The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-07-14
ELIJAH on CARMEL


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srlee6-a 1kiass -lssao->~
rBassd upon Peloubet's Select Notss.l
GOLDEN TExT.-And when AL the peo.
pls saW n they fell on their faces: ana
they ,sid AZ the n. dSs aose. hs x,s., . s1s as ''
THE SECTION includes the story Of the
sacriacs ON Carmel and the results. re-
pentant people. and the end OF the famine
(chap. 80. ..l.. .e.- -t-
TIME.-B. C. ses-l. revised chronology.
or s06-s, according to the chronology In
our Bible margins. Three years after Eli
jah's first appearance to Ahab.
EXPLANATION.
/, Elijah and Ahab.-When the peo-
pie were ripe for It, Gods word came to
Elijah TO go to King Ahab. and to COM
plste the work for which the famine
was sent. Ahab's first words 10 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 II the whole matter had been mere
personal difference between him and
Elijah. Elijah replied: II have not
| troubled Israel; but thou and thy IA.
| theirs house." Sin was the cause OF the
calamity, and the only way to escape
the calamity was to put away the sin.
J E!ijah'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'y between two
opipions?"
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 45O prophets
of Baal, sustained by the whole power
Of government.
Elijah challenged the other side to
fair test, as to who was the true and liv-
ing God. It was the test Of fire. The
priests Of Baal built analtar, placed the
sacrificial bullock upon 1t, and put no
fire under H. There were too many
eyes upon them for any trickery, and
not knowing what kind Of test was to
be expected, they had no opportunity
to prepare for any deceit. They grew
frenzied in their excitement, and cut
themselves with their weapons. But
there was no answer, though they con-
tinued the cir exertions tin three o'clock.
II. Elijah and His Sacrifce.-Vs. 30
as. Then Elijah called all the people to
him. 30. "And he repaired the altar
OF the Lord that was brolsen downs"
probably one of the affairs thrown down
BY command Of Ahab or Jesebel.
90. "As 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
contanicg two senhs.
80. "Eill four barrels:" Or ''wate,
jars," such as the maidens used to carry
ON .,hcir heads. Elijah did this to avoio
a.. ,oss.b.e suspicion OF fraud. Thii
W., repeats cd a second and a third time
So. AZ the time OF the evening
sacriflce:" About three o'clock p. m.
: Eliiah's wonder harmonized with th'
regular worship OF God. "Lor|' God o
Abraham" etc.: ls..,. ; coveLslnt God
r who claiuled their obedience, and whit
, had done wonders for their nation IL
the past, delivering them from Egyp
;, tan bondage, dividing the Red sea
e bringing water from the rock. and man
ma from Heaven. known tina
: thou art God in Israeli" Art still thei
rightful God, and canst deliver them a
b of old. "All these things at thy word:
: All was Gods doing, not any trick o
Elijah.
o 3s. 1.-The fire of the Lord fell:" Thu
r they could plainly see for themselve
i that there was no trickery, no hidde
g fire, but that the answer could be onl
from God Himself. "And consume
e the wood, and the stones:" o
h which the altar was built. "And tn
: dust" (or earth, which, dug up to max
4 the trench, had been used to fill in tn
e altar built around with the 12 stones
d This fire and It's work were Gods sig
= nature to Elijah's work.
Ill. The Decision.-Vs- 80, 40. 81
V "When all the people saw It, they fe
J. on their faces" In reverent worshi
II and owe at the spectacle. "The LORI
o. He Is Gods" The test was convincing
IS 1t helped the people to stand up againi
n the power Of Jezebel and her terrib
2 prosecutions. For here, on Gods sid
was power greater than hers. Nth'
a enabled the 1000 sincere worshipers
70 God (19:1S), who had been hiding fro1
Is the storm Of her wrath. to stand openl
ID for Jehovah.
!" 40. "Take the prophets OF Baal," ct
,e There were 45O Of them, and they wei
ST forced by the people down the mounta
A. to the brook Kishon, and slain there.
In w. The Prayer Upon the Mountnl
Top.-While Ahab went TO eat inste'
= - n l. L.