The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-01-21
ELIJAH AND THE PROPHETS.
International Sunday school Lesson fss
January -, 1891.

- Kings 1874
CENTRAL TRUTH-The most important de.
cision Of our lives 10 whom We will serve and
love supremely.
TINE About B. G. COS. Three years and
half after Elijah's first appearance to Ahab.
PLAcE-Mount Carmel, ridge about twelve
miles long and seventeen hundred feet high.
The sacrifice was about four miles from its
eastern end, where is level place, perennial
fountain, and near which flows the Kishon.
RULERs-Ahab, King Of Israel Thirteenth
year, Jezebel, his Queen; Jehoshaphst, King Of
Judah ninth year..
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcEs-25. prophets
Of Baal:" priests who conducted his worship,
and who uttered sometimes wild and frantic
cries supposed to come from the inspiration Of
tho idol Hence they were called prophets, 1.
e., those who speak under special Divine tn1u.
ence. For ye are many" four hundred and
fifty. They would DO able to get ready first.
And he gave them the longest time But put
no ire under:" the test was fire from Heaven.
A miracle that only God could perform would
be a test as to whether Baal was God. Basl
was the sum- and it was midday, so tina. II any
idol can bring fire, he could 81. Elijah
mocked:" to show the people how absurd 1t
was to trust in idols. 28 "Knves:" swords.
"Lancets:" lances, spears 20. "Prophesied:"
referring to their prayers, etc. described in Y.
28). 81. Twelve stones:" one for each tribe,
to be buided into one altar. to show that all the
tribes should be one in serving the Lord. 80.
"A trench as great as would contain two
measures Of seed" the measure here is the
seah, containing about three gallons. The
trench was as wide and deep as vessel that
would hold two measures, l. e.. probably be-
tween one and two feet each way. SO. Fill
four barrels water 1ars) with water:" to
prove to the people that there was no trick or
deceit The water could come from an unfail-
ing spring now on Mount Carmel near this
place. SO. thine of the evening sacridce:"
three o'clock. SO. 1.-The fire OF the Lord fell:"
from Heaven, openly, before the eyes OF the
people. Consumed the stones:" to show that
1t was no ordinary fire. but Divine. "The DUST"
the earth which filled the inclosed place be-
tween the stones. 80. "They fell on their faces;"
in wonder, fear and worship.
LESSON COMMENTS.
Look at the prophet: his plans are all
carefully laid, and he makes haste to
present them to the King. He proposes
q grand public test as to the divinity of
Jehovah and Baal. The drought and
famine ought to have been enough to
convince any ordinary mind, but Elijah
wants to make assurance doubly sure,
lest any should be led astray by the lies
of Baals priests. He chose Mount Car
mel as a fitting place for the test be-
cause of its exalted position, seventeen
hundred feet above the plain Of Esdrae-
lon So reasonable was Elijah's demand,
and SO great was Ahab's fear Of his
stern prophet, that the King did not
dare to refuse. To secure the attend
ance Of representatives from 'all Is
rael" (verse 20) would take some days.
Where Elijah spent those days we do
not know, but very possibly he spent
them in the mountain in prayerful prep
aration for the great scene that was soon
to follow.
Look at the people: there they are,
between Elijah and the four hundred
and fifty priests Of Baal, silent The
prophet of Jehovah appeals to them,
.asking them why they "halt" (that is,
vacillate) between two opinions. He
begs them to come to some final decis-
ion, and not think one thing to-day and
another tomorrow. They had been
"blowing hot and cold," and were never
firm one way or the other Yet, in re-
spouse to his manly appeal, they simply
held their peace. Probably they were
Influenced in this by the fear OF Ahab
and Jezebel They had not faith enough
in God to be sure of the issue OF the
impending trial OF strength between
Gods servant and the servants of Baal,
and they thought 'if we come out for
Jehovah, and the priests of Baal win
the victory, it will 60 hard with u.s."
So they said nothing. Nor did they ex-
actly dare to side openly with Baal,
lest in some way eyit should come upon
them from Jehovah.
Look at the priests Of Baal: four hun.
bred and fifty of them. They build
their altar; they prepare the sacrifice;
they cry aloud, pray, dance wildly, cut
themselves with knives. They keep
this up from morning until noon. The
people, the King, the prophet stand by
watching. Nothing happens; they re-
double their efforts. The afternoon
wears away; still no sign Of answer.
The heavens are as brass above them,
and the sacrifice as cold as ever.
Angrier and angrier they grow, but all
is in vain. Baal will not hear, Baal can
not hear, for what is he but an idol?
Look again at the prophet: Baal's
priests have had their turn, and now 1T
is his turn. Call for what he did. He
repairs Gods altar, which had long ago
been abandoned. He digs small trench
around the altar in the dry soil. Wood
and sacrifices are quietly put in order.
Twelve jars Of water are poured upon the
altar, wetting the wood and filing the
trench. The King, the priests Of Baal
and the people look on in silence. When
all is ready, Elijah approaches the altar
and lifts up his voice in prayer to his
God. Then, in an instant, binding fire,
like,chain lightning, falls from Heaven,
and wood, sacrifice, altar, water, all dis
appear.
Look again at the people: while Elijah
builds again the ruined altar and makes
oil his preparations, they stand by
watching undoubtedly. But when the
fire falls on the sacrifice they fall on
their faces. Divine power has convinced
them that Jehovah is God, and with
one voice they cry: "The Lord. He is
the God; the Lord, He is the God" This
was the starting point Of revival,
which brought many in Israel mot all,
however) back to their allegiance to the
true God. But II Is not SO much what
made them start in the right direction,
IS the fact Of their starting, that is Of
importance.-Rev. A. F. Schauffler, d. ID.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.