BCBC - Sermon - 1 Kings 19

Title: God’s Got His Men and Women in the World – Always Focal Point: God’s care for the people of Israel as His covenant nation even in very desperate circumstances caused by the proliferation of evil in society

Introduction –contemporaneous would be a great victory for God against secularism. Where were you a few weeks ago when Roe v. Wade was overturned? What a huge victory right. I was in Utah at the time visiting a family member. However, in the days that have followed, we came home and saw leaders in new York fighting to help more people continue to kill their children

A quote: It is no secret that biblical narrative is closely related to history, for that is one of its categories: historical narrative (Walter Kaiser)

Scene 1: Key Word: Prophets

v1: Setting for the whole narrative

v2: Interaction of Jezebel to Elijah

First: What Elijah had just done

Recall back to 18:40. We focus on God consuming the altar but notice what Elijah does. Now, this kind of a response was sanctioned by the OT such as Deu 13:5.

APOLOGETICS: God’s dealing with the people like this. Three lines (1) presumed innocence, (2) the theocractic timeframe, and (3)conditions (the specific situation, here it is false prophets). Of particular interest is the condition of the fullness of their iniquity Again, as pointed out, this was a serious offense.

Second thing: Note the issue of prophets here.

Scene 2: Key words/persons: Angel

v3: Elijah flees for his life to Beersheba and leaves his servant

But while he leaves his “servant” there it is understandable. This isn’t to say that Judah was in great shape, either, but it was not as bad as Ahab and Jezebel.

It is explainable as a “servant,” given this individual’s presence in the preceding events on Mount Carmel (1 Kgs 18:43).

v4: Elijah arrives in the desert, and wishes to die

Significant for his condition that he feels need to flee the Southern Kingdom. Is it possible that Elijah was sinfully succumbing to his fear? Yes, possibly.

A day’s journey remember he would’ve been walking, 20-30 miles according to Jewish conception. Think about from Batavia to Warsaw or maybe Arcade

A broom tree is how the NASB translates it. This is something often more like what we might call a shrub, but it is such that it has low enough branches that it is useful as a shade in the desert where he is coming.

It is clear Elijah is deeply despondent. This has a parallel with Moses, see Number 11:15 “So if You are going to deal with me this way, please kill me now, if I have found favor in Your sight, and do not let me see my misery.” that context was an overwhelmed Moses. There are several similarities with Moses here. The fact that there is an fellowship between this prophet and Moses are clear based on the New Testament ‘s instance of Jesus having Moses and Elijah on the mmount of transfiguration. Watch as we go through this.

Perhaps you have seen someone say this kind of thing. – it’s less frequent because frankly we’re all worried about governments somehow construing it as a claim to self harm or because we’ve known people who have taken their own life. But this connection with Moses may be a detail put in this passage that shows a link with Moses. The connections with Moses are frequent here, and this is important

v5-6: Elijah rests, eats at the angel’s touching, lays down again

Lord takes initiative. He has a plan in this seeming nonsensical decision.

He is providing for his needs. First, in the tree. Then, even in the food. The impression is that this is a miracle of some kind. No one else is here, and God is feedig him. This is also supported by what happens next.

First though Elijah lays down again.

v7-8: Angel touches him, says to arise and eat, and he leaves to go to Sinai

As if what had happened before wasn’t even, he again is touched by the angel.

Notice he gives an explanation – this concluded the angel’s interaction with Elijah. He explains that there is a journey Elijah is about to embark on, and that it is too long for him. If it were too long for him, perhaps that suggests that this is no ordinary food.

That is confirmed by the fact that he doesn’t eat any food except for this, and travels 40 days and 40 nights. If you were a bible critic, you might try to suggest that this is non-historical because it doesn’t take 40 days and 40 nights to get from Beersheba to the Sinai desert. However, in the case of the initial journey, it says he went a day’s journey. But here, it just says he walked that many days. Maybe he went a different pace, maybe some obstacles occurred, it was a hot desert after all.

Scene 3a

v9-11a: Elijah enters the cave, Elijah and God interact, God resolves with a command to go up further

So, evidently Elijah walks into some cave. Note that no longer is Elijah communicating with an angel. The Word of the LORD came to Him. This is a formulaic kind of thing common in the OT, arguably specifically when the Word of God comes to a prophet.

However, what is unique is that this is not a word for someone else it is a word to Elijah.

Now, it is interesting that God asks Elijah what he’s doing here. It is likely a question aimed to get Elijah to talk. The LORD has already been at work, right?

Elijah’s response has three components and he’s going ot repeat himself too:

His zeal – which is true.

Their actions against the covenant especially but also the place of worship and the revelation of his prophets

His isolation. This is where Elijah is simply not entirely accurate. He has forgotten an important reality just before Mount Carmel there is what happens with Obadiah.

Elijah is told to go up on to the mountain, and stand there. This too has aparallels with Moses who goes up as well see Exo 19, 24. Note though that he goes up but then has 40 days. The point I make is just that

Scene 3b - Climax

v11b-13b: God in a series of contrasts reveals himself in a calm, soft voice, and Elijah treats it like a theophany

So, we know this passage. The way the passage concludes it refers to something we often refer to in Christianity, that “still small voice.”

Calm, soft sound may be better, not speaking. The reason for this is that (1) the words used do support this possibility, but (2) in this section, God already was

Recall Moses. Esp. Exo 33:20 about seeing face of God. “He further said, “You cannot see My face, for mankind shall not see Me and live!”

Elijah probably knew this, and thus his recation may be akin to try to cover his face lest he see God. In Moses’ case, he was put in a rock and so he saw the glow of God, just like Elijah knew he was feeling the gentleness of God and he didn’t want to see His face. Maybe it ws as oif God was walking by and creating a blowing like that? These are possibilities, not explicitly made elsewhere. He knows he is dealing with the real God.

So now, Elijah walks out after he covers his face. Again trying to avoid seeing God.

On the one hand, the contrast between big powerful God versus his gentle breeze seems clear enough. God has spoken directly, so the point is not that Go dis speaking in a gentle way but rather this breeze. But the real point is more that God revealed his presence, and it is what Elijah responds to with respect.

v14-18: Conclusion: Elijah repeats himself slight differences, God resolves with a command and a revelation.

So, then God repeats again the issue. What are you doing here?

So God is asking Elijah to discover his heart

God reveals his presence.

But Elijah is not entirely moved except in the form of respect.

Elijah repeats himself. But God then moves on. And moves this to the conclusion.

It seems clear that part of God’s concerns are about the next thing for Elijah. He gives him three commands. However, this entire narrative leads to a climax that is almost an addendum but it is really the whole point.

Commands (1) Go back to Damascus to anoint their next king, (2) also anoint the next king of Israel Jehu, and (3) last Elisha as the next prophet in his stead.

We find Elijah moving on and we don’t have a record explicitly of either of these things happening. But we do find (2Ki 8) that Hazael does become king, that (2Ki 9) Elisha actually anoints Jehu, and last while we don’t see Elisha being anointed it is clear Elijah does pass the mantle through putting on.

I suggest that it seems likely, though not necessary, that Elijah does do all three things. Prophets did anoint in the past, esp. think of Samuel anointing Saul and then David.

The Prophecy: This obscure thing of how there is a chain of judgment/punishment from Hazael to Jehu to Elisha. That the prophet is there is also seen in

The climax is v18. This is where the real issue of Elijah is pointed out. Yes, we’ve already noted that prophets had already been preserved but here, God basically says almost in passing. Oh by the way, I have 7,000 who haven’t bowed the knee to Baal.

This point is that Israel is not abandoned by God nor have they entirely abandoned God.

Elijah simply did not perceive adequately how many people God still had.

Paul picks up on this passage in Romans 11. Romans 9-11 are a passage of great depth, but the main point is God’s on-going faithfulness to national Israel. Paul notes that there remain some Jews today who are also worshipping God in Jesus Christ just like God said to Elijah that there were 7,000 remaining. Paul’s use fot his passage supports what we have seen that the focus on this point in the story is indeed God’s preservation

So note-God says to Elijah, there is 7,000 still worshipping God. God even outlines plans for Ahab and Jezebel’s replacement. Finally, the prophetic line will be continuous because Elisha will replace Elijah. even though Ahab and Jezebel remain on the throne

Conclusion for Us:

What is the focal point for our application for this? The church has not replaced Israel, but both of us are two groups that are each the people of God. Therefore, it is appropriate to consider God’s message to Elijah in its application to us as individual Christians and the people God.

Now, America is not Israel! We cannot directly apply this to us nationally. But we can understand this application to church. That’s what the difference is God will never lack people on earth. Just as Elijah has told, “I have reserved seven thousand people”, similarly Paul was told in the evil city of Corinth – a city with parallels to us today – something amazing. “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” (Acts 18:9-10). You may not have many people in this town that are followers of Christ, but we can be assured by application that in the world we are never alone. God always has a remnant on earth. And ultimately, God wins. We await His soon return.