Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-09-09
Elijah's Flight
and Return
LESSON TEXT Kings 19:S-1S.
(Read entire chapter).
GOLDEN TEXT-Be still and

GOLDEN TEXT-Be still and
know that 1 am God. Ps. 46:1O.
| Elijahs' great victory over the
prophets of Baal which resulted in |
their determination is followed by a |
most notable prayer service on the |
top of Mount Carmel us :4245). So
| confident was the prophet that at the |
arising of "a little Cloud he hastily |
summoned the feasting king and |
urges his departure to his home. that
the rain stop thee not The God
whom Elijah had honored so signally
that day laid his hand upon the
prophet (1S:46) so that he was able
to outrun the kings horses to the en-
trance of Jezreel. There he is met
by a messenger of the wicked queen
G9:2) who had been. the protector
and provider of the slain prophets.
Getting his eyes off of God and seeing
only vile and wicked woman Eli
iah not only ran for his life out of
Ahabs domains but also event a
days journey into the wilderness" to
the protecting shade of Il juniper tree
(v.4).
I. The Discouraged Prophet, w.
4-S. Old and young. great and small,
we all have our periods of discour-
agement and frequently despair.
Christians encounter with Giant De-
J spair appeals to us all for it is. so
true to life. At Carmel. Elijah con-
trolled the king; in his palace at Jez-
reel. JeZebel soon shattered his good
resolutions. if he had any. We must
, recall that it was her prophets Elijah
had destroyed. There is a suggestion
in the fact that Elijah did not enter
her presence (1S:46). Yonder in the
; wilderness. his Gethsemane. Elijah
, prayed a vastly different sort of
t prayer than upon Mount Carmel.
.Tezebel is still in power. Heathenism
is not overthrown, his efforts had been
: but trying to dam Niagara with bull
ruShes."
No one who has ever heard the ora
! torio Elijah sung will ever forget
L the bitter agony of "tI is enough" 1"
: The prophet who alone had been eX-
$ allied to the heights was alone capable
; to sounding such a depth of human
{ despair The sources of his discour-
agement We're his physical condition.
his loneliness, inactivity. mental re-
action and Il feeling that his cause
was lost.
Gods first remedy was to feed his
fainting servant and then give him Il
= task to perform. viz. a journey to
; Mount Horeb Mount of GOd), for
God loved him just as truly now as
previously ut Carmel. In this new
; strength Elijah went forty days"
. ". s: 1 Pet. 2:2).
: ii. The Encouraging God, Wv. 9-13.
n Gods second remedy was to give
: Elijah his word though this time Ii
II suggested reproof. What doest thou
n here?" Elijah is ont of place. In re-
# ply he begins to rehearse his loyalty
:. to God. and how mad the others were
k and then in seeming petulance he
j. adds. land they seek my life" 81
only" are the words of the selfish
It man and when Elijah used them he
\ too was a backslidden servant. 1t is
If true that there was great apOstasy il
II Israel but the prophet was far from
,r being the only true servant remain
Ie ing. (See 1874; 20:13: 22:35. Al
Ii 22:S). This is favorite way the
,e Evil One has for paralyZing our eff
"a forts. There is no evidence but thai
rs the 1000 We're as brave, certainly n
he that moment more so. than Elijah
God then continued his treatment b!
IF giving the prophet Il vision of himsel
f. and of his methods for advancing hi'
IN kindom A series of symbols plaine
le and more impressive than words alon'
In could possibly have done. Leaving
the protecting cave Elijah first met /
wind which rent the mountains, ;
type of Elijah'S past activity. Thi
u was not Gods chief power no
method. The mighty wind which de
stroys is as nothing compared to tn
silent forces which create.
Ill. The Result, w. 1913. AS
. sovereign remedy, God now sets be
re fore Elijah three definite tasks to per
H. form. Elijah still speaks of his faith
~ fulness as though the success of TIL
~ Cause depended upon him. The maj
- who assumes that attitude in the worl
i,v of Gods Kingdom will, like Elijah
~ soon be set aside. Elijah's first tasl
~ Gus and "anoint''--set apart for spe
>. cial service-Hazael tv. I'D, who wa
IN IN 10 be the instrument of Furnishing Is
., rael. His next task was to find Jehr
III the commander chief of Ahab'
~ army, and set him aside to be tn
re king. not immediately but to be i
VI training for that office.
- Elijah's work Is now not that of fir
,,a and wind, but of the "still sma
Nv, voice" TO others is delegated tn
~ more spectacular tasks which thes
,w typify.
In this connection ". 10 those ar
strange words, "shall Elisha slay.
To fully understand them we must b
ut familiar with that prophets life an
or. work, also with that accomplished b
Jehu. (See ii Kings 2:23, "a; Ho
0:5, @; lisa. IL :6). r tu.
in Elijah's third task was to appoii
ar. his successor and suraly no hard,
task ever comes to any of MS than
turn nuar oIr uarl to annIlnr-