I Kings 17:1-7
Notes
Transcript
Note: The time of Elijah has been called “the Time of Disruption.”
Most of Elijah’s story is told in 1 Kings 17-19 and 2 Kings 1-2..
“In time, the name and person of Elijah became synonymous in Judaism with the Messianic Age.” Kolatch
Mentioned at meals; at circumcision; at Passover a seat is saved for him.
Cp. Rev. 11:3-6 - the two witnesses. Revelation 11:3 “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.””
Elijah’s Miracles
Causing rain to cease in Israel for three and a half years (1 Kings 17:1). Being fed by ravens sent by the Lord (1 Kings 17:2-7). Multiplying a widow’s grain and oil (1 Kings 17:18-16). Raising that widow’s son from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24).
Calling fire from heaven atop Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:36-38). Causing it to rain again after three and a half years of drought (1 Kings 18:44-46). Fasting from food for 40 days while trekking to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).
Prophesies that Ahab’s sons would all be destroyed (1 Kings 21:22). Prophesying that Jezebel would be eaten by dogs (1 Kings 21:23). Prophesying that Ahaziah would die of his illness (2 Kings 1:4-17). Calling fire from heaven to destroy 51 soldiers (2 Kings 1:10).
Calling fire from heaven on another 51 soldiers (2 Kings 1:12). Parting of the Jordan River while accompanied by Elisha (2 Kings 2:8). Promising that Elisha would receive a double portion of his spirit (2 Kings 2:10).
Being caught up to heaven with a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11). Prophesying that Jehoram would die a horrible death (2 Chronicles 21:12-15). Appearing with Moses and Jesus (Matthew 17:3-13; Mark 9:4-13; Luke 9:30-33). - David Sanford
Note: History of Israel’s monarchy. Saul, David and Solomon. Approx. 120 years.
The northern tribes (usually called Israel) lasted a little over 200 years. Nineteen evil rulers.
The southern tribes (usually called Judah - Judah and Benjamin - lasted about 300 years. Eight good rulers. Nine evil rulers.
The Timeline of the Kings of Israel and Judah Prior to and During Elijah’s Ministry
United Kingdom
Kings Saul 1051-1011 B.C.
King David 1011-971 B.C.
King Solomon 971 to 931 B.C.
Divided Kingdom
Northern Kings Southern Kings
Jeroboam 931-910 B.C. Rehoboam 931-913 B.C.
“And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their Lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites. And Jeroboam appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made. He went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had devised from his own heart. And he instituted a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to make offerings.”
1 Kings 12:26-33 ESV
Note: 3 Types of religions in Elijah’s day.
I. Elijah Confronts Ahab. I Kings 17:1
“And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.””
I Kings 17:1 NKJV
Tishbe - “settlers”
Elijah - from abbreviated for El and Jah and personal pronoun for I - “My God is Yahweh” or “Yahweh is my God”
Note: Elisha’s Name - “My God Saves”
Cp. Moses and Joshua - Joshua - “”Yahweh saves” (Cp. “Jesus”)
A. The Boldness of Elijah.
“said to Ahab”
He was fearless before this earthly monarch.
Cp. Acts 4:31 - “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
Acts 4:31 NKJV
Note: Ahab and Jezebel. (And their daughter Athaliah)
Cp. I Kings 16:29-33
“In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.”
1 Kings 16:29-33 ESV
Jezebel - “unmarried” or “without cohabitation” - McGee - daughter of Ethbaal priest of Ashteroth
Jezebel - chief priestess of the Tyrian Baal Melkarth - WBC
Brought in 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of ASherah.
Baal - “the rider on the clouds” Cp. Psalm 104:3–4 “He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.”
Mot - god of death
C. The Spiritual Condition of Elijah.
“As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand”
1. He believed in the Living God.
“As the Lord God of Israel lives,”
2.He practiced the presence of God.
“before whom I stand”
B. The Proclamation of Elijah.
“there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” NKJV
Note: What James says about Elijah:
“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”
James 5:17-18 NKJV
Note: the warning given to Israel:
““Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, lest the Lord’s anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you.
Deuteronomy 11:16-17 NKJV
Rainy season - Early - Oct - Nov/Latter - Mar - Apr/ - May - Sept dry
II. Elijah is Commanded to Go to the Brook Cherith. I Kings. 17:2-7
“Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.”
I Kings 17:2-7 NKJV
“You must go to Cherith and Zarephath before you can stand on Carmel.” Meyer
A. The Command. vv. 2-3a
“Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook,”
Cherith - “cutting place” “to cut off or to cut down”
Wadi - symbolic of Christian life
Note: The word of the Lord came to Elijah.
Hide.
Note: Hide - for protection/training - Swindoll - Cp. Moses; Paul
“God’s SERVANT MUST BE TAUGHT THE VALUE OF THE HIDDEN LIFE.”
Meyer
2. Drink.
B. The Miracle. vv. 3b-6
and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.”
Note: Miracle - “A miracle is an event (1) brought about by the power of God that is (2) a temporary (3) exception (4) to the ordinary course of nature (5) for the purpose of showing that God has acted in history.” Richard Purtill
The ravens obeyed God.
The prophet obeyed God.
C. The Conclusion. vs 7
“And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.”
John 4:13–14 “Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Note: Next incident takes place at Zarephath
Note: The brook may dry up at times; however, His love and care never will. Isa. 49:14-16
“But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.”
Isaiah 49:14-16 NKJV
“Indeed, I have inscribed [a picture of] you on the palms of My hands; Your city walls [Zion] are continually before Me.”
Isaiah 49:16 AMP
