: The “fire from God” anticipates the advance of the rain. The fiery apparition indicates the divine presence (cf. Ex. 3:2; 19:18; 24:17). Fire also attests the divine acceptance and approval of the sacrifice (1 Chron. 21:26). Fire may indicate both approval of the sacrifice and the divine presence, as with Gideon (Judg. 6:20–22) and Moses (Lev. 9:22–24). (SEE NIVAC) Clarke on fire of the LORD fell - The action of this fire was in every case downward, contrary to the nature of all earthly and material fire. Donald Wiseman: The simple prayer (cf. v. 24) contrasts with the long Baalistic ravings. He asks not just for a miraculous demonstration that Yahweh is God but for the conversion of Israel. He reminds God of his previous interventions, using ‘Jacob’ for Israel possibly as a term of rebuke for the latter’s apostasy. On ‘fire from heaven’ (v. 38) as demonstrating God’s power and judgment, see 2 Kings 1:10, 12; Job 1:16. The people’s acknowledgment (v. 39) is itself an answer to prayer (cf. vv. 21, 24). (See 1 and 2 Kings: An Introduction and Commentary - Page 182) Patterson - Elijah’s petition had lasted less than a minute but produced spectacular results. The difference lay in the One addressed. (See The Expositor's Bible Commentary) QUESTION - How many times has God sent fire from heaven? | GotQuestions.org ANSWER - Fire has come down from heaven several times in history. The Bible records at least six of these instances: Fire fell from heaven and destroyed Job’s flocks (Job 1:16). This was a direct attack from Satan, but, as the earlier part of Job 1 explains, Satan was acting with the permission of God (verse 12). It was a tragedy allowed by God and, in the end, bringing glory to God. On the other side of his trials, Job was blessed with even larger flocks (Job 42:12). Fire coming down from heaven was also a means of God’s judgment. Fire in the form of burning sulfur rained from the heavens and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24; Luke 17:29). God also used fire from heaven to judge the soldiers sent by the wicked king Ahaziah to arrest Elijah—twice, fire descended from heaven to consume a group of fifty soldiers sent on the king’s business (2 Kings 1:10, 12). But fire from heaven is not exclusively a means of judgment. On at least three occasions, God sent fire from above in order to consume a sacrifice: fire came down from heaven to consume the sacrifice that David offered on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (1 Chronicles 21:26); to consume the sacrifice at the dedication of the temple, in the presence of King Solomon and the people of Israel (2 Chronicles 7:1); and to consume Elijah’s sacrifice on Mt. Carmel, in response to the prophet’s simple prayer (1 Kings 18:38). In each sacrifice consumed by fire from heaven, God was making an important point. In David’s case, God was forgiving David’s sin in conducting a census and halting a plague in Israel. He was also choosing the place where the future temple would be built. In Solomon’s case, God was consecrating that location as the place where His name would dwell forever (2 Chronicles 7:16). The people’s reaction was to worship the Lord and say, “He is good; his love endures forever” (2 Chronicles 7:3). In Elijah’s case, God was shaming the prophets of Baal, whose god sent no fire, and claiming His rightful title as Lord God of Israel. The people on Mt. Carmel “fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!’” (1 Kings 18:39). Interestingly, during Jesus’ earthly ministry, two of His disciples, James and John, wanted to call down fire from heaven in judgment of a Samaritan village that did not welcome the Lord. Jesus, however, “turned and rebuked them” (Luke 9:55). He had not come “to condemn the world, but to save the world” (John 3:17). James and John, rightly called the “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17), wanted what they thought was justice, but their idea went against God’s plan of mercy. God’s justice will come, but on His terms, not ours. In the end-times tribulation, the false prophet will cause fire to come down from heaven as a means of deceiving people into worshiping the Antichrist (Revelation 13:13). And, at the end of the millenium, God promises that He will destroy the armies of Gog and Magog with fire from heaven (Revelation 20:9). Vance Havner - Carmel and Horeb Then the fire of the Lord fell... I Kings 18:38. But the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still, small voice. I Kings 19:12. God was in the fire at Carmel; He was not in the fire at Horeb. We are not to gather from the still, small voice that God is never in wind, earthquake, and fire. He often is. He came at Pentecost with a sound as of a rushing mighty wind. He came in an earthquake in the Philippian jail. God works in nature in the cataclysmic, in flood and tornado; and He works in the gradual, quiet process of the seasons. He works in mighty mass movements in revival with a Whitefield or a Moody. But He also moves in quiet gatherings in the day-by-day work of faith and labor of love among the churches. And into our hearts He sometimes breaks in sudden and tempestuous ways, in mountain-top raptures and third-heaven experiences. But He also works in daily growth in the knowledge of Christ, the quiet walk by His sufficient grace. You cannot live at Carmel all the time. Carmel happens only once in a while. God is at Horeb too—if you have ears to hear. THE DESCENT OF FIRE UPON THE ALTAR ON MOUNT CARMEL - W Harris “And the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the sacrifice,” etc.—1 Kings 18:38. Notice— I.—The miraculous fire was symbolic of the Divine Nature. 1.—We are told by scientific men that all natural fire has its origin in the sun—the source of all light and heat, of all the life and beauty of the earth. So this flame, descending as a message of the Eternal God, pointed to Him as the source of all spiritual life, and consequently of all moral beauty. 2. Fire is not, in the least degree, changed in its character by contact with other forms of matter; if we throw into the fire, or expose to a ray of light, the most polluted thing, the light, the flame is as pure as before. So the Holy One cannot be polluted by contact with the vilest of His creatures. God incarnate could “eat with publicans and sinners” without sustaining the least moral injury. 3. Although fire cannot be transformed, it can and does transform all that comes within its influence. So can the Divine Being. Hence fire has ever been regarded as a type of the pure and Holy God, not only by Jews and Christians, but often also by men who have not possessed a written revelation, as the Parsees of ancient and modem times, whose form of religion is perhaps the purest ever invented by man. II.—The descent of fire after the prayer was a symbolic expression of Divine approval. There are various ways of expressing approval among men without the use of words. Sometimes the silence of action is more expressive than any sound of words. God’s messages to men have been and are generally silent The Heavens “declare” His glory without “speech or language” (Psa. 19:3). That which appeals to the sight is perhaps more impressive than that which appeals to the sense of hearing. Hence God has often expressed His approval of His servants’ actions in the same way as He did here to Elijah (see Lev. 9:24; 1 Chron. 21:26; 2 Chron. 7:1; Judges 6:21). III.—The contest that was thus decided by fire was symbolic of the contest which is still going on between light and darkness, and which will be decided by fire in the future (2 Thess. 1:8). 1. It was symbolic in the inequality of the numbers. One prophet of the true God against four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal (verse 22). If the moral census of the world was now taken, probably the proportion would be about the same. 2. It was symbolic, in that the minority was, and is, more than the majority. The one man defeated the many men. There are least that are most. 3. Symbolic, because praying and working will bring the “restitution of all things.” As Elijah restored the altar and continued in prayer before it till the decisive hour came, so God’s minority labour and pray, and, at the evening of the present dispensation, heaven will yield the answer. SELECTED—I The world has already received more than one answer by fire, so that it ought not to require another; but one more such answer awaits an evil world (2 Pet. 3:10). God answered by fire the first transgressions, when Cherubim and a flaming sword were planted at the gate of Paradise. God answered Sodom and Gomorrah by fire, and by a fiery vision confirmed His promises to Abraham (Gen. 15:17). From a flame of fire in the bush He spake to Moses: and out of the fire and clouds and darkness to Israel on Mount Sinai. By fire He answered the transgression of Nadab and Abiram (Numb. 16:35) and Israel, in the matter of Korah. By fire He showed at various times, besides the one we are contemplating, His acceptance of the service of His servants. God likewise answered the waiting apostles at Pentecost by cloven tongues as of fire. SELECTED—II “And the God that answereth by fire, let him be God.” Let us spiritually apply this to ourselves. The fire of the Holy Spirit, with which Messiah baptises every believer, is the witness of God in every such believer. This fire consumes the dross of his corruptions, and warms, cheers, and enlightens his soul. He that is insensible to the testimony of this witness is still dead in trespasses and sins. Let us show, then, that our hearts bum within us by the Spirit of our life and conversation before God and man. May the Lord inscribe His name on our hearts in the flaming letters of His love, that He may not see it necessary to write it in our ashes, in the eternally glowing characters of His just displeasure.—Krummacher. 1 Kings 18:39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.” they fell on their faces; Jdg 13:20 1Ch 21:16 2Ch 7:3 The LORD, He is God;: 1Ki 18:21,24 Joh 5:35 Ac 2:37 4:16 TRUE WORDS BUT WERE THEY SINCERE? When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.” - There can be no denying the impotence of Baal and the sovereign power of the Lord. This is a clear answer to first part of Elijah's petition in v38. The question of course is did they "know" intellectually or did they "know" in their hearts, the latter reflecting true repentance and belief. Like many today say I know Jesus, but they do not truly know Him as their personal Savior. It is the difference between profession of faith and true possession of faith, and it makes all the difference in time and eternity! Donald Wiseman: This most dramatic story marks the turning point when the worship of the Lord is almost wiped out by the opposition. A single prophet challenges the whole state to return to God. David
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Spurgeon - Elijah had the law of God at his back in performing this execution; the men were false prophets, and were justly doomed to die. How Elijah bared his arm for that dread task, and made the dry bed of Kishon run with blood! Not thus smite we at men, but oh that sin’s errors and superstitions were thus slain, every one of them. Not one of them should be allowed to escape. Lord, do this killing work among evil systems at this hour! O that the fire from heaven might fall, Our sins its ready victims find, Seize on our lusts and burn up all, Nor leave the least remains behind! Then would our prostrate hearts adore, And own the Lord our righteousness; He is the God of saving power, The Lord Jehovah we confess. John Olley makes an interesting observation - In considering attitudes to followers of different religions, it is important to observe that Elijah’s confrontation was not with pagan followers but with God’s own people. He addressed Ahab and the people of Israel, not Jezebel and Phoenicians. This is characteristic of the whole Bible. The frequent warnings about worship of other gods, whether in Old or New Testaments, are to the people of God. The overwhelming tenor elsewhere in the Bible is that other peoples come to see the reality of God and his saving work not through confrontation, but through God’s activity amongst his people and their lifestyle. The challenge for God’s people amongst the nations is to live out in word and deed their relationship with the only one living, covenant-making, creator God. (See The Message of Kings - Page 54) I like Tony Merida's application of this section - The church today is not a theocracy, and God doesn’t call us to kill others who worship false gods. Instead, we are called to put to death idolatry in our own hearts. Don’t waver between two opinions! “Put to death the deeds of the body,” Paul says (Ro 8:13+, cf Col 3:5+). Don’t allow functional saviors to rule your heart—money, success, pleasure, peer approval, beauty, politics, control, or sex. These counterfeit gods cannot satisfy your heart, and they cannot answer prayer. Let your heart say, “Yahweh, He is God!” in humble, heartfelt adoration, and live your life out of the overflow of that confession. True and vibrant worship is possible because there was another showdown on another hillside. Jesus Christ crushed the enemies—Satan, sin, and death—through His cross and resurrection. He was the ultimate Prophet, Mediator, and Victor, showing us once and for all who the real God is. We marvel at Elijah and learn from his prayer and faith, but we realize that what save us and sustain us are the power and grace of Jesus. One greater than Elijah has come. (See Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings) Norman Geisler - When Critics Ask 1 KINGS 18:40—Wasn’t killing too severe a punishment for the prophets of Baal? PROBLEM: Isn’t this a classic example of religious intolerance, a notorious example of overkill? Further, wasn’t it contrary to Jewish law to kill the prophets of Baal because of their beliefs? SOLUTION: According to the Law of Moses, even Jewish prophets were to be killed for giving false prophecies (Deut. 18:20). Furthermore, idolatry was punishable by death (Ex. 22:20), as was blasphemy (Lev. 24:15–16) and adultery (Lev. 20:10), all of which the prophets of Baal were guilty. Given that these false prophets were also engaged in treason against the Jewish theocracy, the punishment is not surprising and certainly justifiable by a God who is not only sovereign over all life (Deut. 32:39; Job 1:21), but also absolutely fair in executing justice (Gen. 18:25). Walter Kaiser - Hard Sayings of the Bible - Why Did Elijah Kill All 450 Prophets of Baal? Why was it necessary to kill the prophets of Baal once it had been shown that they could not call down fire from heaven as Elijah had? Wasn’t it enough to prove that they were false prophets without any power? And if some of the prophets of Baal had to die, why all 450? Elijah stepped forward after the prophets of Baal had been asking Baal to send down fire from six o’clock in the morning to three o’clock in the afternoon with no results. In less than a minute’s petition to Almighty God, the fire of God fell from heaven. The crowd was impressed and fell facedown, crying, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God” (1 Kings 18:39). The fire of God could just as well have consumed the 450 prophets of Baal right then and there (and the 400 prophets of Asherah, for that matter). But the divine fire was not the fire of judgment this time, but the fire that signified that the bull Elijah had placed on the altar was accepted. After three and a half years in which the weather forecast was “sunny, clear and warmer” each day, you would have thought that the God that answered by rain would prove he was Lord. But no, before the mercies of God could come, there must first be the sacrifice that prepared the way for those mercies and graces. Immediately Elijah commanded that all the prophets of Baal were to be rounded up and taken down to the Kishon Valley to be slaughtered there. There was no hesitation on the part of the people; the Lord’s command now came to a crowd that had been startled into responding positively and quickly. Once they had collected all the prophets of Baal, the actual killing may have been done by the people, for on linguistic grounds it is possible to read the fact that Elijah “killed” the prophets of Baal in the sense that he ordered them to be put to death (as in NIV). Here again is another case where secondary causes were passed over as being unnecessary to state, for to attribute the action to the primary or ultimate cause could also involve secondary causes as well. Why Elijah chose the Kishon Valley instead of using Mount Carmel we may only guess. Perhaps he did not wish to defile the place of sacrifice where the Lord had sanctified himself in a miracle. The wicked crimes of these prophets of Baal demanded the death penalty (Deut 13:13–15; 17:2–5). Modern thought might consider this to be an overreaction and quite unnecessary, yet when one considers that because of these prophets many persons went into eternity forever cast away from the presence of God, the sanction is completely justified. Seen in this light, not only are the reaction of the people and the command of Elijah understandable; they are also according to the law of God. It is a serious matter to fool with the holiness of God and his truth. See also comment on NUMBERS 25:7–13. Spurgeon - “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let even one of them escape.” Elijah may be called the Iron Prophet; he was a stern and brave man who did not flinch to deliver his Master’s message at all hazards. The Sidonian queen, Jezebel, had issued her mandate that the prophets of Jehovah should be slain, a mandate which was all too well obeyed. No one could stand before this tigress until Elijah came and dared her malice to do its worst. That lone man, of heroic soul, stemmed the fearful torrent of idolatry and, like a rock in midcurrent, firmly stood his ground. He was more than a match for all the priests of the palace and the groves, even as one lion scatters a flock of sheep. He had proved the prophets of Baal to be liars and pretenders and then went on to the natural conclusion. The law of Israel was, “That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has urged rebellion against the LORD your God … to turn you from the way the LORD your God has commanded you to walk” (Dt 13:5). Therefore, the case being proven before all men, Elijah commanded the people to seize the impostors, and he himself purpled the Wadi Kishon with their blood. The man did his Master’s will thoroughly, never dreaming of compromise. Perhaps for this reason he, with but one other born of woman, ascended to heaven by an unusual road. The God who made him so grandly faithful had determined that he who passed through the world differently from others should pass out of it differently, and he who had in life flamed like a seraph should in a chariot of fire be carried to his reward. Spurgeon - No Quarter (full sermon) Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.’ 1 Kings 18:40 Some will say that they have a constitutional tendency to a sin, and therefore they cannot overcome it; they take out a licence to sin and reckon themselves clear though they indulge their evil propensity. Brethren, this will never do. Indulgences for sin issued by the Pope are now rejected; shall we write them out for ourselves? Is Christ the messenger of sin? I know that some persons feel they are excused in the use of bitter language occasionally, because they are provoked, but I find no such excuses in the Word of God. In no one passage do I find a permit for any sin or a furlough from any duty. Sin is sin in any case and in any man, and we are not to apologise for it, but to condemn it. It is pleaded by some that their father was passionate and they are passionate, and therefore it runs in their blood, but let them remember that the Lord must cleanse their blood, or they will die in their sin. Others will say that their constant discontent, moroseness, murmuring and tendency to quarrel with everybody, must be set down to their infirmity of body. Well, I am not their judge; but the word of the Lord judges them and declares that sin shall not have dominion over the believer. Does a sin easily beset us? We are doubly warned to lay it aside. More grace is needed and more grace may be had. Never suppose that God has given to you a licence for any sin, so that you may live in it as long as you please; no, believe that Jesus has come to save us from our sins. I have received no intimation from the Lord to deal delicately with any man’s sins, or to become an apologist for transgression. My message is that of Elijah—‘Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.’ Spurgeon - Morning and Evening - “Let not one of them escape.” —1 Kings 18:40 When the prophet Elijah had received the answer to his prayer, and the fire from heaven had consumed the sacrifice in the presence of all the people, he called upon the assembled Israelites to take the priests of Baal, and sternly cried, “Let not one of them escape.” He took them all down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. So must it be with our sins—they are all doomed, not one must be preserved. Our darling sin must die. Spare it not for its much crying. Strike, though it be as dear as an Isaac. Strike, for God struck at sin when it was laid upon his own Son. With stern unflinching purpose must you condemn to death that sin which was once the idol of your heart. Do you ask how you are to accomplish this? Jesus will be your power. You have grace to overcome sin given you in the covenant of grace; you have strength to win the victory in the crusade against inward lusts, because Christ Jesus has promised to be with you even unto the end. If you would triumph over darkness, set yourself in the presence of the Sun of Righteousness. There is no place so well adapted for the discovery of sin, and recovery from its power and guilt, as the immediate presence of God. Job never knew how to get rid of sin half so well as he did when his eye of faith rested upon God, and then he abhorred himself, and repented in dust and ashes. The fine gold of the Christian is oft becoming dim. We need the sacred fire to consume the dross. Let us fly to our God, he is a consuming fire; he will not consume our spirit, but our sins. Let the goodness of God excite us to a sacred jealousy, and to a holy revenge against those iniquities which are hateful in his sight. Go forth to battle with Amalek, in his strength, and utterly destroy the accursed crew: let not one of them escape. 1 Kings 18:41 Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.” Go up, eat and drink: Ec 9:7 Ac 27:34 a sound: 1Ki 18:1 17:1 ELIJAH'S EARS OF FAITH Now Elijah said to Ahab - Apparently Ahab was a spectator at the battle of his gods and the God of Elijah! “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.” - Elijah is giving 3 commands to the King of Israel! And he explains the command because the weather will soon change. Elijah hears with "ears of faith!" (there is no cloud, v43, so Elijah is also walking by faith, not sight) Spurgeon - Only the prophet’s ears heard that sound, but faith is quick of hearing. Though not a cloud relieved the burning sky, and no wind had yet arisen from the quarter whence the rain usually came, the prophet was strong in confidence, and did not hesitate to declare it. Faith never goes beyond her warrant when she declares that the Lord will fulfil his word. Olley has an interesting comment on what Ahab was to eat - He (Elijah) expectantly commands the king to go up, eat and drink (NRSV, NJPSV), that is, participate in the meal associated with the sacrifice, here signifying for Ahab a reaffirming of the covenant with Yahweh. (See The Message of Kings - Page 54) Alan Carr: His confidence was based on: – The Precious Word Of God – In 1 Kings 18:1, God told Elijah to confront Ahab and He would send the rain. Elijah did as he was commanded, and he knew the rain was coming. Elijah believed God when God said something. – The Perfect Will Of God – In 1 Kings 17:1, Elijah had been God’s instrument to bring the drought upon the nation. Elijah knew that the drought had been sent because of the idolatry of the people. The rain had stopped because the people were worshiping Baal instead of Jehovah. Now, the Baal prophets were dead, the people had repented and had returned to the Lord God. Elijah knew it was time for the rains to return. – The Prior Work Of God – Elijah knew that he could trust God to send the rain because of all that he had already seen the Lord do. Remember, he had already witnessed the faithfulness of God at the brook, in the barrel, with the boy, in the bull and over Baal. He has seen the Lord work many miracles before and there was no reason to think that God could not continue to move in power and glory. James Smith - ELIJAH, THE INTERCESSOR 1 Kings 18:41–46 “Surely, too, some way He is the better of my love! I’ll believe His very eye would never sparkle thus, Had I not prayed for him this long, long while.” —BROWNING. The falling of the fire of the Lord from Heaven, and the cutting off of the prophets of Baal, had effectually arrested the rising flood-tide of idolatry that threatened to overwhelm the whole land. Now that the people were on their faces confessing that “the Lord He is God” (1 Kings 18:39) showers of blessing are at hand. The quick ear of the man of God is the first to hear the “sound of abundance of rain.” The heavens will soon be opened to pour out its treasures upon thirsty souls when they bow in humble confession before Him (Isa. 44:3). It was a welcomed Gospel that Elijah preached to Ahab when he said, “Get thee up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of abundance of rain.” There are those to whom times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord mean nothing more than eating and drinking—personal enjoyment. It was far otherwise with Elijah. To him the sound of coming blessing was an urgent call to prayer. He— I. Prayed Believingly. He heard the “sound of abundance of rain” (1 Kings 18:41). The sound may have been that of the assuring promise of God ringing in his soul (v. 1). So faith cometh by such hearing. The secret of a bold, courageous life lies in the hearing of faith. When the ear of faith is dull, the feet of service will be tardy and the tongue of testimony will stammer. To prevail in prayer, “hear ye the Word of the Lord.” II. Prayed Humbly. “He cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees” (v. 42). The believer who is the boldest before men will be the humblest before God. To cast ourselves down is the best way of preparing ourselves for the fulfilment of the promise of God. The greatest in the kingdom of Heaven may be the littlest in the eyes of men (Matt. 18:4). The greatest of all masters was the humblest of all servants. It was the man who could not lift up his face that received the benediction of God (Luke 18:13). III. Prayed Perseveringly. “There is nothing. And he said, Go again” (1 Kings 18:43). Elijah had heard the sound of a coming abundance, but his servant could see nothing. It is not easy seeing that which as yet can only be apprehended by faith. But although nothing could be seen that did in no way discourage the prophet, he said, “Go again, seven times.” He had the sure Word of God’s promise, and he kept believing and pleading although appearances were all against him. Like Jacob, he will not let go till the blessing come (Gen. 32:26). Elijah walked by faith, while his servant walked by sight. The importunate pleadings of faith will never be sent empty away (Luke 18). IV. Prayed Definitely. He prayed for rain (James 5:17, 18). This mighty man of God seemed never to have more than one arrow in his quiver at a time. Prevailing prayers have always been definite. David said, “In the morning will I direct (set in order an arrow in the bow) my prayer unto Thee, and will look up,” confidently expecting the answer (Psa. 5:3). The general prayer is generally powerless. Who would come into the presence of an earthly king with a string of generalities, not one of which was immediately wanted or expected? Prayer meetings are often strangled to death by the numberless petitions offered which are never expected to be answered. As a rule the prayer that prevails with God and is answered by floods of blessing springs out of some definite promise of God, received by faith, and perseveringly pleaded before His throne of grace (Ezek. 36:37). V. Prayed Successfully. “Behold there ariseth a little cloud, … and there was a great rain” (1 Kings 18:44, 45). Let us take heed when the little cloud appears that we do not despise the day of small things (Zech. 4:10). God’s “little cloud” can be made broad enough to cover the whole sky and to meet all our need. The few loaves and small fishes are sufficient in His hands to satisfy the cravings of a multitude. Elijah asked, believing that he would receive, and he did have (Mark 11:24), and God was glorified in so answering. “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). Seeing that it is the chief desire of the Son to glorify the Father in answering our prayers, surely this is one of the most powerful of all reasons why we should “ask in prayer, believing that we shall receive” (Matt. 21:22). Henry Blackaby - Spiritual Persistence Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.”—1 Kings 18:41 Success can distract you as you seek to follow God's will. Elijah's primary assignment was to announce when a drought would begin and end (1 Kings 17:1). God had told him to proclaim to king Ahab that the drought was an act of judgment upon a people who worshiped idols rather than God. In the middle of Elijah's assignment, a spectacular thing happened. Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal and called fire down from heaven, putting hundreds of priests of Baal to death. This was one of the most awesome displays of God's power recorded in Scripture. Elijah could easily have focused strictly on that event. Fire falling from heaven is much more spectacular than a rainstorm! When something spectacular happens, we can easily be sidetracked. If Elijah lived today, he might have begun a “Calling Down Fire from Heaven” ministry! The dramatic is far more appealing to us than obedience to the mundane. Destroying hundreds of Baal's prophets would appear to be a climactic victory for any prophet of God. Yet Elijah persisted in his assignment. He announced the coming rain. This had been his primary message, and he delivered it. If you aren't careful, you may become so distracted by the successes you experience that you never complete what God originally assigned you to do. Will your success today cause you to disobey tomorrow? James Smith - FAITH 1. The Ear of Faith, 1 Kings 18:41 2. The Eye of Faith, 2 Kings 6:17. 3. The Feet of Faith, Genesis 5:24. 4. The Hand of Faith, Acts 3:7. 5. The Heart of Faith, Rom. 10:10. 1 Kings 18:42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees. Elijah: 1Ki 18:19 Mt 14:23 Lu 6:12 Ac 10:9 he crouched down on the earth Ge 24:52 Jos 7:6 2Sa 12:16 Da 9:3 Mk 14:35 Jas 5:16-18 put his face: 1Ki 19:13 Ezr 9:6 Ps 89:7 Isa 6:2 38:2 Da 9:7 ONE WENT TO EAT ANOTHER UP TO PRAY So Ahab went up to eat and drink - Think about this for a moment. All the prophets of Baal have been killed. One would think Ahab would not have much of an appetite knowing that he would have to face the wrath of Jezebel with this horrible news! (See Olley's comment on 1Ki 18:41) But - Term of contrast, contrasting the actions of a godless king and the man of God! The contrast could not be more stark! Elijah went up to the top of Carmel - The top of Carmel was apparently higher than the location of the altars. Spurgeon - Different men go to different engagements. Ahab to eat and drink, and Elijah to wrestle and prevail with his God. And he crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees - What was Elijah doing? Clearly he was praying for rain just as he had told King Ahab in 1Ki 17:1. The man who is to take a high place before his fellows must take a low place before his God. -- F B Meyer
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Spurgeon - True faith can wait; her importunity gathers strength from her Lord’s delays, and her expectation remains still on its watch-tower. It is a brave thing to be able to say, “Go again seven times. NET NOTE - points out that "Several times in this chapter those addressed by Elijah obey his orders. In 1Ki 18:20 and 1Ki 18:42 Ahab does as instructed, in 1Ki 18:26 and 1Ki 18:28 the prophets follow Elijah’s advice, and in 1Ki 1830, 34, 40, 43 the people and servants do as they are told. By juxtaposing Elijah’s commands with accounts of those commands being obeyed, the narrator emphasizes the authority of the LORD’s prophet." Matthew
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Spurgeon - Morning and Evening - “Go again seven times.”—1 Kings 18:43 Success is certain when the Lord has promised it. Although you may have pleaded month after month without evidence of answer, it is not possible that the Lord should be deaf when his people are earnest in a matter which concerns his glory. The prophet on the top of Carmel continued to wrestle with God, and never for a moment gave way to a fear that he should be non-suited in Jehovah’s courts. Six times the servant returned, but on each occasion no word was spoken but “Go again.” We must not dream of unbelief, but hold to our faith even to seventy times seven. Faith sends expectant hope to look from Carmel’s brow, and if nothing is beheld, she sends again and again. So far from being crushed by repeated disappointment, faith is animated to plead more fervently with her God. She is humbled, but not abashed: her groans are deeper, and her sighings more vehement, but she never relaxes her hold or stays her hand. It would be more agreeable to flesh and blood to have a speedy answer, but believing souls have learned to be submissive, and to find it good to wait for as well as upon the Lord. Delayed answers often set the heart searching itself, and so lead to contrition and spiritual reformation: deadly blows are thus struck at our corruption, and the chambers of imagery are cleansed. The great danger is lest men should faint, and miss the blessing. Reader, do not fall into that sin, but continue in prayer and watching. At last the little cloud was seen, the sure forerunner of torrents of rain, and even so with you, the token for good shall surely be given, and you shall rise as a prevailing prince to enjoy the mercy you have sought. Elijah was a man of like passions with us: his power with God did not lie in his own merits. If his believing prayer availed so much, why not yours? Plead the precious blood with unceasing importunity, and it shall be with you according to your desire. 1 Kings 18:44 It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’” a cloud as small: Job 8:7 Zec 4:10 Prepare: 1Sa 6:7,10 Mic 1:13 THE SEVENTH LOOK REVEALS A SMALL CLOUD It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’” Elijah has been praying and on the seventh time God answers. Tony Merida says "let’s collect some application from this prayer warrior, Elijah. We have already noted some from his “fire prayer.” We need to (1) have a relationship with the living God, (2) seek the glory of God, and (3) pray for rebels to turn to God. Now, in verses 41–46, we may add the need to (4) get alone with God, (5) pray with the promises of God, and (6) keep on asking to receive from God....Finally, he persists in prayer until the rain falls, reminding us of Jesus’ words, “Keep asking” (Matt 7:7–10). Pray persistently! Paul says to pray constantly (1 Thess 5:17). Don’t stop praying for your lost friend or family member. Don’t stop praying for the fire of revival to fall on your city. Don’t stop praying for God to grant you wisdom, boldness, and faith. Sometimes God answers immediately, but often we must persist in prayer until we see the clouds forming. (See Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings) TSK - {Kekaph ish,} "like the hollow of a man's hand;" in the form of a hand bent, the concave side downmost. Mr. Bruce mentions a similar cloud in Abyssinia, as attending the inundation of the Nile. "Every morning, about nine, a small cloud, not above four feet broad, appears in the east, whirling violently round, as if upon an axis; but arrived near the zenith, it first abates its motion, then loses its form, and extends itself greatly, and seems to call up vapours from all opposite quarters. These clouds having attained nearly the same height, rush against each other with great violence, and put me always in mind of Elijah foretelling rain on Mount Carmel." David
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Spurgeon has an interesting note - To shew his loyalty, he acted as a running footman. Stern as he was in his obedience to Jehovah, he was willing to serve the king if the king would serve the Lord. Philip Ryken makes an interesting observation - In the ancient Near East, kings were almost always preceded by a company of foot servants to herald their approach. To run ahead of a royal person, therefore, was to be subservient to him.....Elijah submitted himself to the governing authority of King Ahab by running ahead of him to Jezreel. His zeal for the King of kings demanded respect for the king of Israel. This shows that for all his boldness, Elijah was a man of deep humility. Indeed, these two virtues are closely related: only the person who is humble before God has the courage to stand up for God in a hostile world. (1 Kings- digital edition or hardbound copy 1 Kings - Reformed Expository Commentary) Warren
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Spurgeon - In driving piles, a machine is used by which a huge weight is lifted up and then made to fall upon the head of the pile. Of course the higher the weight is lifted the more powerful is the blow which it gives when it descends. Now, if we would tell upon our age and come down upon society with ponderous blows, we must see to it that we are uplifted as near to God as possible. All our power will depend upon the elevation of our spirits. Prayer, meditation, devotion, communion, are like a windlass to wind us up aloft: it is not lost time which we spend in such sacred exercises, for we are thus accumulating force, so that when we come down to our actual labor for God, we shall descend with an energy unknown to those to whom communion is unknown.