The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-17
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson vIII.-First Quarter, For
Feb. 10, 1911. /
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Il
Text OF the Lesson, Kings xix, f-f6.
Memory Verses, 11-t3-0olden Text,
lisa. xI, 31--cemmentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
In the last lesson we left Elijah In
humble. patient, persevering, believing
prayer on tho top Of Carmel, down
upon the earth with his face between
his knees, commanding his servant to
go again and again, even seven times
until be should see some indication OF
the promised rain. At the seventh
time the servant saw little cloud like
mans hand, and soon the heaven
was black with clouds and wind, and
there was a great rain How sugges-
tive the little cloud was of the mans
hand that was taking hold Of God in
prayer!
How great the contrast between
Ahab eating and drinking, enjoying
himself, thinking more of horses and
mules than of perishing people xviii.
~. and the man Of God caring only for
the glory of the living and true God,
whom he represented Since the Lord
said to Elijah when He sent him to
meet Ahab, 81 will send rain upon
the earth xviii, ~, why should Elijah
need to pray so earnestly for It? This
is perplexing to many, but it is His
way. Concerning His great promises
&a Ynwa - t. Wy SSw
will yet for this be inquired of by the
house of Israel to do 1t for them's
(Ezek xxxvi 80.
The question should search Us, Have
we anything of the zeal for God and
persevering prayer that Elijah had?
When Ahab reached home and told
Jezabel all that Elijah had done she
was angry indeed and sent mes
senger to him with threat that she
would have his life within twenty.
four hours. Now comes the strange
part Of the story in the seemingly sad
fact that the man OF God who feared
not Ahab nor all the prophets OF Baal
should fee for his life at the threat OF
this wicked woman when It seemed
that time to lead the people back to
the God who had answered by fire.
By look In the wrong direction he
seemed to lose his hold on God. Like
Peter when he saw the wind bolster
Gus, he began to sink (Matt. xiv. 3Ol.
IL we would be established we must
always see the Lord alone and re-
member IL God be for us who can be
against us.
AS he sat under juniper tree far
away In the wilderness he realized that
ne was no better than others and not
worthy to i've The conflict was too
severe, and he would fam be at rest.
He was man just as weak as any OF
us and strong Only In the Lord. The
Lord, who is always full of compass.
sion, had not forsaken His weary and
discouraged servant, and as he lay and
slept one OF those blessed ministerinw
spirits CHeb. !, 40 prepared something
Tor him to eat and drink and awaked
him that he might be refreshed with
FOOD as well as sleep. Again he slept.
and again he was awaked to partake of
more food, in the strength Of which he
went forty days and forty nights unto
Horeb, the mount of God (verse 81.
There he lodged in a cave, and the
same Lord who cared for him at Che
rtth and Zarephath must have cared for
him at Horeb, but what were his noedi-
tationsf Did he think of him to whom
the Lord here appeared In the bush
that burned, but was not consumed.
and who here tasted forty days on two
different occasions? Did he think OF
the thunders and lightnings and quak,
Ing OF the mount at the giving of the
law eek. I'LL and XIX, and did he long
Tor some manifestation OF God? Gould
ne forget the answers from heaven
on Carmel so recently7 But many
days or even weeks had passed since
then, and he had not been in full Eel.
lowship. 1t is sad thing to lose in
any way or for any length of time the
conscious fellowship with God which
is our privilege.
Well, in due time the word OF thu
Lord came to him with the question
what doest thou here, EliiahTs
VERSES Q, 49, His answer each time
was that he had been very Jealous for
the Lord God OF hosts and that he was
the only prophet left and they were
seeking his life verses 10, 14).
After his first reply he was told to
80 forth and stand upon the mount
before the Lord. Then came a great
wind which rent the mountains and
broke in pieces the rocks before tho
Lord, then an earthquake and then a
fire, but 1t was not until after the
fire there came still small voice that
Elijah heard the second question.
What doest thou here 7'' After All
that ne had just seen and experienced
his answer Is the same, and he ID stlll
occupied with himself and his zeal for
God and his Importance to God.
He was a man Of mighty deeds ana
evidently thought that only in soma
mighty way could Israel be cleansed
from her idolatry. God has a wav
SO different from our way Outlines
lisa. ", 8, 81. and 1t becomes ne
to hear and heed His yoice. III win
work, and who shall hinder ftp nsa.
Kill, 18) How suggestive and search
Ing his commission now as well Al
the twice repeated What doest thon
nereT Go, return, anoint Elisha To
De prophet In thy room; have left Ne
seven thousand In Israeli NV. 1a,
Let us never think that WA ape ~