Public Service Commences
1 KINGS 18:1-20
- THE CONTEXT
1. Circumstances
Providentially: “the famine was sore in Samaria” [18:2].
§ חָזָ֥ק - “sore” [18:2], ‘to be strong, stout, mighty’;
§ Samaria: “he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria” [16:32].
§ Nearly three years have lapsed: “in the third year…” [18:1].
2. The Time
a. Elijah’s Public Appearance
Elijah is called to appear in public once again: “Go, show yourself…” [18:1].
§ לֵ֚ךְ - “go” [18:1], qal imperative,
§ הֵרָאֵ֣ה - “show” [18:1], niphal imperative,
b. The Rain
The day for rain has arrived: “…I will send rain upon the earth” [18:1].
§ וְאֶתְּנָ֥ה - “send” [18:1], qal imperfect, ‘to give’.
3. The Pursuit/Search
The providence of God has instigated a variety of pursuits as we prepare for a public confrontation:
a. Water
There is the pursuit of water: “Go into the land, unto all the fountains of water…” [18:5].
§ נִמְצָ֣א - “find” [18:5], qal imperfect 1st person, primary meaning of ‘to reach, to arrive, to achieve’; ‘to overtake, capture, obtain’;
b. Elijah
There is the pursuit of Elijah by Ahab: “to seek thee…found thee not” [18:10].
§ שָׁלַ֨ח - “seek” [18:10], qal perfect, ‘to send away’;
§ יִמְצָאֶֽכָּה - “found” [18:10], qal imperfect 3rd person,
c. Ahab
There is the pursuit of Ahab by Elijah: “Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here” [18:8].
§ לֵ֛ךְ - “go” [18:8], qal imperative, ‘to travel, journey’;
§ אֱמֹ֥ר - “tell” [18:8], qal imperative, ‘to say’; ‘to report’;
Application.
Elijah had set the scene for confrontation: “there shall not be dew rain…” [17:1].
§ Baal was the ‘fertility god’ who sent rain for growth.
§ God was preparing Elijah for confrontation: “hide…Cherith” [17:3]; “to Zarephath…” [17:9].
§ Time has come: “I will send rain…” [18:1].
§ The providence of God has caused a variety of activities which tells us something about different people.
- OBADIAH
1. Servant of Yahweh
Obadiah was the servant of Yahweh: “Obadiah…” [18:3].
§ עֹבַדְיָ֗הוּ - “Obadiah” [18:3], literally ‘servant of Yah’; ‘servant of Yahweh’;
a. God’s Fear
Obadiah: “feared the Lord greatly…” [18:3].
§ יָרֵ֛א - “feared” [18:3], adjective, ‘to respect, worship’;
§ מְאֹֽד - “greatly” [18:3], ‘exceedingly’; ‘in abundance’;
i. Elements
The concept of “fear” with respect to God contains at least two elements:
§ To adore, which is an expression of total dependence.
§ To obey, which is the fundamental expression of such dependence.
§ Israel and her God: “And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commandments…” [Deu.10:12-13].
b. Evidence
The evidence of Obadiah’s adoration of God: “took a hundred prophets and hid them…” [18:4].
§ וַיִּקַּ֨ח - “took” [18:4], qal imperfect, ‘to lay hold of’; ‘to snatch or take away’;
§ יַּחְבִּיאֵ֞ם - “hid” [18:4], hiphil imperfect, ‘to hide, conceal’ and object so that ‘it cannot be known’;
§ Love of God: “whosoever loves him who begat loves also all those who are begotten of him” [1Jn.5:1].
i. Provision
Obadiah provided for them: “fed them with bread and water” [18:4].
§ Famine: “a sore famine in Samaria” [18:2].
§ Drought: “brook dried up…” [17:7].
§ Service: “inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren…” [Mat.25:40].
Application.
Obadiah’s work is a quiet monument to Jezebel’s failure; his courage stymies the full success of her Yahwist liquidation policy.
2. Servant of Ahab
Obadiah was also the servant of Ahab: “the governor of his house…” [18:3].
§ עַל־הַבָּ֑יִת - “governor” [18:3], denotes primarily ‘motion towards someone or something’;
§ Obadiah was a court official in charge of the King’s household; he was a steward and manager of the palace and all its affairs.
a. Occupation
Obadiah was in the king’s employment: “Obadiah was in the way…” [18:7].
§ בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ - “in the way” [18:7], ‘in the way of duty’;
§ Eliezer’s complies with Abraham and goes in pursuit of a wife for Isaac: “I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren…” [Gen.24:27].
b. OT Examples
This may not be a negative aspect of Obadiah’s life! God has often given His people favour in the sight of heathen masters.
§ Joseph: “thou shalt be over my house…over all the land” [Gen.41:40].
§ Daniel: “the king thought to set him over the whole realm” [Dan.6:3].
c. Danger
Obadiah was exposed to many dangers in Ahab’s household:
§ Idolatry: “Ahab made a grove, and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel…” [16:33].
§ Life: “when Jezebel cut off the prophets…” [18:4].
§ Obadiah had nevertheless kept himself: “feared the Lord greatly” [18:3].
Application
There is nothing wrong with the child of God holding a position of influence if he can do so without the sacrifice of principle.
§ Obadiah was settled in what he was doing; he lived in his comfort zone.
§ Obadiah works quietly, in a behind the scenes fashion
§ A secret disciple?????
3. Obadiah & Elijah
While in the path of duty to Ahab Obadiah met with Elijah: “Behold, Elijah met him…” [18:7].
§ לִקְרָאתֹ֑ו - “met him” [18:7], ‘to encounter’;
a. Obadiah’s Call
Elijah’s call to Obadiah: “Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here” [18:8].
§ לֵ֛ךְ - “go” [18:8], qal imperative,
§ אֱמֹ֥ר - “tell” [18:8], qal imperative,
i. Place/Person > Ahab
Obadiah was told to go: “tell thy lord…” [18:8].
§ לַאדֹנֶ֖יךָ - “lord” [18:8], your master: “governor of Ahab’s house” [18:3].
§ Presence: “Elijah (is here)” [18:8].
b. Problem of Fear
i. Death
Obadiah feared for his life: “deliver thy servant…to slay me” [18:9].
§ נֹתֵ֧ן - “deliver” [18:9], qal participle, ‘to give’; ‘to hand over’;
§ לַהֲמִיתֵֽנִי - “slay” [18:9], hiphil infinitive construct, ‘death’; ‘physical absence of life’;
ii. Trials & Difficulties
Obadiah had a misconception about trials and difficulties: “what have I sinned…” [18:9].
§ חָטָ֑אתִי - “sinned” [18:9], qal perfect, ‘offence against the law’;
iii. Unbelief
Obadiah was misdirected in his focus:
§ Obadiah was looking at the problem: “there is no nation or kingdom…he took an oath of the kingdom and nation…” [18:10].
§ There was a misplacement of his confidence;
iv. Protection
Obadiah has a misconception of the protection of God:
§ God can protect Elijah: “the Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee away…” [18:12].
v. Exposure
There is the fear of exposure: “was it not told my lord what I did…” [18:13].
§ Result: “now you are saying…he shall slay me” [18:14].
c. Fear Removed
Elijah encourages Obadiah: “as the Lord of hosts lives…” [18:15].
§ Word of judgement: “as the Lord God of Israel lives…” [17:1].
§ Provision: “as the Lord thy God lives…” [17:12].
§ Protection for Elijah: “they found thee not” [18:10].
Application.
The snare of unbelief weakens Obadiah; he is hesitant, cautious, and fearful .
§ Fear of failure; fear of rejection; fear of loss
§ Our comfort zones; critical times when God wants us to move out from them;
§ Call to serve; call to trust; call to triumph;
- CONFRONTATION WITH AHAB
The pursuit by the different parties eventually leads to another confrontation: “Ahab went to meet Elijah…” [18:16].
1. The Voice of God
Ahab had heard the voice of God: “as the Lord God of Israel lives…” [17:1].
a. Judgement
Ahab knew that this was God’s judgement upon him and the nation: “then the Lord’s wrath will be kindled against you, and he shut up heaven…” [Deu.11:17].
i. Personal Responsibility
Ahab was personally responsible for this: “Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger…” [16:33].
ii. Personal/National Sin
It was the result of Ahab’s leadership of Israel into Baalism: “Ahab reared up an altar for Baal…” [16:32].
§ An image: “Ahab made a grove…” [16:33].
b. The Evidence
Ahab was confronted by evidence of God’s judgement: “a sore famine in Samaria…” [18:2].
§ Great loss: “that we lose not all the beasts” [18:5].
§ Time: “in the third year…” [18:1].
§ Evidence: that ‘Yahweh is the God of fertility’ and not Baal.
Application.
What impression would we expect?
§ These years had demonstrated the impotence of Baal and the Baal prophets will Ahab confess and repent and to turn to the Lord?
§ Promise: “if you shall hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God…” [Deu.30:10].
2. Ahab’s Policy of Exclusion
a. Materialistic Focus
Ahab looks for the answer in a materialistic way: “Go into the land, and unto all the fountains of water…” [18:5].
b. Exclusion
Ahab’s answer was to exclude and silence the voice of God:
§ Search out: “there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord has not sent to seek thee…” [18:10].
§ Determined search: “he took an oath of the kingdom and nation…” [18:10].
§ Silence: “Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord…” [18:4].
§ Ahab had an ongoing policy of God-displacement.
i. Suppression
This idea of suppression is described by Paul: “they changed the truth of God into a lie…” [Rom.1:25].
§ Suppression: “who hold (suppress) the truth in unrighteousness” [1:18].
§ Exclusion: “they did not like to retain God in their knowledge…” [1:28].
Application.
Ahab diligently searched for Elijah, determined to silence the voice of the “Lord God of Israel” [17:1].
§ Worldwide search: “there is no nation or kingdom…” [18:10].
§ Elijah was the villain of Ahab’s day and must be ‘taken out’, for example, the Osama Bin Laden of the day.
§ Looking for the answer in the wrong place; seeking to remove the very person/thing that provided the answer. How symptomatic of our own day
3. Ahab’s Policy of Blame
The judgement of God results in a culture of blame for Ahab: “Are you he that troubles Israel?” [18:17].
§ עֹכֵ֥ר – “troubles” [18:17], qal participle, ‘to cause hardship or distress for another’; reflects the ‘social dimension of an individual’s action’.
a. God’s Curse
The concept is seen clearly in Israel’s experience in the book of Joshua and
§ Warning to Israel: “in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing…and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it” [Jos.6:18];
§ Achan: “Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? The LORD shall trouble thee this day…” [Jos.7:25];
§ The result was defeat for Israel: “the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men” [Jos.7:5].
b. Elijah
Elijah was the trouble-maker: “Ahab said to Elijah, Are you…” [18:17].
§ Elijah’s words: “there shall be no dew nor rain…” [17:1].
§ The result: “sore famine in Samaria” [18:2].
Application.
Elijah ‘brought nothing but trouble’; Elijah was a “stirrer’; he was charged with “making waves”;
§ Ahab takes no responsibility; instead, he attaches blame.
§ Ahab blames the “messenger of God” and ultimately God himself.
§ He disturbed the comfort zone; he challenged public opinion and values;
§ As a protective mechanism, he labelled Elijah as a “trouble-maker” rather than dealing with his own heart.
4. Elijah’s Response
a. Boldness/Confidence
Elijah is confident in his God: “I have not troubled Israel; but you and your father’s house…” [18:18].
§ Rebuke: “faithful are the wounds of a friend…” [Pro.27:6].
§ Focus on the cause and not the symptom: “in that you have forsaken…” [18:18].
§ Ahab was always going against the word of God: “He did evil more than…” [16:30].
§ Instead of being the leader that he ought to be he led Israel into national idolatry:
§ As far as Ahab is concerned, Baal is still the ‘fertility god’;
b. Mount Carmel
Elijah’s command: “send, and gather to me all Israel unto Mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal…” [18:19].
§ Mount Carmel was a ridge right next to the Mediterranean Sea, where the effects of the drought would be least apparent
§ In Egyptian records Mt Carmel is called ‘Holy Head’, suggesting that it was a sanctuary.
§ In the Annals of Assyrian King Shalmaneser III Mount Carmel appears as ‘the mountain of Baal of the promontory’ (headland).
§ Carmel may well have been ground sacred to Baal.
Summary.
The question of who is responsible boils down the question ‘Who really is God’? *********
§ On Baal’s home ground the truth will be made known.