Retribution: Elijah
Notes
Transcript
1 Kings 18:17-40
1 Kings 18:17-40
How many of us think about someone who has wronged us and wish we could get back at them? It could be a co-worker, former friend, previous boss, or even a close family member. Most of us have probably heard the phrase, "Hurt people, hurt people." What sets revenge apart from retribution? The Word of God is clear that vengeance belongs to the Lord. Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Revenge: to avenge oneself usually by retaliating: to inflict injury in return for the desire for vengeance: to seek satisfaction against someone.
Retribution: the dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment.
We are not seeking revenge but retribution against the enemy. Elijah sought retribution for God and Israel against the enemy.
Augustine said, “If you are suffering from a bad man’s injustice, forgive him lest there be two bad men.”
A story from the Philippines is about a lady who gave mercy instead of revenge and sought retribution against the enemy.
Under the cover of a dark Philippine night, three teenagers broke into a van owned by a Christian woman. The trio stole some identifiable items and later sold them on the street. Soon, the police were notified about the sale of the stolen goods, and the boys were arrested.
So what did the woman do? Seek revenge against the young thieves? No, she visited them in jail, started a Bible Study with them, and led each of them to faith in Christ! Then she asked for permission for them to be let out of jail under guard each Sunday to go to Church with her.
She sought retribution against the enemy, Satan, and his principalities, but not for revenge. Instead, she used the situation to introduce Christ to the enemy.
When we are committed to Christ and are doing His work in His will, people may call us names and point at us as the problem. These people have either abandoned God’s way or never knew Him. They follow after their gods, like the Baal of the world.
Trouble
Trouble
Ahab called Elijah the “Troubler of Israel.” This noun is derived from a verb that denotes alienation from society or from God, which results from some heinous crime or act. In Joshua’s days, Achan had brought “trouble” on Israel by his greedy disobedience to the Lord’s command (Joshua 7:25 ). Ahab blamed Elijah for bringing trouble to Israel by the severe drought by provoking Baal. People who follow false gods will always blame you for their actions.
And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.
Mount Carmel
Mount Carmel
Mt. Carmel was a religious sanctuary. It is first mentioned in lists of Thut-Mose II, Ramses II, and III in the Rosh Qidshu, meaning “Holy Cape.” It has extraordinary religious implications in the O.T. After the Baal prophets' defeat, Elisha used it as a spiritual retreat.
Mentioned multiple times in the prophetic books as an example of Natural Beauty and Fertility. Song of Songs 7:5 ; Isaiah 35:2
Your head crowns you like Carmel, and your flowing locks are like purple; a king is held captive in the tresses.
it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.
God changed what was used as a pagan worship site into Yahweh’s worship site. Retribution is God taking what once was terrible and turning it into His Good!
Out-Numbered
Out-Numbered
You might look at Elijah's situation and see that it involved him against 850 false prophets. Some would say this does not look fair, and I agree with them—it does not look fair for the prophets. When God is with you, there is not any number of the enemy who can stand against you. Isaiah 54:17
no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
Four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah are no match to the Lord of Host! When God is your Refuge, Rock, and Sustainer, nothing can overcome you! 1 John 2:14
I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
In-Charge
In-Charge
When we are called Children of God and do His will in our lives, we are in charge, not the enemy. The enemy can only oversee you if you allow it! Elijah is dictating exactly how this battle will play out. Not only does he tell Ahab to get the prophets, but he also tells him to gather all of Israel.
When Elijah confronted the people of Israel about following God or Baal, they remained silent. He knew you could not serve two gods, Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Our lifestyle keeps the opposition quiet when we do God’s work and pray. Living a fruitful life in Christ will make the enemy mad, but those who follow along because they have been led that way will remain silent.
Let me explain it this way: when people are confronted with the truth, they have three options: first, they can accept it; second, they can deny it; and lastly, they can remain silent.
“LIMPING,” Elijah told them to stop limping, referencing how the prophets limped around, not confident that the god they worshipped was true or just an image.
Retribution:
Retribution:
Elijah will have retribution from God for his faithfulness against the wickedness in Israel. Elijah would call upon the name of Yahweh, the One and Only true God, while they would call an image god they made up to worship.
God would win this battle for Elijah, and Elijah would have the Israelites call out that Yahweh is the true God. Do you think there was some retribution for Elijah? Yes! Vengeance is not ours; retribution is. God will avenge the wrong, and we will receive retribution for being faithful to Him.
I am done with sitting back and watching our family members, friends, and community become captives to the enemy. The battle is the Lord’s, but He will use us to call upon His name to fight for us and those we are fighting for. We stay faithful to Him, committed to prayer, scripture, and one another; retribution is ours in His name.
Application:
Application:
1. Retribution is ours, and Vengeance is the Lord.
2. We fight the enemy on our grounds.
3. It is time to take a stand for what is His.