Name some of the nations who opposed Israel and Judah?

Would these nations have succeeded had G.o.d's people been loyal to him?

Give the names of two great prophets of Judah.

How long did Isaiah continue to prophesy?

Mention the contrast between G.o.d's people marching in to and out of the land.

What was the cause of their final disaster?

Lesson 10

Elijah.

Old Testament Division--Fourth Period (Concluded)

LEADING PERSONS

Ahab and Jezebel, and Ahaziah, rulers; Elijah and Elisha, prophets. See Lesson 8.

#Notable Events# in the life of Elijah. Challenged Ahab (1 Kings 17:1). Sought solitude at Cherith (1 Kings 17:2-7).

Dwelt with the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-24). Entered great contest with prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:1-40).

Offered a prayer for rain (1 Kings 18:41-46). Took flight in despondency to Beersheba (1 Kings 19:1-8). Received revelation from G.o.d at h.o.r.eb (1 Kings 19:9-21). Rebuked Ahab and Jezebel for unlawfully taking Naboth's vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-29). Declared judgment upon Ahaziah (2 Kings 1:1-18).

Carried from earth in a chariot of fire, his prophet's mantle falling upon Elisha (2 Kings 2:1-18). Reappears on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36).

#TIME.#--925 B. C. to 900 B. C.

#PLACES.#--Samaria, Brook Cherith, Zarephath, Mt. Carmel, Beersheba, h.o.r.eb, Mt. of Transfiguration.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

#SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS.#--The contest of true religion with heathen beliefs is brought to a sharp focus in Elijah's time; and the battle-line there drawn so sharply has ever been a challenge for Christian courage in later days.

Elijah, the Great Speaking Prophet

#86. Elijah's Mission.#--All the prophets spoke, though some of them wrote as well, like Isaiah and others. We call Elijah a speaking prophet because we have but one record (2 Chron. 21:12-15) of anything that he wrote. Elijah was sent by G.o.d to the Northern Kingdom at the time of Ahab and Jezebel, to try and stay the tide of idolatry that was threatening to overwhelm the land. Ahab and Jezebel had established the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth, two nature divinities of the heathen world. To turn back this tendency G.o.d sent this man of the desert. Of his early life we know nothing. He appears before us suddenly, as a man in the full tide of life. He was from Gilead, and a man of action, most emphatically. To get a good idea of the man, we may set him forth as seen in six notable scenes.

#87. First Scene:# Elijah and Ahab.--This is where he meets the king, and announces that as the G.o.d of Israel lives, there shall not be dew or rain in all the land, excepting at the word of the prophet. Note here the significant nature of this challenge. The two divinities that the people were now forced to worship were supposed to preside over the processes of nature. Just in their realm of influence, therefore, Elijah challenges them, and claims that his G.o.d has given to him power over the forces of nature, such as neither Baal nor Ashtoreth possessed. Then Elijah disappears, no one knows whither.

#88.# Now follows the fulfilment of his prediction. The season for the early and for the latter rain comes and goes, and still there is no rain. Probably some said, "This is unusual, but of course things will even up next year, and we shall have an abundance of rain." But the next year came and went, and still the heavens were as bra.s.s. Ahab now tries to discover this man who holds the key of the heaven, that he may force him to unlock the clouds. But in vain. The third year comes and goes, and still there is no rain, while the land is dry and parched, and even the king finds it hard to get food for his horses.

At the same time there are some who call attention to the most unwonted fact that not only has there been no rain, but that even the dew has not been seen for three years.

#89. Second Scene.#--Now comes the second encounter between the prophet and the enraged monarch. Most dramatic is this brief interview, in which Ahab charges Elijah with troubling Israel, and Elijah throws the charge back in his teeth. Then comes the further challenge on the part of the prophet to the priests of these two nature divinities, to test their power on Mount Carmel. The scene there is too familiar to need detailed description. Suffice it to remind the student that Baal's priests were powerless to make good their claim that their G.o.ds held control over the forces of nature.

Elijah, however, proves that Jehovah is the G.o.d of nature, and holds all things in his hands, for his prayer is answered by fire, and the sacrifice is consumed, with the wood and the water and the very dust that lay around so abundantly. Now comes the confession of the people that Jehovah and not Baal is the true G.o.d. Then comes the rain at Elijah's pet.i.tion, and the second great scene in the life of this man closes.

#90. Third Scene.#--Very different is this from either of the two others. We see this man sitting discouraged under a juniper tree, and asking G.o.d to take away his life, as he is not better than his fathers. Is this the same hero whom we saw standing in all his triumph before the king? Yes, the same. How then account for the difference in his mien? Probably because of the reaction that came after the exciting contest with the priests of Baal, and the consciousness that he had not won as great a victory for Jehovah as he had antic.i.p.ated.

For as soon as the prophets of Baal had been slain, Jezebel, instead of yielding, had sent word to Elijah that she would kill him within twenty-four hours. It was this apparent failure that most probably discouraged the prophet, so that all his work seemed to him to have come to naught. Note now how G.o.d comforts his servant, how he ministers to his body, by food and rest, and to his mind by a.s.suring him that he is wrong in thinking that he only remains as a true worshiper of Jehovah. Furthermore, G.o.d sends him to h.o.r.eb, where Moses learned so many lessons in things divine, and there G.o.d speaks to Elijah and gives him further work to do, so that when the prophet comes forth from his communion with G.o.d, he is again the stern man of duty that he was before. (Three great men learned much at h.o.r.eb: Moses, Elijah, and Paul the Apostle, for when he went to Arabia, it was probably h.o.r.eb to which he journeyed.)

#91. Fourth Scene.#--Again Elijah and Ahab are face to face. Ahab has coveted the vineyard of Naboth, to make out of it a garden of herbs.

Naboth, as was his right, would not part with the inheritance of his fathers. Ahab does not dare use violence to secure possession. But Jezebel has no such scruples. With bribery and perjury, she soon has poor Naboth convicted of blasphemy, and stoned to death. Then his estate pa.s.sing to the crown, she tells her husband to arise and take possession. Just as Ahab reaches the vineyard, lo! Elijah confronts him. The prophet was the last man whom the conscience-stricken king desired to see, particularly at that very moment. "Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?" he exclaims, in horror. Then comes the righteous prophet's stern denunciation of the guilty king, and so the interview closes.

#92. Fifth Scene.#--Now we are in the country east of the Jordan. Two men are journeying together, and we recognize them as Elijah and his successor Elisha. Suddenly there comes a supernatural rushing of what seem to be chariots and horses of fire. The elder of the two is caught up, and carried into heaven, while the younger, in amazement and awe, cries out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the hors.e.m.e.n thereof!" As suddenly as Elijah came to the scenes of his activity, so suddenly did he disappear.

#93. Sixth Scene.#--More quiet than any of the others is this scene.

We are now on the Mount of Transfiguration. The Master is there, and three of his disciples. Suddenly there appear two others in glory with the Master. They are the great lawgiver, Moses, and the great prophet, Elijah. They are talking with Jesus of his death which was now soon to take place in Jerusalem. Then, the conversation having come to a close, the two visitors from the other world disappear, and the Master is left alone with his astonished disciples.

#94.# Stern, with the fear of G.o.d before his eyes, and no fear of man in his heart, stands this man of G.o.d, Elijah. A benediction to Israel G.o.d meant him to be, but alas! Israel rejected him, as it did the other prophets whom G.o.d in his mercy sent, and so Israel pushed on to its own final ruin. For the material used in this sketch look at 1 Kings 17, 18, 19, 21, and 2 Kings 2.

Test Questions

What divinities was Israel worshiping at the time that Elijah appeared?

What relationship to nature were these two divinities supposed to hold?

Give the first scene in the life of this prophet.

What significance was there in his challenge?

Give the second scene with Ahab. Where did the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal take place?

What was the significance of this scene?

Where next do we see Elijah?

What probably was the cause of his discouragement?

How does G.o.d deal with his servant at this time?

Where does Elijah now go, and what effect does his communion with G.o.d have on his spirit?

Give scene four.

Tell the story of Naboth and his vineyard.

Where next do we find the great prophet?

Who was Elijah's successor?

What is the last scene in the experience of Elijah that we find in the Bible?