Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-07-13
ELIJAH ON CARMEL.
sunday School Lesson in the Inter-
national Series for July II,
1881 Kings 18,3O-4O,

Sunday School Lesson in the Inter-
national Series for July II,
1881 Kings 1S.3O-4O.
BIASED upon Peloubets Select Notes.1
GOLDEN TEXT.-And when all the peo-
pie saw it. they fell on their faces; and
they said. the Lord. He is the God; the
Lord, He is the God.-1 Kings 1885,
THE SECTION includes the story of the
sacrifice on Carmel and the results, re-
pentant people. and the end of the famine
(chap. 49,.
TIME.-B. c. 1884,, revised chronology,
or $685., according to the chronology in
our Bible margins Three years after Eli
JAMS first appearance to Ahab.
EXPLANATION.
I. Elijah and Ahab.-When the peo-
pie were ripe for it, Gods word came to
Elijah to go to King Ahab, and to COM
plate the work for which the famine
was sent. Ahab's first words to him
were: "Art thou he that troubleth
Israeli" He had no word to say of his
own sin; he forgot the iniquity of the
people of the land, in which he had been
the leader; he took no note of the hand
of Jehovah in the calamity, and spoke
as if the whole matter had been mere
personal difference between him and
Elijah. Elijah replied: II have not
troubled Israel; but thou and thy fa-
theirs house." Sin was the cause of the
calamity, and the only way to escape
the calamity was to put away the sin.
Elijah's purpose now was to bring the
people to the choice of the true God, and
to accomplish the religious reformation
for which the famine had been prepar-
ing their minds. Hence he demanded
of the king to assemble the people on
the top of Mount Carmel, that they
might make their choice. When they
were assembled, early in the morning,
Elijah summoned the people to a de-
cision. ''How long halt We between two
opinions?''
The question was between Jehovah
and Baal; true religion and false re-
ligion; morality, truth, blessing and
immortality and its brood Of evils. The
one party was represented by one man
alone-Elijah the other by $50 prophets
of Baal, sustained by the whole power
of government.
Elijah challenged the other side to a
fair test, as to who was the true and liv.
ing God. It was the test of fire. The
priests of Baal built an ALTAR, placed the
sacrificial bullock upon it, and put nc
fire under it. There were too many
eyes upon them for any trickery, and
not knowing what kind of test was tc
be expected, they had no opportunity
to pre- pare for any deceit. They grew
frenzied in their excitement, and cut
themselves with their weapons. But
there was no answer, though they con.
tinued th cir eXertions till three o'clock
II. Elijah and His Sacrifce.-Vs. 80.
80. Then Elijaa, called all the people to
him. 30. "And he repaired the altar
of the Lord that was broken down.
probably one of the affairs thrown down
by command of Ahab or Jesebel.
80. GAS great as would contain two
measures of seed:" Literally, "as the
space of two seahs of seed" The seah
contained about three of our gallons.
A trench as deep AS the grain, measure
containing two seahs.
33. Fill four barrels:" Or "wate1
jars" such as the maidens used to carry
on their heads. Elijah did this to avoi6
all possible suspicion of fraud. This
was repeated second and third time
SO. AT the time . of the evening
sacrifce:" About three o'clock p. IN.
Elijah's wonder harmonized with thu
regular worship of God. Lord God O:
Abraham" etc.: Israel's covenant Tod
who claimed their obedience, and wh<
had done wonders for their nation il
the past, delivering them from Egyp
tian bondage, dividing the Red sea
bringing water from THE rock, and man
ma from Heaven. known tha
thou art God in Israeli" Art still theil
rightful God, and canst deliver them a:
of old. "All these things at thy word:
All was Gods doing, not any trick o:
Elijah.
38. "The fire of the Lord feal:" Thus
they could plainly see for themselves
that there was no trickery, no bidder
fire, but that the answer could be only
from God Himself. "And consume
. the wood, and the stones:" o.
WHICH the aItuI was Du1lI. And Inc
dust" Tor earth), which, dug up to make
the trench, had been used to fill in the
altar built around with the IL stones
This fire and it's work were Gods sig
nature to Elijah's work.
III. The Decision.-Vs- 80, 40. 80
**When all the people saw it, they fell
ON their faces:" In reverent worship
and awe at the spectacle. 'The Lord
He is Gods" The test was convincing
It helped the people to stand up against
the power of Jezebel and her terrible
prosecutions. For here, on Gods side,
was power greater than hers. It thus
enabled the 1000 sincere worshipers OF
God (19:18), who had been, hiding from
the storm of her wrath, to stand openly
FOR Jehovah.
40. ''Take the prophets of Baal," etc.
There were $50 of them, and they were
forced by the people down the mountain
to the brook Kishon, and slain there.
Nv. The Prayer Upon the Mountain
Top.-While Ahab went to eat instead
of fasting and praying for his sins,