The National tribune., 1885-08-20
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught By a Study Of the Inter
national sunday School Lessen Appointed fol


lone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
! indicated above.l
Elijah, Ahab and Jezebel are representative
characters, and so become profitable studies.
Though they lived % centuries ago, they play
part in the affairs of to-day.
Like a good husband Ahab, on reaching
home, tells his wife the news of the day-bow
that trial, as to whom is the true God. was
made, by means Of two affairs, with sacrifices,
the decision depending on which object of wor
ship should answer by burning up the sacrifice;
that Baal failed; that the $50 priests of the es-
tablished religion were executed, and that
Elijah prayed and rain descended. 1t would
seem Ahab told the story with mal-prepense,
making it harmful as possible to Elijah. No
euphemisms were used No effort was made
to soften the impression it would have OH the
Queens mind. In blunt way he said Elijah
killed the prophets. They were the pets of
Jezebel. Phenician Juno comes down like
night. What ire!
"a womans anger burns with awful light.
When you are in the wrong she in the right
But, oh what lghtnngs deadlier wrath prolong,
When you in the right, she i'll the wrongi"
Naturally excitable and cruel, all her rage
is infamed. Had she been present at Mt. Car
mel and seen all the particulars, she might
have been more Modified And, then, Elijah,
after such days Deeds presumed to enter the
city Of Jezreel and to put up near the palace!
In her petuance she sends word that very
evening to Elijah that before eight next day
she wOuld treat him as he had her priests.
Elijah takes advantage of the darkness and
fees for his life. Reaching Beer-sheba, about
100 miles of, he leaves his servant and passes
on about 80 miles south. He is now in the
same wilderness where the children of Israel
spent 40 years. He sits down under the
branches of juniper tree thoroughly discour-
aged, preferring to die Falling into sleep an
I l. HI
Then he sleeps again till the angel rouses him,
furnishing food second time. He sets out for
Horeb, about lao miles Off Arrived, he extern
porises lodging-place in a cave. Now God
himself appears, asking this question: =" What
doest thou here, Elijah?" The Prophet sets
forth the idolatry of the Kingdom of Israel;
tells how grieved he is at their condition. how
jealous for the honor of the true God; what
murderous feelings prevail against him; and
how single-handed he was in his struggle
against the wickedness of his country. But
what of all this? God is not dead. If Elijah
have Omnipotence on his side, why despond?
To revive the Prophet God exhibits his power
in wind, earth and fire. Why should one fear
when he has the help of the Being who COM
mands all the elements? Elijah is quite over
whelmed by the fearful manifestations. What
if all this power were used against himp He
had left his work-had run away from duty.
He needs reinsurance. Now comes "a still
small voice." repeating the question, What
doest thou here Elijah ?" The same answer
is given "Well," says God. never mind.
People SO wicked as you say they are of the
Kingdom of Israel, should be punished. Hazael
shall become King of Syria, and, as such, shall
destroy the idolatrous Israelites in fearful bat
ties. q XII, 8: 2S, %; 10: 81, SO; ID: 81
Jehu shall put to death Joram, son and success
sor of Ahab, Jezebel, the widowed Queen, and
all the priests of Baal Il XII, Chaps. and 10);
and Elisha, after aiding you for a time and be-
coming your successor, shall 60 among the peo
pie, Staying them by dreadful combinations
and fearful prophecies, using the sword of his
mouth. Isa., IL 4; 40: 2; Hos, g: 5; Rev.,
1: Is; 2 Thes., 2: s. And, Elijah. do not
imagine you are alone. There are at least 1000
others in the Kingdom Of Israel who have not
paid devotions to Baal.''
Let as now see what practical thoughts are
deducible from the facts before us:
/. Husbands should be communicative with
wives, telling them occurrences that may in
terest. As rule, women are quite retired and
will appreciate news. ii husbands were care
full in this matter, wives would be mere con-
tent with their home life. But it is not well
to inform wives of facts which would disquiet,
annoy, or anger them.
2. Swearing should be avoided. Says Jeze-
BEL so let the gods to me, ETC., if, etc." Such
expressions as May / die if, etc.; al hope l
may die, etc. if. etc" May God strike me
oath called for her death by sword when una
BILE to STAY Elijah. Had the gods taken her at
her word she would have been a corpse in "a
hours.
3. Do not wish to die. Elijah lived IL years
longer. Even then, he did not die e ki 2:
III God does not always answer our prayers.
Mrs. Harriet Winslow, in letter to the sister
of Rev. Samuel Mott, missionary to Bombay,
says:
III are dissatisfied with Gods requirements
to take up daily cross and follow him. and
long too much for the termination of Our pilgrim
age that may undress and be with God,
| suitably affected with the reflection that Sa-
vior left realms of bliss for than 80 years and
condescended to suffer for infinitely more than
we can suffer for HimY Surely such love demands
ideserves life 10 full. long, lifel of praise land
work, tool"
Some say the shade of the juniper tree is
noxious, and that Elijah would thus commit
suicide.
4. Do not be discouraged. Ward off despond-
| ency. Elijah lost heart. Yes, he was a man
of like passions with the rest of humanity.
JAS, 5: l7.) We find him in q fit of detection.
He thought at first the great facts on Mt. Car
mel would settle the question of Gods su-
premacy and leave him sort of hero with
| nothing to do save wear laurels The strong
must take heed lest they fall. Jezebel's threat
to take his life completely unnervcs him. We
| cannot now think him the same man who faced
and braved Ahab. What is the matterp Eli
jah's experience was quite Characteristic Of
greatness in the religious realm. AS soon rs
heroes let go God and look to self, they become
| towards Hear Luther:
AT one time was sorely vexed and tried by my
own sinfuness. by the wiciSedness of tho world
| and by the dangers that besct the Church. One
morning saw my wife dressed in mourning. Sur
prised, asked her who had died. Do you not
known she replied God is dead How can
you talk such nonscnsci' said. How can God
der Is that really true she asked. of course
| i not I,eIQ air hnxv ynu
doubt it?' And yet she said, though you do
not doubt that, yet you are SO hopeless and dis
| Outraged"
| DO not think you are alone. You do not
| know all who serve God. Elijah imagined he
| was alone as follower of God in Ahabs King
| dom. But there were 1000 other devotees.
| (Rom IL: a, So Many Of these were probably
| led to the correct faith through this very Eli
jah. They who love God should speak and be
| known. lisa, 43: 81 They can thus inspire
! each others courage. Perhaps Elijah would
not have run away had he been aware seven
| regiments Of true soldiers were in the land. A
| hidden church may do much in preventative
| way, but little in aggressive movements. Other
Prophets were in the land. (Ch., 20: ID, %,
35.)
| Notice the utility of company. Elijah felt
| chcered by the presence of Elisha God sent
! Elijah to secure an associate. Seek the COM
pany of Christians.
| DO not grow lonely and out of heart.
'When Elijah sat desI,airing
Under the juniper tree,
Little he knew that thousands
Were loving and brave rs he.