Enter Elijah
1 KINGS 17:1
Biblical teaching comes in various forms:
§ There is didactic teaching; there are doctrines to be grasped, for example the letter to the Romans.
§ There is also the idea of exemplary teaching: examples from history; biography; etc.
§ There are examples of what we should not be like, for example, Esau, Judas Iscariot, even Samson, etc.
§ There are examples of what we should be like, for example, Elijah, Abraham [Heb.11].
- THE NATIONAL SCENE
1. The Political Scene
a. Split Kingdom
After the death of Solomon the kingdom of Israel was divided:
§ Successor: “Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead” [1Kgs.11:43].
§ Treatment of the people: “I will add to your yoke…I will chastise you with scorpions” [12:11].
§ Result: “So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day” [12:19].
i. Judah
The southern kingdom: “Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem; he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin…” [12:21].
ii. Israel
The northern kingdom: “The people made Jeroboam king over all Israel…” [12:19].
§ Northern kingdom: “Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim and dwelt therein…” [12:25].
2. The History of Northern Kingdom
a. Jeroboam
Jeroboam led Israel into idolatry: “The king made two calves of gold…one in Bethel, and the other in Dan” [12:27-29].
§ This was to prevent Israel from returning to Jerusalem: “if this people go up to sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again…” [12:27].
§ This was the nation’s sin: “this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, unto Dan” [12:30].
b. Successive Kings
Successive kings followed the example of Jeroboam: “Nadab the son of Jeroboam…did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father and in his sin…” [15:25-26].
§ The same analysis was made concerning eighteen successors of Jeroboam.
§ Successive kings: Baasha [15:32-16:6]; Elah [16:6-20]; Omri [16:21-27].
3. The Current Scene
a. Omri
The nation reached an all-time low under the rule of Omri: “Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him” [16:25]-26].
§ Omri erected the new capital of the Northern Kingdom, Samaria [16:23-24].
§ Omri’s alliance with the Phoenicians: “Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians…” [16:31].
i. Economic Prosperity
This alliance resulted in economic prosperity:
§ Israel imported Lebanon cedar wood and other merchandise garnered from the ends of the known world of the day.
§ Israel enjoyed revenue from valuable trade routes to a larger clientele further south and east, and from supplying Phoenicia with grain and olive oil.
Summary.
- Main Characters
There are two main characters in the story of Elijah
1. Ahab
The first of these is Ahab: “Ahab, the son of Omri…” [16:29].
§ These new depths were reached as a result of a political marriage that so often characterised international relations: “he took Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians…” [16:31].
2. Jezebel
The second main character is Jezebel: “he took Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal…” [16:31]. [16:31].
§ אֶתְבַּ֙עַל֙ - “Ethbaal” [16:31], literally ‘I am with Baal’, ‘I am living under Baal’;
a. Dominant Figure
Jezebel was the dominant partner in the marriage: “Ahab worked wickedness…which Jezebel his wife stirred up” [21:25]. She was determined to replace the God of Israel with the worship of Baal:
§ She was not content with privately worshipping Baal: “eat at Jezebel’s table” [18:19].
§ She brought her own hoard of Baal enthusiasts: “prophets of the groves, four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table” [18:19].
§ She was determined to destroy the prophets of God: “Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord…” [18:4].
3. Baalism
This led to the re-introduction of Baalism: “went and served Baal and worshipped him” [16:31].
§ הַבַּ֔עַל - “Baal” [16:31], literally ‘owner, possessor, husband’: “your Maker is your husband…” [Isa.54:5];
§ וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ - “went” [16:31], ‘travelled’; ‘point of departure and destination’;
§ וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֣ד - “served” [16:31], ‘to be a slave’; ‘ethbaal’;
§ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ - “worshipped” [16:31], ‘to bow down’;
Baal worship included the following aspects:
§ The offering of incense and burnt-sacrifices [Jer.7:9].
§ Sometimes the offering of human sacrifices, especially children [Jer.19:5].
§ It especially included licentious sexual activity, including sodomy [1Kgs.14:23-24; 15:12].
a. History of Baal Worship
The worship of Baal, a Canaanite deity, had been observed by Israel in the days of the Judges: “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim” [Jdg.2:11].
§ King David had rid the land of this dirge: “
§ Baalism became the main religion in Israel: “Ahab reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal…” [16:32].
b. Baal-Melqart
This alliance opened the door to the Phoenician form of Baalism, the worship of Baal-Melqart. Baal-Melqart was a ‘fertility god’.
§ Baal worshippers believed that their ‘god’ made rain, which is quite an important detail in an agricultural community.
§ Baal is the ‘storm god’ who sent the life-preserving rains onto the land. Fertility was equated with a living and vibrant Baal.
§ Times of drought were explained by saying that Baal submitted to Mot, the ‘god of death’, each year, which caused drought and barrenness to the land. Eventually Anat defeated Mot and freed Baal, which restored fertility.
Summary.
Toleration of immorality of every kind – adultery, homosexuality, abortion;
4. God’s Word
The nation has reached a new low-point;
§ Under Ahab’s reign Israel reached its lowest state: “Ahab did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him” [16:30].
a. God’s Judgement
The judgement of God was imminent: “he did more to provoke the god of Israel to anger…” [16:33].
b. God’s Word
God’s Word never fails: “in Ahab’s days did Hiel…build Jericho…” [16:34].
i. God’s Command
God had given a clear warning to Israel concerning Jericho: “Cursed be the man before the Lord that rises up to build Jericho, he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it” [Jos.6:26].
§ Word of God ignored in Ahab’s day: “did Hiel build Jericho…” [16:34].
§ He laid the foundation thereof at the expense of his first born: “at the cost of the life of Abiram his first-born…” [16:34].
§ He finished it at the expense of his youngest: “set up the gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub…” [16:34].
§ This was in fulfilment of God’s threatened judgement: “according to the word of the Lord” [16:34].
Application.
- THE MAN OF GOD
Elijah is an example of what we should be like; he was a man like ourselves: “Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are…” [Jam.5:17].
1. The Grace of God
In the context of idolatry and the anticipated judgement of God: “and Elijah the Tishbite…” [17:1].
§ וַיֹּאמֶר - “and he said” [17:1],
§ God introduces a ‘new page’ in Israel’s history; there is the sudden, unexpected introduction of a man of God.
§ An intrusion of pure grace to a godless nation!
2. The Man
Elijah has none of the normal qualifications of a prophet of the Lord.
§ There is no account of his calling [Jer.2].
§ There is no account of his descent; he is not the ‘son of a prophet’.
a. The Name
The prophet’s name: “and Elijah the Tishbite…” [17:1].
§ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ - “Elijah” [17:1], literally ‘my God is Yahweh’; ‘Yahweh is God’; ‘the Lord is my God’;
§ The name was a declaration of his faith; the name demonstrated his allegiance to God and his protest against Baalism, the key issue of the day.
i. Role > Tishbite
Elijah had his origin in: “Tishbite…” [17:1].
§ הַתִּשְׁבִּ֜י - “Tishbite” [17:1], the exact location of Tishbe is debated by scholars.
§ The Hebrew word means ‘to take captive’; ‘the converter’; ‘one who brings to conversion, repentance’;
ii. Appearance > Gilead
Elijah: “of the inhabitants of Gilead…” [17:1].
§ מִתֹּשָׁבֵ֣י - “inhabitant” [17:1], ‘sojourner’; ‘to remain’; ‘to dwell’;
§ גִלְעָד֮ - “Gilead” [17:1], of mountain-range or hill-country, land & city, East of Jordan;
§ The people of this rocky hill country were rough, tough, rugged and perhaps somewhat solemn and stern.
§ There is nothing in his appearance that suggests who he is: “he was a hairy man, and girt with a leather belt about his loins” [2/1:7-8].
Application.
Challenge: who am I? And who and what is my God?
§ The name: ‘The Lord is my God, and he will use me to bring sinners to repentance’.
§ Every time Ahab came face to face with the prophet, they would hear the message: “My God is Yahweh” [17:1].
3. The Strength
Where does Elijah’s strength lie? It arises from a sense of inner calling and a consciousness of the divine presence: “as the Lord God of Israel lives before whom I stand…” [17:1].
§ חַי - “lives” [17:1], adjective masculine singular, ‘to live or have life’; active, energetic, dynamic.
a. Living Servanthood
Elijah is the servant of God: “before whom I stand…” [17:1].
§ עָמַ֣דְתִּי - “stand” [17:1], ‘take upright position’; ‘to stand in front of a superior as an offering’; the phrase is repeated at [18:15]; [2/3:14]; [2/5:16]. “for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years” [Gen.29:27], dA[ ydIM'[i dbo[]T; rv,a;
§ לְפָנָ֔יו - “before” [17:1], literally ‘to the face’; ‘in the presence of’;
§ Hebraic expression for a servant before his master: “Behold, as servants eyes do look, their master’s hand to see…so do our eyes attend upon the Lord our God…” [Psa.123:2].
§ The willing slave of God; watching his hand; hearing his word; ready to speak, act, and serve.
b. Prayer
Elijah was a man of prayer: “and he prayed…” [Jam.5:17].
§ Drought: “he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not…” [Jam.5:17].
§ Rain: “he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain…” [Jam.5:17].
Application.
Elijah had the presence of God [17:1]; Samson lost the presence of God: “the Lord was departed from him…” [Jdg.16:20].
§ Every believer has this divine consciousness to some degree; sense of consciousness that I stand in the presence of God;
§ It brings the conviction that ‘God is the only living God’; it brings the urge to serve the living God.
4. The Message
The message: “there shall not be dew or rain…” [17:1].
§ טַ֣ל - “dew” [17:1], the “dew” was important during the dry season: the great difference between temperatures of night and day in Palestine causes heavy dews, which keep vegetation alive during the summer drought.
§ מָטָ֑ר - “rain” [17:1],
a. A National Challenge > Baal
The message was a direct challenge to the prevailing religion (worldview) of Elijah’s day.
§ The Baal was the ‘god of the skies’; to ‘give rain’ was the prerogative of the Baal.
§ Elijah is proclaiming that ‘My God is the God of the sky’.
b. A Personal Challenge
i. God’s Word
Elijah knew the word of God: “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and you turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; and then the Lords’ wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit…” [Deu.11:16-17].
§ He knew that when men love the Lord their God and serve him with all their heart and soul (Deut 11:13), God sends rain on their land in its regular season [Deu.11:14; 28:12].
§ He knew that when they turn and go after other gods, the rain is shut off in heaven. Men and beasts languish [Deu.11:17] and the land is turned into powder and dust [Deu.28:24].
§ This was a proclamation of God’s judgment as warned by God.
ii. The Challenge
It is a personal challenge to Ahab to either ‘bow or perish’:
§ The hidden message is that of judgement until you repent: “if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn…” [2Chr.7:14].
c. Confidence
Elijah was confident in his God: “according to my word” [17:1].
§ אִם־לְפִ֥י דְבָרִֽי - “according to my word” [17:1],
§ For three and a half years: “it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months” [Jam.5:17].
This is a contest! If God is dead then it will not rain! If Baal be God then it will rain!
§ Taking a risk! Confidence in God: “as the Lord God of Israel lives…” [17:1].
Application.
He did not quake and fear as he stood in the presence of Ahab because he knew what it was to stand in the presence of God that enables the child of God to stand before the world in the boldness of fearless faith.
§ Elijah is attacking Baalism at its theological centre.
