Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-08-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST 7.

Subject: God Taking Care of elijah, J
Kings, xviii, 1-16-Goldon Text, Pet,
", 7-Memory Verses, IS, 14-Com.
mentary Oh the Days Lesson.
l. Elijah and his message ". ~. !:
Elijah" This prophet comes suddenly
upon the scene. The schools OF the pro
phets seem to have had their origin in
Samucl's day, and were founded in vari
Gus parts of the land and in connection
with them Elijah appears; /. His name
means MY God is jehovah .: He was
born at Thisbe, in the tribe of Naphtali,
and was therefore called the Tishbite. B
Tradition tells us that in appearance he
was man of short statue and rugged
,ountcnance. >"Of Glead." The ony
rhisbe mentioned in history in Galilec,
hence we conclude that although native
Of the tribe of Naphtali in Gallee, he had
become citizen of Gilead east of the JM
Ian. Unto Ahab," Probably in the pal
ace in Samara. w hat courage and faitt
this must have taken! AS the Lord
lvcth.' As Jehovah liveth
Elijah begins by giving the authority fo'
tain it will be that the prediction | am
about to make will take place. - stand
AS servant or ambassador. Elijah wac
accountable directly to God. dew nor
ran." A terrible threat for country an
nua.ly parched by six months drought
and only saved from utter barrenness by
the cary rains of autumn. These years.
From Luke 4: %, and James 5: II, we
learn that the famine lasted three and a
half years. From | Kings is: we learn
that the famine ended in the third year,
EIijah's stay in Iarephath.' MY word"
That is, as the Lord should proclaim Ilis
will through Elijah The famine was the
necessary preparation for Eiiiah's reform.
1t was direct attack upon l'aal, who wac
regarded as the god Of all natural forces,
aud the test would show hi impotcncy.
II. Elijah fed by ravens Tvs. 20. :
Came How, &c know not. Gods oh
jet was to protect Elijah from the rage
If Ahab and Jczcbcl. 3. Leave |amaria
and withdrew from the haunts of men,
every land to find him ii Kings 10: lO)
would take every possible means to com
pc, HIM to speak the word OF power that
would bring rain. When God intended tC
send ram He babe Elijah to show himself
to Ahab (chapter Is: y. Brook Cherith.'
A torrent bed, ii deep ravlne, down which
in RAINY times ii strong stream flowed. The
situation of ChCrith has not been identi
he'd. 1T is probable that Cherith vas east
,, the Jordan. Eu,"bius and jerome
place it there. 4. "Com,..andcd the IL
vens.' This plain, positive statement de
tics all attempts to cNp'a,n the facts stat
ed IN verse six Oh rational or natural prin
:ipes,
j. Did According He took the word
Of the Lord in the hand of faith. as the
staff OF his pilgrimage, and journeycd for
ward; and, whenever he grew weary, he
leaned upon his staff and his strength
revived; and when danger threatened nm
by the way. IN view OF this stall he was
not AFRAID. e. "RavcnS brought him. The
bringing to Eliah OF suitable food was
evidently miraculous. Bread and flesh.
Ravens feed on insects and Ca'r!on them.
selves, yet they brought the propnet
man : meat and Wholesome fool. rs this
was the food appo.htcd by the L'rd ioi
the prophet. We may conjecture that II
was the food "t the pcop'c. I. after a
wh'"." Probably about year, Brook
il,rd up" II TIM, stream had not dr,rd
up crowds of people would have been
brought tnlthcr tor water, and thus his
retreat would haze been discovered.
III. Elijah at /alcphath tvs. Sl6l. 0
"/arepharh." The Sdrcpta OF Luke 1: ~
1t wa, city OF Ildpn in the domnlona
of fthhdal, JczcbcHs father. 1t was very
much Is il one flying from lion Was dl
rcntcd to seek refuge in hons den. "A
widow wOnan." he condition of the
widows in the East is helpless in the cx
IRENE, SO that to receive support from
such ourcr would be another trial tc
E.ijah's faith 1t was like leaning his
weight on support Us trail as Il SPIDERS
web.
10. "llc arose" His course was not tC
reason and to speculate, bat to hear and
obey. Gate The anlcct poverty of tht
widow j., seen from her coming forth tc
u,rk I'M chance BITS Of wood wn,,n mlunt
have iaIcn from the trees outside tic
r,tv v,l,. "T6r w,tnv" wiJ,w II
rn,nm,rJ"d hnt ElIh 4, hrst saw on,v
"a" widow, not then knowing this was the
one God had designated. "A little wa
ter" liz, first need al cr his long iour
mcy through famine stricken Israel won
be water. Tho gllt OF water to the thirsty
is aiwavs regarded as A sacred duty in the
East. Then, too, a Guthrie says, this
test would let Ehjah know whether he had
found the one to whom he had been sent
III. AS she was gong" She readily
went at the first word. She objected not
at the present scarcity. nor asked what he
would rive for draught, nor limited he
was a stranger, but lett gathering sticks
for herself to fetch water for HIM. Nor
sci of bread" no doubt the prophet was
sadly in need OF it; doubtless. too. he was
listening tor divine directions. II "Thy
God livtth." she recorulzcd Elijah As a
worshiper Of ,Ichnyah and her words in,
dicated A reverence for God and some
knowledge of Ills wavs, Cake" The
smallest kind OF bread. A fat, oval cake
of unleayencd dough abou, ten inches IN
diameter "NIcal" Wheat. ground in a
hand mill Barrel An carthcn lar,
"Oil." Olive oil. TO cat with bread a.