1 Kings 19

1 Kings 19:19-21

Elijah, who late appeared so triumphant, is here, 1. Obliged to fire for his life, ver. 1—3. 2. God, his covenant God, meets and strengthens him, (1.) With food, ver. 4—8. (2.) With his converse and encouragement, ver. 9—18. 3. Elijah is called, ver. 19—21.

1. AND Ahab told Jezebel ‘all that Elijah had done: and withal, how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, ‘So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the God of one of them,’ by to morrow about this time. 3. And when he saw that, ‘he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-theba, which belonged to Judah, and left his servant there. 4. ¶ But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a juniper-tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough, now, O LORD, ’take away my life: for I am not

not better than my fathers. 5. And as he lay and flept under a juniper-tree, behold then, an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6. And he looked, and behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruie of water at his head; and he did eat, and drink, and said him down again. 7. And the angel of the LORD come again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, because the journey it too great for thee. 8. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat: forty days and forty nights, unto Horeb the mount of God.

9. And Elijah entered Jezebel yesterday as in triumph; today is driven from thence in disgrace, and flies for his life: so changeable is this vain world!

10. Hardened Ahab relates to Jezebel the late transfections, and fails not to inform her of the death of her prophets: that though he dared not himself, for fear of the people, inter Elijah, he might incenfe her, whose furious passions would not fail to see at the tidings. Note, (1.) The wickedness to which we lulligate others, we are as chargeable with, as if ourselves had committed it.

11. Jezebel enraged, denounces vengeance on Elijah, and swears by her gods his death by to-morrow at that time: either really intending it, and God’s Providence overcutting her, that he might have time to escape; or more probably the threatened high, to frighten him from her court, where his pretence could not but be dreaded, from the last specimen of his zeal. Note, (1.) Profaneerפי in a woman is doubly shocking. (2.) The pretence of a good man is a burdensome restraint on the wicked, and they want ever to get him out of the way.

12. Elijah, who had not been intimidated by kings, priests, or people united, now trembles in the thr. ats of a woman, and without waiting God’s orders, feeks to save himself by flight; and as if he heard Jezebel’s voice behind him, even at Beer-theba, though out of the territories of Ahab, cannot think himself safe, but hides himself a day’s journey in the wilderness; deferring thus his poll, when such he was wanted to carry on that reformation which was begun. Note, (1.) The through in faith, when left for a moment to themselves, turn towards. (2.) Good men at times may be unwilling and afraid to die. (3.) We ought never to desert the path of duty, though it zeal us through the valley of the shadow of death.

13. Fatigued with his journey, and impatient under his burdens, he grew weary of life, which he had fled so far to save: and though unwilling to die by the hand of Jezebel, prays to die there by the hand of the Lord. He presumes his usefulness at an end, as not better than his fathers, desires his dismissal, and thinks he has lived long enough. Note, (1.) Many impatiently with for death that would with their words unfaith, if God granted their requels. (2.) However dark Providences appear, we must not despair; we know not what farther work God may have to do by us. (3.) Though to desire to be with Christ is laudable, to be weary of our warfare is infiel.

14. Groved and weary, fleep stole upon his eyelids; and under a juniper-tree he lay down, careless whither ever he awoke again. But God, kinder to him than he deserved, awakes him him by an angel; and there he sees a table spread for his refreshment, and a bright spirit his attendant. Having fatued his hungry, and again compoled himself to sleep, he is again called upon to rise and eat, because the journey was great to which God called him, even to Horeb. Thither in the strength of this repall he travels; and during forty days and nights, decided no other refreshment. Note, (1.) How much is God better to his children than their frowardness defenses. He fuppets them and feeds them, even in this wilderness; and when they are ready to despair, he is at hand to succour and save them. (2.) They who are travelling to Horeb, the mount of God in glory, will find strength uninfired to them for their journey, and meat to eat which the world knoweth not of. (3.) The meanest child of God is more nobly attended than the kings of the earth; angelic spirits miniter continually to the heirs of salvation.

15. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, and he said unto him, What doft thou here, Elijah? 10. And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hofts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and than thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only am left, and they seek my life, to take it away. 11. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount, before the LORD. And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and throng wind rest the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD: but the LORD tear not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake: but the LORD tear not in the earth-

quake: 12. And after the earthquake a fire: but the LORD tear not in the fire: and after the fire, a still small voice. 13. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood at the entering in of the cave: and behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doft thou here, Elijah? 14. And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hofts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and than thy prophets with the sword: and I, even I only am left, and they seek my life, to take it away. 15. And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou cometh, I amoint Hazael in his king over Syria, 16. And I shun the son of Nirethi: that thou amoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, shalt thou amoint to be prophet in thy room. 17. And it shall come to pass, dear him that escapeth the sword of Hazael, shall Jehu say: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu, shall Elisha say. 18. Yet I have left me down thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

9. 9—18. We have here Elijah lodged in a cave, at the foot of mount Bihad, or Horeb: either taking refuge there as a place of safety, or hoping there to meet God, where he had once so eminently manifested his glory.

10. God there appears to him, to reprove and to encourage him: What doft thou here in the Divine enquiry: where he was buried from whistlesh, and through coward, that, alled so unlike the zealous Elijah. Note, (1.) Whom God loves, he rebukes. (2.) When we step out of the way of duty, we should hear this voice of God indorsing us, Israel and now ever! (3.) Wherever God’s people are driven, no place can exclude his gracious manifestations.

11. He answers the enquiry, by intimating the cause of his flight. His zeal for God against the prophets of Baal, had exasperated Jezebel to take away his life; and the hundred impenitence of the people, who had renounced God’s covenant, deserted his worship with infalt against his altars, and shun the few faithful which remained, made him despair of success, whilst he had reason to fear they would readily join their queen, in conspiring his death, now left alone, without so much as one to support or countenance him. Note, (1.) We are apt to be discouraged under want of success, as if the sufficiency of the power was of ourselves, and not of God. (2.) Woe to that people, against whom their rejected ministers turn accedes of their obstinacy. (3.) They who would be faithful to God in bad days, must put their lives in their hand; and as they dare speak for God, he ready to die for him.

12. God bids him come forth from the cave, and he will meet him in the mount, and make his glory pass before him. The prophet obey, and God appears. Before him went the furious whirlwind, reading the rocks, and calling down the mountains, the trembling earth shook with reverence at his approach, and the fierce devouring flames bespeak his glorious pretence. A still small voice succeeded, and now the prophet prepares the present Deity. Wrapped in his mantle, his face is hid, ashamed, afraid to look upon God, yet standing in the mouth of the cave, attentive to the words of the eternal Jezabah. Note, (1.) Though God is terrible to his enemies as a consuming sea, his voice is malady and love in the children of his grace; and to them he says, levy to me to me. (2.) When we appear before a holy God, shame may well cover our face. (3.) The law, like this tempel, breaks the flurry house of man; but it is the office of the blessed gospel, in gentle accents, so-footh the broken heart, and today, with kind words of peace and pardon, to bind up the wounded spirit.

13. God speaks, and Elijah answers as before, 9. 9—11. In reply to which, God informs him, 1. That Israel shall not go unpunished, and commissions him to amoint Hazael king of Syria, that he might vex them without; and Jehu king of Israel, that he might revenge God’s quarrel on Ahab’s wicked hoole within; and not to leave him solitary, appoint him to amoint Elisha for his successful and compassion; the sword of whose mouth should finite them deep as the sword of Hazael and Jehu; and by him, as it appears, both those kings were appointed, and Jehu aminted; unless we suppose this was done twice: See 3 Kings 10. 1—3. Note, (1.) Though we may think God shalt in returning his own and his forwards quarrels, yet he will avenge them, and that speedily. (2.) God will not want hands to do his work: we shall not think the cause will die with us: if he speak but the word, great shall be the company of the preachers. 2. God affirms him he is mistaken in his calculations, and lest him know for his comfort, that there were yet fewer thousand faithful men in Israel, who had not yet bowed the knee to Baal. Note, (1.) In times of the greatest

apostacy, Babacchad and

spoillary; God hath yet a chosen remnant, who refuse to conform to the wickedness around them. (2.) The faithful in every kingdom are but few. (3.) Whoever have a place in that distinguished little flock, owe it to the Sovereign grace of God. (4.) Though the few chosen seem lost amidst the tares that cover them, God fees and knows how at last to make the depastation. (5.) When he shall have collected his hints together, though few in any place or age, they will be a great multitude, whom no man can number. (6.) It becomes us to judge charitably, least we exclude those from heaven, whom God hath not excluded.

19. ¶ So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, ‘who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20. And ‘he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, ‘Let me, I pray thee, kills my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again; for what have I done to thee? 21. And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen: and ‘gave unto the people, and they did eat: then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

Elijah immediately proceeds to execute a part of his commission, and comes to Abel-Moholah, where Elisha dwelt. He found him in the field ploughing; and approaching him, threw the skirt of his mantle on him, in token of his taking him under his tuition: when instantly the Spirit of God so effectually touched his heart, that he left the oxen, and followed Elijah. He begged leave for a moment to take leave of his family; and Elijah had him go back again, permitting that office of respect, or willing to try the sheafiness of his heart. Thereupon he returned, took leave of his friends, made a feast for joy, at the honour to which he was called; and cheerfully leaving all behind, followed his mailor, to learn from his instructions, and minister to him as his servant, 2 Kings iii. 2. Note, (1.) The calls of Divine grace are like this of Elisha. Sovereign without our desire or defeat; accepted when we were engaged in other pursuits; powerful, so that we could not resist the mighty impulse; pleasing, making us happy in the present favour of God, and the hopes of future glory; permanent, enabling us with persevering adherence to cleave to Jesus our mother, leaving all for his sake, to live and die faithfully his, and his alone. Lord cast thus thy skirt of love over my soul! (2.) When we are employed in honest industry in the way of our duty, we are in the way of God’s blessing. (3.) They will most probably succeed them in zeal and usefulness, who being brought up under aged and experienced ministers, have drank in their spirit.