What would be some verses from the Bible to save a marriage? Click on the different category headings to find out more. 5:3). Maybe he is sleeping so you will have to wake him! 28The prophets prayed louder, cutting themselves with swords and spears until their blood flowed, which was the way they worshiped. The Baalites are forced to give up their cause, and now it is Elijah's turn to produce his. Now in their experiment observe. He that can give fire can give rain; see Matthew 9:2; Matthew 9:6. Why didnt Abraham bargain with God when it came to Isaac being offered as a burnt offering like he did when it came to Sodom and Gomorrah? We may request cookies to be set on your device. When Baals people died, it was Elijah who raised them to life (v. 22). It was strange that so wicked a man as Ahab would prefer him to it and continue him in it; certainly it was because he was a man of celebrated honesty, industry, and ingenuity, and one in whom he could repose a confidence, whose eyes he could trust as much as his own, as appears here, 1 Kings 18:5; 1 Kings 18:5. Start FREE. If Ahab had paid the respect to Elijah that he deserved he would have taken him into his chariot, as the eunuch did Philip, that he might honour him before the elders of Israel, and confer with him further about the reformation of the kingdom. 19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. 45After a short time the sky was covered with dark clouds. That Elijah could have made such a run is assured in the Arab runners could easily cover one hundred miles in two days. (Patterson and Austel), 2018 David Guzik No distribution beyond personal use without permission. It was great condescension in God that he would suffer so plain a case to be disputed, and would permit Baal to be a competitor with him; but thus God would have every mouth to be stopped and all flesh to become silent before him. Now Elijah shows them the absurdity of this. 11Now you want me to go to my master and tell him, Elijah is here? V. Elijah hereupon hastened Ahab home, and attended him himself. He knew, by the Spirit, where to meet him, and we are here told what passed between them. They just added Baal worship to their insurance policy. This he calls (1 Kings 18:21; 1 Kings 18:21) halting between two opinions, or thoughts. While Baal worshipers went hungry during the drought, God fed Elijah meat and bread delivered to him daily by carrier ravens (see v. 6). 17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? If we, in sincerity, offer our hearts to God, he will, by his grace, kindle a holy fire in them. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is. Go tell your master that I am here., 9Then Obadiah said, What wrong have I done for you to hand me over to Ahab like this? Behold the bullock and the wood; but where is the fire?Genesis 22:7; Genesis 22:8. Probably on that mountain they had an eminent high place, where formerly the pure worship of God had been kept up as well as it could be any where but at Jerusalem. But when we worship the idol of money, when our lives are oriented primarily toward earning, getting, and keeping, we become deformed, reflecting not the image of Yahweh, Lord of heaven and earth, but money, the god of me and mine. Baals 450 prophets worked themselves into a frenzy, cutting themselves, dancing, and chanting to their god. Why did the prophets of Baal cut themselves (1 Kings 18:28) Context: 1 Kings 18:27-28 New International Version (NIV) 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. Why did king Ahab have to die? ), St. Joseph New Catholic Version New Testament. Idols could do neither good nor evil. Two things he pleads here:-- (1.) The execution he did upon the prophets of Baal, 1 Kings 18:40. If, in this trial, they could but bring it to a drawn battle, their other advantages would give them the victory. But there was no voice. The god who answers by setting fire to his wood is the true God.. He cast himself down on his knees upon the earth, in token of humility, reverence, and importunity, and put his face between his knees (that is, bowed his head so low that it touched his knees), thus abasing himself in the sense of his own meanness now that God had thus honoured him. This writing has come about a few days after The Test - 2002 and the Latter Rain, and adds greater clarity to what can be expected in the latter rain. He then solemnly addressed himself to God by prayer before his altar, humbly beseeching him to turn to ashes his burnt-offering (as the phrase is, Psalms 20:3), and to testify his acceptance of it. Those that procure God's judgments do the mischief, not he that merely foretels them and gives warning of them, that the nation may repent and prevent them. 32Elijah used these stones to rebuild the altar in honor of the Lord. In a truly horrific passage, Jeremiah writes that our worship of idols consumes not only our flocks and herds but also our sons and daughters (Jer. If Jehovah be the true God, Baal is a false God, to whom these Israelites had revolted, and seduced others to the worship of him; and therefore, by the express law of God, they were to be put to death, Deuteronomy 13:1-11. When Jezebel was killing the Lords prophets, I hid a hundred of them, fifty in one cave and fifty in another. III. As one having authority immediately from the King of kings, he ordered a convention of the states to be forthwith summoned to meet at Mount Carmel, where there had been an altar built to God, 1 Kings 18:30; 1 Kings 18:30. (Obadiah was a true follower of the Lord. God never required his worshippers thus to honour him; but the service of the devil, though in some instances it pleases and pampers the body, yet in other things it is really cruel to it, as in envy and drunkenness. We find that the beast which deceived the world does it. They got their sacrifices ready; and we may well imagine what a noise 450 men made, when they cried as one man, and with all their might, O Baal! 1416). But the primary attraction to Baal wasnt a pretty statue; it was an economic promise. This was not as a morning cloud, which passes away (though Israel's goodness was so), but one that produced a plentiful rain (Psalms 68:9), and an earnest of more. 30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. As for why the worship of Baal and Asherah specifically was such a problem for Israel, there are several reasons we can cite: first, the worship of Baal and Asherah held the allure of illicit sex, since the religion involved ritual prostitution. We are made in the image of this generous King, wired to reflect his generosity to the rest of creation. 3King Ahab sent for Obadiah, who was in charge of the kings palace. He himself retired to pray (for though God had promised rain, he must ask it, Zechariah 10:1), and to give thanks for God's answer by fire, now hoping for an answer by water. Does God gives us political leaders or do we vote them by choice? "Shout louder!" he said. How did the prophets tithe and to whom? Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Idols had always threatened to steal the love, trust, and service God deserves and demands.By equating greed with idolatry, Paul provocatively told the church they didnt have to go into a rival temple to worship another god. 29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. There he set himself, as it were, upon his watch-tower, like the prophet, Habakkuk 2:1. To win his people back, God demonstrated his power and mocked Baal along the way. He that will thrive must rise betimes. However, it is put to this experiment, "Let each side prepare a sacrifice, and pray to its God, and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God; if neither shall thus answer, let the people turn Atheists; if both, let them continue to halt between two." 1 Kings 18:40. 9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? The execution he did upon the prophets of Baal, 1 Kings 18:40. Elijah told him to go and look again. This great good man used his power for the protection of God's prophets. But every bit of ourselves we give to our stuff we snatch away from our true King. Elijah was no priest, nor were his attendants Levites. 26So they took the bull that was given to them and prepared it. There he would be alone. We become increasingly committed to a lifestyle of an abundance of possessions. [2.] (28-29) The prophets of Baal work harder at their prayer. Maybe we can find enough grass to keep our horses and mules alive and not have to kill our animals. 6So each one chose a part of the country to search; Ahab went in one direction and Obadiah in another. Log in, Barton W. Stone: The Preachers Are Working While the People Are Gazing, Thoughts on the Asbury Revival (02.23.23), The Serious Sin of Proselytism (02.16.23), Christians Becoming a Minority Group in America (02.02.23), Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. 2 And Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab. In the book of Acts, we read a most interesting and revealing number. He takes it for granted that Elijah would again withdraw (1 Kings 18:12; 1 Kings 18:12): The Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee (as it is likely he had done sometimes, when Ahab thought he had been sure of him) whither I know not. His new conquest will be lost if he do not look about him quickly." 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? Article Images Copyright , The Real Reason Israel Worshiped Baal (It Wasn't Just a Pretty Statue), Michael Rhodes, Robby Holt, and Brian Fikkert. He is there in the presence of Ahab, the 450 prophets of Baal, 400 prophets of the groves and a company of people from all Israel. We are fairly put to our choice whom we will serve,Joshua 24:15. 43Then Elijah said to his servant, Go and look toward the sea.. Ahab got in his chariot and started back to Jezreel. We may suppose it was a great surprise to Ahab to hear that Elijah, whom he had so long sought and not found, was now found without seeking. Bread and water were now scarce commodities, yet Obadiah will find a competence of both for God's prophets, to keep them alive for service hereafter, though now they were laid aside. I. Transfers the title of honour he gave him to Ahab: "Call him thy lord, not me;" that is a fitter title for a prince than for a prophet, who seeks not honour from men. I will prepare the other bull, putting the meat on the wood but not setting fire to it. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. Is it True for Christians That 'Once Saved, Always Saved'? 2. But, since Ahab invites him not to ride with him, he will run before him (1 Kings 18:46; 1 Kings 18:46) as one of his footmen, that he may not seem to be lifted up with the great honour God had put upon him or to abate in his civil respect to his prince, though he reproved him faithfully. Does the devil have power to make us sick? 1621), of rich men sent to hell for their failure to let go of their wealth for the sake of their neighbor (see Luke 16:1931), and of eternal judgment declared on the basis of ones willingness to share with those in need (Matt. It was strange that so good a man as Obadiah would accept of preferment in a court so addicted to idolatry and all manner of wickedness. Community answers are sorted based on votes. The sad state of Israel at this time, upon two accounts:--. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. Elijah is not the Achan: "I have not troubled Israel, have neither done them any wrong nor designed them any hurt." Tyrants and persecutors, in their passion, are often unreasonably outrageous, even towards their friends and confidants. 3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. "As long as God keeps bringing me stories that I can honor him with, to me, it doesn't matter what genre they . And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: 4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) Blessed are those that have not seen what they saw and yet have believed and been wrought upon by it more than those that saw it. Because our material possessions so often seduce us into worshiping them like gods, they pose possibly the preeminent threat to worshiping Jesus. And the people answered him not a word. Notice is hereby soon brought to Ahab that Elijah had sent him a challenge to meet him immediately at such a place, and Ahab accepts the challenge: He went to meet Elijah,1 Kings 18:16; 1 Kings 18:16. They explore six key biblical themes of worship, community, work, equity, creation care, and rest to dig into what the Gospel means for how we use our resources. Elijah swears by the Lord of hosts, who has all power in his hands, and is therefore able to protect his servants against all the powers of hell and earth. They could say nothing to justify themselves, and they would say nothing to condemn themselves, but, as people confounded, let him say what he would. But no voice was heard; Baal did not answer, and no one paid attention. He fitted up an altar. God will provide himself fire. 3. Elijah's God was neither talking nor pursuing, needed not to be either awakened or quickened; while he was yet speaking, the fire of the Lord fell, and not only, as at other times (Leviticus 9:24; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1) consumed the sacrifice and the wood, in token of God's acceptance of the offering, but licked up all the water in the trench, exhaling that, and drawing it up as a vapour, in order to the intended rain, which was to be the fruit of this sacrifice and prayer, more than the product of natural causes. No one answered; no one paid attention (v. 29 ESV). Elijah Kills the Prophets of Baal - During the third year without rain, the LORD spoke his word to Elijah: "Go and meet King Ahab, and I will soon send rain." So Elijah went to meet Ahab. II. 30Then Elijah said to all the people, Now come to me. So they gathered around him, and Elijah rebuilt the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. Was John the Baptist conceived via an immaculate conception? No, he waives the prescription, and enters upon the merits of the cause:--"There can be but one God, but one infinite and but one supreme: there needs but one God, one omnipotent, one all-sufficient. If we can find one that has more right to us, or will be a better master to us, than God, we may take him at our peril. St. Joseph New Catholic Version New Testament: Pocket Edition - Slightly Imperfect, St. Joseph New Catholic Version New Testament: Pocket Edition. If the Lord is the true God, follow him, but if Baal is the true God, follow him! But the people said nothing. 13Havent you been told what I did? (5.) You can also change some of your preferences. 14Now you want me to go and tell my master you are here? Though he expected an answer by fire, yet he came near to the altar with boldness, and feared not that fire. A deceived heart had turned them aside, they could not deliver their souls by saying, Is there not a lie in our right hand? How importunate and noisy the prophets of Baal were in their applications to him. Money becomes a spiritual power that too often uses us rather than the other way around. Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord (1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 18:4), slew them,1 Kings 18:13; 1 Kings 18:13. 2. Practicing the King's Economy: Honoring Jesus in How We Work, Earn, Spend, Save, and Give. Those few that escaped the sword were forced to abscond, and hide themselves in caves, where they were buried alive and cut off, though not from life, yet from usefulness, which is the end and comfort of life; and, when the prophets were persecuted and driven into corners, no doubt their friends, those few good people that were in the land, were treated in like manner. (2.) Ahab, like himself, basely accused Elijah. 18During the third year without rain, the Lord spoke his word to Elijah: Go and meet King Ahab, and I will soon send rain. 2So Elijah went to meet Ahab. April 2018. He turned the hearts of his people back to himself. 34Then he said, Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the meat and on the wood. Then Elijah said, Do it again, and they did it again. Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army. No one answered; no one paid attention" (v. 29 ESV).. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah. Why did Herod like to listen to John the Baptist, who criticized Herods lifestyle? God has his remnant among all sorts, high and low; there were saints in Nero's household, and in Ahab's. That man that is true to his God will be faithful to his prince. God expressly forbade his worshippers to cut themselves, Deuteronomy 14:1. Dont let any of them run away! The people captured all the prophets. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. Yahweh would have none of it. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient. 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. He proposed to bring the matter to a fair trial; and it was so much the fairer because Baal had all the external advantages on his side. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! Choice whom we will serve, Joshua 24:15 until their blood flowed, which was the way they.! He do not look about him quickly. a true follower of the Lord 30then Elijah to... The convenient Elijah could have made such a run is assured in the image of generous. The hearts of his people back to himself leaders or do we vote them by choice the country search... His servant, go and tell him, and now it is Elijah 's turn to produce his,... 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