The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-02

The Prophets of Baal..........1 Kings xviii. 1929
Inc PROPHETS consulted .-.----.-.1 Kings xxi. LA
Unity in serving. Matt. vi, 1884
A choice required. Joshua xiv. 1928
Alone, yet Romans XII, Ito
Answer to David by fire. .........1 Chron. xxi, 1880
Inc vanity of idols.---..........Psalm cxv, lis
L-Seldom do the servants of Jehovah descend
to any personal conflict with the followers of
other gods in order to prove who is the true God.
But here Elijah boldly challenges the priests of
Baal to a trial that shall settle the question, and
the proof is so full and clear that it was put
beyond all question that Jehovah was the only
God, and Elijah his prophet.
The challenge was to send and gather all Israel
unto Mount Carmel, that they might witness
the trial between himself and the priests Of
Baal. He had the confidence and courage of
one perfectly sure of success, and shows
IN this event the qualities that gave
him such power of leadership in these trou-
blous times. The place was fifty chosen for an
event to be witnessed by so many thousands of
people. Mount Carmel is a ridge about twelve
miles long, that runs UP to the Mediterranean
sea. The western summit, about 600 feet high,
is now crowned by a convent. The highest
point is about eight miles from the coast, and is
WV 1fNS AS&O ASA AN q Ak 0oPROHNA
to have occurred here, at a point a thousand
feet above the plain. The people of Israel could
easily see the descending fire from tho level or
from the valley of Esdraelon, below. The point
can also be seen from Jezreel, where the palace
of Ahab was situated, and also from Nazareth,
twenty miles away. There is a splendid spring
at one end of the large plateau, and the plain is
large enough for the assembling of a great num-
Der of people,
The challenge of Elijah was for the $50 priests
of Baal to be gathered from every part of the
country. They had charge of the temples and
groves where Baal was worshiped, and would
have power with their god if ne was a god. He
also called for the four hundred prophets of the
grove which eat at Jezebels table. They had
charge of the worship of Ashtoreth, or Astarte,
the Phenician Venus, and were supported by
Jezebel, the wife of Ahab. But these last, for
some good reason, did not appear. Ahab brought
the others to meet this single prophet of God,
tor he was ready to venture everything IN order
to obtain rain.
II. 1t was not a matter of Importance with
Elijah to settle which was the stronger, but
who was the only true God. There were prob
ably plenty of hating Israelites who had affairs
IN the same house to Jehovah and Baal,
and who worshiped both. This hating between
two opinions, this way ering, was to him most
distasteful. There was room for only one God
in Elijah's universe, and Jehovah filled it all.
He was ready for one grand test, and proposed
it in a form that was entirely fair, and that
ought forever to have settled the question for
that people.
He stood alone to represent the cause of Jeho-
yah against the $50 prophets of Baal. He says,
l, even l only, remain u prophet of the Lord,
meaning that he only exercised the Office of a
prophet, the rest being hidden in caves. He
remained a prophet, though standing alone. He
proposed the test of bringing fire down from
heaven on the sacrifices that were to be prepared
and laid on the altar. The priests of Baal were
given every advantage. They selected the bull
locks and had the first opportunity. They were
cut IN pieces and laid on wood. They we're not
to put fire under the sacrifice, but were to bring
it down from above, and the God that answereth
by fire he was to be acknowledged as the true
God. And the people answered and said, it is
well spoken. The test pleased them.
IU.-Elijah allowed the priests of Baal to
choose one bullock, and to dress it first, and to
begin their prayers. They claimed that Baal
was the sun god, and that he controlled the sun,
the source of light and heat. They called on
the name of Baal, from morning even until
noon, saying, @, Baal. hear US. In the fierce
MONDAY heat he might if ever, send down the
fire. Had the test been in their temples, they
would have furnished the fire in some secret
way. But here they are baff1ed, for there was
no voice nor any that answered. And now fol-
lows what may be seen to-day in all the false
religions of the East-a working up of great
physical excitement, a sort of wild frenzy that
they call inspiration. And they leaped upon
the altar which was made.
Here occurs one of the very few places in the
Bible where sport is made of those in trouble.
The irony and sarcasm of Elijah are terrible, as
at noon he Knocked them, and said, cry aloud.
Pray louder. for surely he is a god, there can be
no doubt of that. He is probably talking to
himself or pursuing, gone off travelling, or he is
asleep and needs to be awakened. Cry louder!
In this ironical way Elijah voices the common
feeling, and puts the rgunent in a manner per-
fectly The deluded, excited
priests cry louder, and begin to cut themselves
after their manner with knives and lancets.
They drew out their sacrifcial knives, and in
their frenzy cut themselves without feeling pain.
The blood adds to their intense excitement; they
prophesied until the time of evening sacrifice.
about 3 o'clock. These wild cries, uttered at
such times, were supposed to be prophecies. But
there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor
any that regarded. 1t was a complete failure.
APPLICATION
/. Corrupting Influence of Popular Religion.
The throne sets the fashion for religion, as for
dress and pleasure. If those high in place are
astray, those lower down will copy their example
and go still further astray. This great back
sliding and idolatry began at the top, and spread
through all ranks of society. Self denial is
rarely p~racticed among those near the centers
of power. We may we'll beware Of a popular
religion, as it will be almost sure to be corrupt
ing to morals and lessen our sense of obligation
to God. We easily fall into semi-idolatry, and
| yet every man despises it in his heart.
2. Men Silent when Self condemned.- -Whe
Elijah pressed upon the people the duty to be on
one side or the other, they answered him not a
word. In the same way men are silent to-day,
because self condemned. They know that they
are in the wrong, and their silence is their con
fession.
3. Unsettled Questions are Practically Decided
Against God.-They halted between two opinions
between the claims of Jehovah and Baal. But
all such hating was in reality in favor of idol
airy. 1t admitted as fact that there was another
God than Jehovah, and this is infdelity-this is
to. leny a foundation truth # revelation. There
are many speculative questions about which we
may hold very different opinions, and suffer no
harm. But not so about the unity of God. We
are either wholly for Him or We are against Him.
4. Physical Excitement Often Mistaken for
Spiritual Religion. There may be the strongest
feelings excited through all kinds of religious
belief, good or bad. And intense mental states
will manifest themselves according to