The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD , saying, Stand in the gate of the LORD 's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD , all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD . And they did it the third time. They worshipped God to please the prophets, but worshipped Baal to please Jezebel and curry favour at court. IV. We are fairly put to our choice whom we will serve,Joshua 24:15. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. (28-29) The prophets of Baal work harder at their prayer. Those who are called to appear and act in public for God must yet find time to be private with him and keep up their converse with him in solitude. Those few that escaped the sword were forced to abscond, and hide themselves in caves, where they were buried alive and cut off, though not from life, yet from usefulness, which is the end and comfort of life; and, when the prophets were persecuted and driven into corners, no doubt their friends, those few good people that were in the land, were treated in like manner. He stood by them, and patiently heard them for so many hours praying to an idol, yet with secret indignation and disdain; and at noon, when the sun was at the hottest, and they too expecting fire (then if ever), he upbraided them with their folly; and notwithstanding the gravity of his office, and the seriousness of the work he had before him, bantered them: "Cry aloud, for he is a god, a goodly god that cannot be made to hear without all this clamour. Prove that you are the God of Israel and that I am your servant. ), St. Joseph New Catholic Version New Testament. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient. His interview with all Israel upon Mount Carmel, in order to a public trial of titles between the Lord and Baal; a most distinguished solemnity it was, in which, 1. 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, 9 Christians You Don't Want to Sit Beside on Sunday Morning, 6 Truths about Jesus Coming into the World, Inspiring Mother Breaks Down after Earning Golden Buzzer with Celine Dion Hit, 7 Ways Anxiety Dominates the Christian Mind. Those that slighted and hated his counsels would gladly be beholden to him for his prayers. 11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. The king and court were all for Baal; so was the body of the people. I. Let it for ever be looked upon as a point adjudged against all pretenders (for it was carried, upon a full hearing, against one of the most daring and threatening competitors that ever the God of Israel was affronted by) that Jehovah, he is God, God alone. V. The return of the mercy of rain, at the word of Elijah, 1 Kings . Though he expected an answer by fire, yet he came near to the altar with boldness, and feared not that fire. It also dried up the water in the ditch. New Century Version (NCV). 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. How did the prophets tithe and to whom? The wind began to blow, and soon a heavy rain began to fall. What occasion for addition to that which is perfect? Observe his character: He feared the Lord greatly (1 Kings 18:3; 1 Kings 18:3), was not only a good man, but zealously and eminently good; his great place put a lustre upon his goodness, and gave him great opportunities of doing good; and he feared the Lord from his youth (1 Kings 18:12; 1 Kings 18:12), he began betimes to be religious and had continued long. 2. Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. Elijah was no priest, nor were his attendants Levites. Transfers the title of honour he gave him to Ahab: "Call him thy lord, not me;" that is a fitter title for a prince than for a prophet, who seeks not honour from men. Our idols never stop consuming and destroying that which we hold most dear. He causeth vapours to ascend, and maketh lightnings for the rain; for this rain he did both. A deceived heart had turned them aside, they could not deliver their souls by saying, Is there not a lie in our right hand? The execution he did upon the prophets of Baal, 1 Kings 18:40. 29The afternoon passed, and the prophets continued to act like this until it was time for the evening sacrifice. Now Elijah shows them the absurdity of this. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. They were very desirous to see the experiment tried, and seemed resolved to abide by the issue, whatever it should be. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Asked April 28 2020 I will prepare the other bull, putting the meat on the wood but not setting fire to it. Christianos ad leones--Away with Christians to the lions. However, it is put to this experiment, "Let each side prepare a sacrifice, and pray to its God, and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God; if neither shall thus answer, let the people turn Atheists; if both, let them continue to halt between two." Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. The prophets may have hoped that their actions would bring rain and end the drought. Yet, bad as things were. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. 10 As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. Those fear God greatly that keep up the fear of him in bad times and places; thus Obadiah did. Ahab rode in his chariot, at ease and in state, 1 Kings 18:45; 1 Kings 18:45. He pleads that he did not deserve to be thus exposed, and put in peril of his life: What have I said amiss?1 Kings 18:9; 1 Kings 18:9. From Genesis to Revelation, we see that one of our Creator Kings primary qualities is his lavish generosity. Clarify 14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me. Baal was chief of the Canaanite gods. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. ESV - He is sure Ahab would be so enraged at the disappointment that he would put him to death for making a fool of him, or for not laying hands on Elijah himself, when he had him in his reach, 1 Kings 18:12; 1 Kings 18:12. The particular Levitical institutions were so often dispensed with (as in the time of the Judges, Samuel's time, and now) that one would be tempted to think they were more designed for types to be fulfilled in the evangelical anti-types than for laws to be fulfilled in the strict observance of them. The service of God and the service of sin, the dominion of Christ and the dominion of our lusts, these are the two thoughts which it is dangerous halting between. i. A good answer provides new insight and perspective. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. 6:9). But, since Ahab invites him not to ride with him, he will run before him (1 Kings 18:46; 1 Kings 18:46) as one of his footmen, that he may not seem to be lifted up with the great honour God had put upon him or to abate in his civil respect to his prince, though he reproved him faithfully. Why did the prophets of Baal cut themselves (1 Kings 18:28) Context: 1 Kings 18:27-28 New International Version (NIV) 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. 26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. Elijah now came to bring blessings to Israel, tidings of the return of the rain; yet he was thus affronted. Elijah might have looked for rain seventy times seven times, and not have seen it, if he had not thus begun his work at the right end. During all that time some of them prayed, while others of them prophesied, sang hymns, perhaps to the praise of Baal, or rather encouraged those that were praying to proceed, telling them that Baal would answer them at last; but there was no answer, nor any that regarded. Elijah satisfied him that he might with safety deliver this message to Ahab, by assuring him, with an oath, that he would, this very day, present himself to Ahab, 1 Kings 18:15; 1 Kings 18:15. From Pretty Statues to Silver and Gold: Jesus or Mammon? That word occurs again in verse 26b when the prophets of Baal are desperate trying to get their god to answer them: "'O Baal, answer us!' But there was no voice, and no one answered. Practicing the King's Economy: Honoring Jesus in How We Work, Earn, Spend, Save, and Give, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I see nothing, he said. 4. 46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. (1.) The steps taken towards redressing the grievance, by Elijah's appearing again upon the stage, to act as a Tishbite, a converter or reformer of Israel, for so (some think) that title of his signifies. He solicited their allegiance, work, and worshipfor himself and his kingdom. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. In the myth, Baal returns to life when the rains come. 40Then Elijah said, Capture the prophets of Baal! This great good man used his power for the protection of God's prophets. They just added Baal worship to their insurance policy. You have gone after the Baals. He knew, by the Spirit, where to meet him, and we are here told what passed between them. After all, if youre a farmer, its only practical to invest in getting the rider of the clouds to like you. Those that procure God's judgments do the mischief, not he that merely foretels them and gives warning of them, that the nation may repent and prevent them. To demonstrate that he was neither ashamed of, nor afraid for, what he had done, though he knew how Jezebel would resent it, but durst venture himself in the midst of his enemies, as being confident of the Divine power and protection. (Poole), ii. No, he waives the prescription, and enters upon the merits of the cause:--"There can be but one God, but one infinite and but one supreme: there needs but one God, one omnipotent, one all-sufficient. Based only on the sighting of a cloud that was as small as a mans hand, he knew a torrent was on the way. Report. Twelve barrels of water (probably sea-water, for the sea was near, and so much fresh water in this time of drought was too precious for him to be so prodigal of it), thrice four, he poured upon his sacrifice, to prevent the suspicion of any fire under (for, if there had been any, this would have put it out), and to make the expected miracle the more illustrious. But it was utterly false concerning Elijah; so far was he from being an enemy to Israel's welfare that he as the stay of it, the chariots and horsemen of Israel. Why did Elijah kill the prophets of Baal? Obadiah saluted him with great respect, fell on his face, and humbly asked, Art thou that my lord Elijah?1 Kings 18:7; 1 Kings 18:7. Answer The account of Elijah and the prophets of Baal is recorded in 1 Kings 18. Mention is made of God's calling their father Jacob by the name of Israel, a prince with God (1 Kings 18:31; 1 Kings 18:31), to shame his degenerate seed, who worshipped a god which they saw could not hear nor answer them, and to encourage the prophet who was now to wrestle with God as Jacob did; he also shall be a prince with God. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. His parables tell of farmers destroyed in the midst of their prosperity because they hoarded wealth and failed to be rich toward God (see vv. He addressed himself to God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, acting faith on God's ancient covenant, and reminding people too (for prayer may prevail) of their relation both to God and to the patriarchs. Elijah swears by the Lord of hosts, who has all power in his hands, and is therefore able to protect his servants against all the powers of hell and earth. When Baals people died, it was Elijah who raised them to life (v. 22). God demands no more from us than he can make out a title to. Why did king Ahab have to die? Yet his guilty conscience gave him little reason to hope for it, but, rather, to fear some other more dreadful judgment. Note, Those who profess religion should study to recommend themselves to the esteem even of those that are without by their integrity, fidelity, and application to business. Three years and a half's famine would not bring them back to God. His interview with Obadiah, one of Ahab's servants, by whom he sends notice to Ahab of his coming, 1 Kings 18:2-16. And there was a sore famine in Samaria. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah. See Luke 1:16; Luke 1:17. Elijah would endeavour to convince their judgments, and no doubt it was by special warrant and direction from heaven that he put the controversy between God and Baal upon a public trial. You and your fathers family have made all this trouble by not obeying the Lords commands. Note, Early piety, it is to be hoped, will be eminent piety; those that are good betimes are likely to be very good; he that feared God from his youth came to fear him greatly. 8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. Does God gives us political leaders or do we vote them by choice? The central story in the Torah portion is that of the Golden Calf, and thus the story of the haftarah serves as an obvious sequel to this unfortunate episode. As such he tries to counterfeit the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. What he said we are not told; but, 1. Each would take a bull and place it on their own altar. 20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. He also recognized, though, that people in his day faced a new, subtler, and perhaps even stronger temptation: to treat money as an idol like Baal, an idol to worship as a god to get what they wanted. Go tell your master that I am here., 9Then Obadiah said, What wrong have I done for you to hand me over to Ahab like this? You can also change some of your preferences. All rights reserved. But when we worship the idol of money, when our lives are oriented primarily toward earning, getting, and keeping, we become deformed, reflecting not the image of Yahweh, Lord of heaven and earth, but money, the god of me and mine. 4. Turn them again to the Lord God of hosts, from whom they have revolted, and all will be well quickly; this must be Elijah's doing. Had it been true that he was the troubler of Israel, Ahab, as king, would have been bound to animadvert upon him. IV. For less than $5/mo. Baal and his prophets were confounded. Ahab, like himself, basely accused Elijah. Note, Though the answer of our fervent and believing supplications may not come quickly, yet we must continue instant in prayer, and not faint nor desist; for at the end it shall speak and not lie. When we shall see the doctrine of the individual responsibility of each Christian fully felt and carried out into individual action. 10 million Ukrainians without power because of Russia. Baal's prophets were so far from being convinced and put to shame by the just reproach Elijah cast upon them that it made them the more violent and led them to act more ridiculously. Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull and kill it and cut it into pieces. I incline to this because we find, when they came together, Elijah, knowing what Ahab wanted him for, appointed him to meet him on Mount Carmel, and Ahab complied with the appointment, though Elijah took such a way to revoke the sentence and bless the land as perhaps he little thought of. It does not appear that either the increase of the provision or the raising of the child had caused him to be taken notice of at Zarephath, for then Ahab would have discovered him; he would rather do good than be known to do it. God will first prepare our heart, and then cause his ear to hear, will first turn us to him, and then turn to us,Psalms 10:17; Psalms 80:3. Jack Gutknecht. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. He put himself into a strange posture. The Holy Bible, New Century Version. Does the devil have power to make us sick? Tyrants and persecutors, in their passion, are often unreasonably outrageous, even towards their friends and confidants. VI. The people must be brought to repent and reform, and then they may look for the removal of the judgment, but not till then. Moses's altar and Solomon's were consecrated by the fire from heaven; but this was destroyed, because no more to be used. Also bring the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebels table.. 31He took twelve stones, one stone for each of the twelve tribes, the number of Jacobs sons. This was not as a morning cloud, which passes away (though Israel's goodness was so), but one that produced a plentiful rain (Psalms 68:9), and an earnest of more. Click on the different category headings to find out more. He bids Obadiah go and tell the king that he is there to speak with him: Tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is forth-coming, 1 Kings 18:8; 1 Kings 18:8. Did they tithe to themselves? Money becomes a spiritual power that too often uses us rather than the other way around. Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. How sharp Elijah was upon them, 1 Kings 18:27; 1 Kings 18:27. They likely continued going to church, paying their tithes, and saying a prayer or two now and againespecially on holidays. But it is strange to find such an eminently good man governor of Ahab's house, an office of great honour, power, and trust. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Great blessings often arise from small beginnings, and showers of plenty from a cloud of a span long. (4.) (2.) (2.) But every bit of ourselves we give to our stuff we snatch away from our true King. Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines. Showdown on the mount And he said, Go again seven times. Thither all Israel must come, to give Elijah the meeting; and the prophets of Baal who were dispersed all the country over, with those of the groves who were Jezebel's domestic chaplains, must there make their personal appearance. Wasnt killing too severe a punishment for the prophets of Baal? More dreadful judgment headings to find out more was no priest, nor were his attendants.! 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