Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-08-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST T.
Subject: God Taking Care OF Elijah D
Kings, xviii, 1.18-Goiden Text, Pet,
w., 7-Memory Verses, Is, l4-Com'
,,,~u@ary nm the Dav'a Lesson.

W., 7-MemOry verses, 10, A1~
mentsry on the Days Lesson.
I. 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
Samueps day, and were founded IN varf
GUS parts of the land and in connection 1,
with them Elijah appears; l. HIS sr name
means my God is Jehovah z; he was
born at Thisbe, in the tribe OF Napnta.a,'
and was therefore called the Iishoite' ..
Tradition tells us that in appearance ne
was man of short statue and ruggeo
Thisbe mentioned in history in Galllee.
hence we conclude that although native,
of the tribe of Naphtali in Galilee, he had
become citizen of Gilead east OF the Jor.
dan. "Unto Ahab." Probably in the pal
ace in Samaria. What courage and falth
this must have taken! Gas the LORD
liveth." As Jehovah lveth.
Elijah begins by giving the authority Tor
his message. As sure as God lives, so GER
tain it will be that the prediction l am
about to make will take place. Il stand.
As servant or ambassador. Elijah was
accountable directly to God. Dew nor
rain" A terrible threat for q country an
nually parched by six months drought,
and only saved from utter barrenness by
the early rains of autumn. These years"
From Luke 4: rs, and James 5: II, we
learn that the famine lasted three and a
half years. From Kings Is: l we learn
that the famine ended in the third year,
(which means, perhaps, the third year Of
Elijah's stay in Zarephath." my word"
That is, as the Lord should proclaim His
will through Elijah. The famine was the
necessary preparation for Elijah's reform.
1t was direct attack upon Baal, who was
regarded as the god of all natural forces,
II. Elijah fed by ravens Tvs. .2-7(. 2.
Game" How, we know not. Gods oh.
ject was to protect Elijah from the rage
of Ahab and Jezebel. 3. Leave Samaria
and Withdrew from the haunts of men,"
Hide thyself." For the king that sent to
every land to find him Il Kings Is: 10y
would take every possible means to com.
pei him to speak the word of power that
would bring rain. When God intended to
send rain He babe Elijah to show himself
to Ahab Chapter Is: u. Brook Cherith."
A torrent bed, deep ravine, down which
Iii rainy times strong stream flowed. The
situation of Cherith has not been identi.
fed. 1t is probable that Cherith was east
place it there. 4. Commanded the ra.
vens." This plain, positive statement de.
fes all attempts to explain the facts stat
ed in verse six on rational or natural prin.
ciples.
S. "Did according" He took the word
Of the Lord in the hand of faith, as the
staff of his pilgrimage, and journeyed for
ward; and, whenever he grew weary, he
leaned upon his staff, and his strength
revived; and when danger threatened him
by the way, in view of this staff he was
not afraid. 6. Ravens brought him." The
bringing to Elijah OF suitable food was
evidently miraculous. Bread and flesh"
Ravens feed ON insects and carrion them.
selves, yet they brought the prophet
mans meat and wholesome food. As this
was the food appointed by the Lord for
the prophet, we may conjecture that it
was the food of the people. 7. after
while" Probably about year. Brook
dried up" If this stream had not dried
up crowds of people would have been
brought thther for water, and thus his
retreat would have been discovered.
III. Elijah at Zarephath Tvs. 8-l6). 0.
"Zarephath" The Sarepta of Luke A. 26.
1t was a city of Zidon in the dominions
of Ethbaal, Jezebels father. 1t was very
much as if one flying from lion was di.
rected to seek refuge in a lions den. "A
widow woman" The condition of the
WILLOWS III tHc CdSC Is utlpltSS Juc Ca
IRENE, SO that to receive support from
such a source would be another trial to
Elijah's faith. 1t was like leaning his
weight on support as frail as a spiders
web.
10. "He arose." His course was not to
reason and to speculate, but to hear and
obey. Gate" The abject poverty of the
widow is seen from her coming forth to
pick I'D chance bits of wood which might
have fallen from the trees outside the
city walls. .eThe widow" A widow.-R.
V. 1t was "the" widow whom God had
commanded, but Elijah at first saw only
"a" widow, not then knowing this was the
one God had designated. "A little wa
ter" His first need after his long jour,
ney through famine stricken Israel would
be water. The gift of water to the thirsty
is always regarded as sacred duty in the
East. Then, too, as Guthrie says, this
test would let Elijah know whether he had
found the one to whom he had been sent
IL. "As she was going" She readily
went at the first word. She objected not
at the present scarcity, nor asked what he
would give for draught, nor limited he
was stranger, but left gathering sticks
for herself to fetch water for him. "Mor.
sadly in need of it; doubtless, too, he was
listening for divine directions. Il. "Thy
God liyeth." She recognized Elijah as a
worshiper Of Jehovah, and her words in
dicated a reverence for God and some
knowledge of His ways. Cake" The
smallest kind of bread. A fiat, oval cake
u unleavened dough about ten inches in
diameter. meal" Wheat, ground in q
hand mill Barrel" An earthen jar.
oil" Olive oil; 10 eat with bread as a..
we do butter. CRUISE. A flask Tor r IL
mans at this day "two was then equiya.
lent to few. EAT it, and die" The
| famine prevailed there, and she was in the
| last extremity.
q, ls Fear mot CD Have p no fears h about %st
| a test of her faith in God, and would show
whether she was worthy of the help Eli.
| jah offered. 1t was necessary in order to
make the provision for her wants real
| blessing. Here is faith manifested by
| this poor heather woman such as was not
| found in Israel. Jesus found similar
| faith in woman of this same land Matt
Is: 2S). IA. Barrel not waste,
etc." A special miracle, but Gods com
mon way OF providing for mans common
wants is wonder daily repeated. The
teeming earth is like one vast granary
which God keeps ever full. Until the
day." 1t is supposed that he was In Zare'
| phath about two and a half years. ID
s'Went and did" The increase OF this
widows faith was as great miracle IL!
the kingdom Of grace as the increase OF
her oil in the kingdom of providence, :,
is. "Wasted not" Here was an exhibit
ton of that same divine power that in the
person Of Jesus multiplied the loaves and
fishea. ASi'
| ~ r. Nhun0ac