The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-07-21
E11JAH's FLIGHT.
Sunday school LessOn In the Inter-
national Series for July ~,
1S9s-1 Kings 10s1-1O.

sUBJECT.-Elijah's Flight and Encou--
THE LESSON.
1. The Flight Of Elijah.-vs. 1-3. l.
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah
had done:" But the story did not af-
| feet her as the actual events would
| have done.
2. Then Jezebel sent a messenger
unto Elijah," who had wisely stayed
without the city. $50 let the gods do
to me, and more:" A common oath of
that age. IF make not thy life as
the life of one of them:" The dead
prophets of Baal.
3. HE arose and went for his life:"
He knew all the byways, and fastened
out of the kingdom of Jezebel to Beer
sbeba on the farthest verge of the
kingdom of Judah, a run of 05 miles,
that must have tried even his hardy
frame and trained endurance.
| II. Elijah in the Dungeon of Giant
Despair.-V. 4. HE himself went
days journey into the wilderness"
Elijah did not feel himself safe until
he was beyond the territory of Judah,
for Jehoshophat was closely allied to
Ahab Il Kings 22:4); and his son Je-
horam married the daughter of Jezebel
| e. Chron. 2l:6; 2 Kings s:1s). And
sat down under juniper trees" Rather
the broom-plant, Genista, retem bush.
Although but bush. it is large enough
to give considerable shade and protec
ton. The pent-up emotions of his
spirit, which had gone through so tre-
mendous a strain, broke up as in one
terrible sob, when the strong man, like
a tired child. requested for himself
that be might die II am rot better
than my fathers:" Who died withou:
reforming the world.
III. The Causes and Cure of Elijah's
Despondepcy.--Vs. 5-16. The first cause
was physical. It was the reaction, the
exhaustion of physical and nervous en-
ergy, after the excitement and intense
nervous strain of his great work on
Carmel. The cure was twofold. 1t was
O sleep. 5. "He lay and slept under a
juniper tree:- "He giveth His beloved
sleep.--Psa. 1877; (2)food. ''Then an
angel touched him." The unseen spir-
its are not all evil, but more and
mghtier are the angels who have all
through mans history been his helpers.
6. And behold cake Chat
had been) baken on the Goals" (or en-
bers): Simply the ordinary food of the
desert Arabs. And cruise (or bottle)
of water" For us, too, in our hours Of
discouragement, God has provided liv-
ing waters and the mama from Heaven
in His Word, and in the presence Of
the Holy Spirit. "And laid him down
again." Not because he did not appre-
cate the gift, but from his complete
exhaustion. Sleep had not yet done it's
work.
The second cause was loneliness and
want Of human sympathy. 9. What
doest thou here, Elijah?" It was an
awakening cry, to show him that be was
far away from his field of work.
10. II have been very jealous" Un-
willing that any other god should have
the honor and worship that belonged to
Jehovah. "For the children of Israel
have forsaken thy covenant" etc. The
whole outward worship of the kingdom
had been turned towards idols. "And
l, even I only, am left:" Obadiah had
preserved hundred prophets in cave,
but as they did not come forth to stand
with Elijah he did not count them as
anything. He felt himself to be alone in
an awful desolation.
The cure was found a. in the hal
lowed memories of Horeb. Here God
revealed Himself to Moses, who had
also been discouraged. Success had
slowly come out of worse times than
those Of Elijah. (2) In v. 1s. where God
assures Elijah that there were 1000
true followers of Jehovah in Israel.
Elijah had counted wrong. as modern
men are continually doing.
II. 'Go forth and stand upon the
mount" That is. just outside Of the
cave. He went to the opening and
looked out. "And, behold, the Lord
passed by:" In the symbols of His
power
l2. "Fire:- Lightning, vivid. oontin.
usl. terrible. "And after the fire still
small voioe:" Literally, "a sound Of
soft stiffness"
13. THAT he wrapped his face in his
mantle:" In reverent awe at the power
of God. The first lesson this scene
/
taught Elijah was that he had applied
wrong tests to his work. His real sue
cess was not to be measured by things
that strike the senses, by miracles oil
shoutings Of the people, 'or storms
These pass away, but the real success
does not pass away with them. Goo
showed Elijah also His method Of prog
ress by silent, invisible, but mighty
forces, not easily measured.
The Fourth Cause was the Want O.
Active Work for the Cause.-13- ''Wha
doest thou here2" Why are you no,
} where your work is? Many person il
Respondent beA Ause he is not in activ,
work for good cause.
IS. Return on thy way" (bsck Il
IsraeD ITO the wilderness of Damas
Gus" which is situated on the borders o.