The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-07-08
ELIJAH THE PROPHET.
Sunday school Lesson in the Inter-
national Series for July 10,
1s9s-1 Kings I7.1-16.

wasted not, neither did the cruise of oil
fail, according to the word of the Lord
LESSON NOTES
l. General View of the Course of the
History OF Israel from the Division to
Ahab, About 20 Years.. Jeroboam's
worldly policy brought forth bitter
fruits both for himself and his king
dom. His golden bulls used as symbols
of Jehovah soon led the people to real
idolatry and to the immoralities and
cruelties of heather worship. All this
weakened the kingdom. When Jero-
boam died, after reign Of "a years, rev.
olution followed revolution, in dark,
restless times. Then Omri came TO the
throne. He was strong ruler and i'm
pressed himself on the surrounding ma
lions, as we learn from the inscriptions
on the Moabite stone and the black
obelisk. But as to idolatry, he followed
in the steps of Jeroboam. The next
king was his son Ahab. He was a great
warrior. His greatest mistake was his
marriage, for the sake of political al
lance, with the heather princess, Jeze-
bel of Tyre, who left terrible mark
on the annals of the nation.
H. EGjah's Message to Ahab.-V. 1.
sand Elijah the Tishbite (his name
means my God is Jehovah), who was of
the inhabitants of Gilead." The fish
bite may mean "of Tishbe." The only
Thisbe mentioned in history is in Gal
lice, in which case Elijah, though a ma
dive of Galilee, had become a citizen of
Gilead, east of the Jordan. "Said unto
Ahab:" With sudden abruptness, al
most like flash of lightning from
clear sky, the prophet of God appears
before Ahab in his palace at Samaria
with a message from Jehovah. "As the
LORD (Jehovah, as Lord always means
when printed in capitals in our Bible)
God of Israel liveth. Before whom I
stand" As an officer, and AMBASSADOR
bearing His authority. There shall
not be dew nor rain:" The fertility of
Palestine is entirely dependent upon
the regularity and copiousness of the
rains, and, during the long intervals
between them, upon the heavy dews.
"But according to my world" Not ac-
cording to his own caprice or judg-
ment, but till the Lord, when He saw
that the famine's work was done, should
make known His will through His serv-
ant Elijah, thus proving that he was
His servant.
III. Elijah's Experiences During
Three Years and Their Meaning.-Vs.
PIG. First. At Cherith. Elijah imme-
diately left Ahab's presence and hid
himself till Gods time came for His
message to be delivered.
3. sect thee hence, and return thee
eastward: !" l. e., toward the Jordan and
Gilead, his own country. "And hide
myself by (rather 'in'') the brook (the
torrent course, or wady) Cherith, that's
before Jordan:" Elijah would natu-
rally go to his own country, whose
wiids and Businesses would be perfect
~ familiar to him.
4. For drink he had "the brook" For
food, 81 have communicative ravens to
feed thee:" Farrar and many critics
think this a highly poetic expression,
a metaphor, Conveying the lesson that
the prophet was maintained by marked
interventions of that providence of God
which is itself in all its workings super
natural" But equally simple and more
natural is the literal statement.
Second. At Zarephath. Time, two or
more years. When the brook dried up
Elijah could no longer remain at Che
rith. In some way, we know not how,
God made known to him where he
should go. Possibly, too, if he remained
too long in one place Ahab might dis
cover his abode.
9. ""Arise, get thee to Zarephath. which
belongeth TO Zidon:" On the shore be-
tween Tyre and Sidon. Here the
prophet would be safe from Ahab, who
would scarcely think of looking for
Elijah in the territories of Jezebel's ia
Their in the house of peasant. 81 have
commanded" Put it in her heart.
10. "The Tor AZ widow woman:" The
widow lived by the oath, "as Jehovah
thy God liveth," that she was a wor-
shipper of the true God. Gathering of
eticks:" For her fire. "Fetch me
-. little water:" His first need
after his long walk through the famine
stricken land would be water.
~. Sand she said, As the Lord thy
God liveth, l have not a cake, but hand
full of meal in a barrel, and little oil
in cruise; and, behold, am gathering
two sticks, that may go. in and dress
it for me and my son, that we may eat it
and die" The famine prevailed there,
and she was in the last extremity.
10. Fear. not:" Do not be troubled,
but take heart and trust God. "Make
me thereof little cake frst:" This
must have seemed very strange and
hard to her at first, amazingly cool, .
but the favor was not asked from the
selfshness of the prophet. TWAS test
of her faith in the promises of God,
whether she were worthy of the help
Elijah offered.
IA. "For thus saith the Lord God of Is