1 Kings 18

1 Kings 18:21-40

Elijah is commanded to emerge from his objectivity, ver. 1. And her upon, 1. By Obadiah he acquaints Abab of his coming, ver. 2—16. 2. He meets Abab, and expresses him, ver. 17—20. 3. Summons a general assembly of Israel, where the famous trial between God and Abab is decided, ver. 21—39. 4. The prophets of Baal state, ver. 40. 5. The return of rum at Elijah’s word, ver. 41—46.

1. AND it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go thwe thyself unto Abab; and I will send rain upon the earth. 2. And Elijah went to thwe himself unto Abab; and there was a fore famine in Samaria. 3. And Abab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house: (now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: 4. For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and his them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) 5. And Abab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grafs to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beaths. 6. So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Abab went now way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. 7. And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him; and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah? 8. And he answered him, I am: go tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. 9. And he said, ‘What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Abab to say me? 10. As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is now there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. 11. And now thou sayeth, Go tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. 12. And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and

Britain God Baal, ’let not one of them escape: and they took them, and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kifson, and ‘flew them there.

How great does Elijah appear, alone supporting the cause of God against an idolatrous king, a wicked people, and the multitude of false prophets?

1. With zeal he reproves their inconsistency and infidelity, p. 21. As there can be but one self-excitant, infinitive, eternal Being, their halting between God and Baal proved their wavering minds, and the attempt to reconcile their incompatible favours evidenced their folly. Note, (1.) Enfortial notions in religion have a direct tendency to lead us to unfound practices. (2.) There is no reconciling Christ and Belial, the love of God, and the love of the world: the very attempt is a proof of an upliftant heart.

2. As conviction sealed up their lips, he condescends, (being authorized from God so to do) to make them a fair proposal to try the merits of the cause. Though multitudes and authority, king, priests, and people, were against him, alone he offers to enter the lifts on God’s behalf, and rests the issue of the trial on an answer of fire from heaven, to consume the sacrifice he proposed. Let him be acknowledged the true God, whose power thus appeared. Note, God’s ministers must not be discouraged at seeing all the world united against them. If God be on their side, that is enough to embolden them.

3. The people approved the proposal, and Baal’s prophets either dared not reject it, left they should appear deceivers, or hoped to the effect, if not to prevail in the council, yet to be on a level with their adversary, and that the shame of the disappointment would then fall heaviest upon him. Note, God extangle the wise in their own craftiness, and the hope of the hypocrite perilous.

4. Elijah, because they were many, gives them the preference in the trial; let them begin their sacrifice, but put no fire under it. They prepare their bullocks, lay at on the altar, and with loud calls invoke the presence of their deity till noon. Baal probably represented the sun, and there his burning rays at noon, they hoped some beam would kindle up the flame: but when past the meridian, mad with vexation, they leaped on the altar, and with knives and lancets wounding themselves, sought by their blood to render their deity propitious to their prayers; whilst Elijah, with high disdain and ridicule, mocked at their folly in these mad gestures and cries, as if their god was engaged in business, on a journey, or asleep, and needed to be awakened. Baal, deaf as his image, paid no regard to their prayers, or praises, or prophetic fury, and left his votaries covered with confusion and despair. Note, (1.) The corporal secretion of popecy are like the wounds of Baal’s prophets, not of any value in the sight of God, but merely to the satisfying the pride of the fuddy mind, on the mortification of the body, See Col. xi. 23. (2.) Nothing will undeceive those whom God hath given over to Strong delusion: they have no sense to say, Is there not a fix in my right hand?

5. It is now Elijah’s turn to make the effacy; and the calmness and dignity of his procedure bespeak his confidence of success. An ancient altar was there, on which sacrifice had been offered before the temple was built, but now either decreed by time, or thrown down by the idolatrous worshippers of Baal. This he repairs with twelve flames, according to the number of the sons of Jacob, whose name God had altered into Israel, on his prevailing prayer; and he doubted not the same power with God would attend his own. He calls the people to draw near, and having prepared his sacrifice, to prevent the suspicion of delusion, he bids them pour upon it four barrels of water there several times, till the trench he had dug around the altar was filled. Then, at the time when the evening sacrifice at Jerusalem was offering, he drew near the altar, and with holy awe, yet humble boldness, addresses his prayer to the covenant God of their fathers, intreating him to appear for the magnifying his own great name, for the conviction of the people, and their conviction from idolatry; as well as to vindicate his prophecies in the same character, and prove his divine mission. In fact the devouring fire descends, to the astonishment of the beholding multitude, devours the sacrifice and wood; yet, it burns the very waters dry, and consumes the stones of the altar, even to the dust. Note, (1.) Great is the power of effectual prayer: if it brings not the visible fire from heaven, it will fall draw down the fire of love, and enable us to offer that best sacrifice, a flaming heart, to God. (2.) The conviction of God’s people is among the deepest concerns which lies on a faithful minister’s heart. (3.) When the fire of God’s wrath fell on Jesus, the luster’s sacrifice, then was the impulse of his Dead pardoned, and that covenant of peace established, wherein God engaged to turn back their rebellious hearts again unto himself.

6. Vanquished by such evidence, the people in adoration fall on their fears, as confounded at their idolatry and confiding now the only true God: but alas! the change was of their continuance. Note, Miracles may extort confessions, but cannot convert the soul.

7. Whilst they are in this good mood, Elijah improves the conviction for the execution of just vengeance on the lying prophets of Baal; and therefore, according to the law, Deut. xiii. 1—11. orders them instantly to be seized and executed, which Ahab dared not object to, and the people, incensed against them, eagerly perform at the brook Kifson; hoping by their blood, who had deceived them, to obtain that rain which their idolatry had withheld. Note, The most fearful vengeance, if not in time, yet certainly in eternity, will overtake every lying prophet.

8. ¶ And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink, for there is a found of abundance of rain. 42. So Ahab went up to eat and to drink, and Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, and ‘he call himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43. And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, ‘Go again seven times. 44. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there arisen’d a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain flop thee not. 45. And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and ’there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 46. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and ‘he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab, to the entrance of Jezreel.

1 Kings 18:41-46

Execution being performed on the deceivers, and the people, to appearance, renouncing their idolatry, God returns in mercy to bless them.

1. Elijah fortrating the approaching rain, defies Ahab to take some refreshment, and hasten home. Probably the fullness of that day’s work had kept him falling till evening. He himself retires to the top of the mount, as lawfully abatement to pray for the mercy which he knew God would be flow. Note, (1.) Secret retirement with God is especially needful for those who are called to much public excretes. (2.) The confidence that God will be flow is, must not make us the less solicitous to ask the blessing at his hands.

2. Whilst Elijah prayed, his servant is sent to look out and bring him tidings, whether any riding clouds appeared from the sea, which from the top of Carmel was full in his view. Six times he returned, and saw nothing. Elijah bids him go again, whilst, persevering in importunate prayer, he knew at last he should prevail. A little cloud now appears, that quickly spread over the sky, and portended the descending rain. Note, (1.) We must not faint, because we do not instantly receive, but persevere in prayer, and we shall not be disappointed. (2.) Great events arise from small beginnings: the work of grace in the heart at first is like this little cloud, begins perhaps by a casual word dropped without delight, but by and by over-spreads all the faculties of the body and soul.

3. Elijah hailens Ahab to his chariot, left the rain overtake him, which now the louring clouds portended near; and tho’ he deserved the honour of a place in it, he is content, as the humblest servant of his prince, to run before it, God strengthening him in his body, and giving him courage in his soul, for the work yet before him. Note, (1.) They who are most distinguished of God, and with greatest boldness are called to re-buke men’s fins, most shew their humility exemplary at their zeal, and pay every due respect to men’s perilous. (2.) When God strengthens us, then we shall run, and not be weary.