The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-03
Third Quarter. Lessin x. Kings
 xix, s-1s, September 1, 1904.
Elijah Encouraged.

Elijah Encouraged.
 Elijah, the exile. the fugitive, left his last companion behind him at the last outpost of his own country. Beer sheba. He gave himself over to the mystery of the desert with its mirage for the eye and unearthly whisper for the ear. on he sped. until, at length, on the rim of the horizon. rose the on the rim of the horizon, rost the thunder smitten pile which marked afar one of the most sacred places of earth. Mount Sinai lowering like beauteous dome in the azure. He had 1 consciously reached the goal of his sol itary journey.
 The awesome loneliness of the noun tain, only peopled with the stirring memories of the past. was the fit en- vironment for the prophets all-night vigil. He would naturally review the past. Measured by the calander 1t was a short time since God called him out of Gilead into Samaria. But, measured by events and issues. it must have seemed an age. His task was the re- covery of a backslidden nation. To accomplish this he had denied bis coun- trymen the greatest boon of nature | in the Orient, rain of heaven, and had, after a prolonged season of suffering, restored 1t. He had presided at the duel between Jehovah and Baal on Carmel in sight of a nation and It's unworthy ruler. He had put four hun dred infamous priests >to death. No prophet before him had done greater works.
 Great and pitiful must have been the prophets strivirgs in his solitary cell that mountain cave. He had lost him. self and his clew to Providence. All his calculations were at fault. He had fully expected to lead a penitent peo- pie to Jehovah's altar. but at that very moment he must needs himself be- come a fugitive. The bitter cup of de- feat was pressed to his lips. Chagrin and vexation took possession of him. Yet he could not but know he had come to the Mountain of the Burning Bush. On this very spot God had once spoken to another, who, under trying circumstances, stood forth as the representative of Israel. God had spoken to Moses. Elijah here might expect to hear the same voice. The harp of the human poul was strung for the breath of the Divine Spirit. The prepared message as ever came to the prepared ear.
 Jehovahs challenge came first. It is not necessarily a rebuke. as If Goa had said What are you. prophet of Samaria, doing here in Arabia?" It is, perhaps, only intended to awaken him and lead him to give free utter ance to the thoughts and feelings of his own heart. The reply is thoroughly human and natural. The prophet pro- tests his Jealousy for Jehovah. He could not brook a rival to God In the reverence and worship of the people. In a single dash he paints the dolorous nocturne of his times--covenant for saken, altars thrown down. prophets slain, and the life of the last represen- tative of pure worship sought by cum ming murderess.
 In response to his plaint. the prophet is called to the door of his retreat to witness a parable of nature. First came an irresistible hurricane. which leveled granite barriers. It was a synonym of invincible might. Noun tains were rent and rocks broken in pieces. Certainly this must be God Yet the prophet knows by intuition that though the scene is awful 1t is not the best revelation of God. He records that comparatively 1t is as if God was not In the wind at all. Next comes the earthquake. Stable old earth sways horizontally. and at the same time rises and falls. Certainly He who laid the foundations of the earth only could remove theml But after considera- tion the prophet concludes also that even an earthquake Is not an adequate revelation. and that compared to other forms. God is not in the earthquake at all. Next came fire. All the noun tain was a living flame as in the day when Moses stood on the very spot. The prophets night was turned to day. All the rocky scenery. its heights and depths, stood revealed. But even this purest element of nature. so indispen- sable to man. was not the best revela-