The Brinkley argus., 1915-09-10
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 12
ELlJAH,s FLIGHT AND RETURN

ELlJAH'S FLIGHT AND RE IohN'
 LESSON TEXT-I Kings 1s:s-1S- (Read entire chapter).
 HOLDEN TExT-Be still and know that I am God. Ps. 46:10.
 Elijah's great victory over the prophets of Baal which resulted In their extermination is followed by a most notable prayer service on the top of Mount Carmel (1S:42-45). 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 propnet (18:46) so that he was able to outrun the kings horses to the entrance or Jezreel. There he Is met by mes- seneer of the wicked queen (l9:2) who had been the protector and pro- wider of the slain prophets. Getting his eyes off of God and seeing only a vile and wicked woman Elijah not only ran for his life out of Ahabs do- mains but also went 8 days journey into the wilderness" to the protecting shade of a juniper tree (v. 4).
 1. The Discouraged Prophet, W. 4s. Old and young, great and small, we all have our periods of discourage ment and frequently despair. Chris tian's encounter with Giant Despair appeals to us all for it is so true to life. At Carmel, Elijah controlled the king; in his palace at Jezreel, Jezebel soon shattered his good resolutions if he had any. We must recall that 1t was her prophets Elijah had de- stroyed. There Is suggestion in the fact that Elijah did not enter heI presence (1S:46). Wonder in the will derness, his Gethsemane, Elijah prayed a vastly different sort o1 prayer than upon Mount Carmel Jezebel 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 the bitter agony of Tt is enough The prophet who alone had been ex alted to the heights was alone capable to sounding such depth of human despair The sources of his discour agement were his physical condition his loneliness, inactivity, mental reac tion and a feeling that his cause wal lost
 Gods first remedy was to feed hi fainting servant and then give him task to perform, viz, a journey tt Mount Horeb (Mount of God), for Got loved him just as truly now as pre- viously at Carmel. In this new strength Elijah went forty days" (v 8; Pet. 2:2).
 II. The Encouraging God, w. 9-13 Gods second rerAedy was to giv' Elijah his word though this time i | suggested reproof. What doest thol here?" Elijah is out of place. In re ply he begins to rehearse his loyalt. to God, and how bad the others wer' and then in seeming petulance h. adds, "and they seek my life" '' only" are the words of the selfish mal and when Elijah used them he to' was 8 backslidden servant. It Is tru' that there was great apostasy in Israe but the prophet was far from beinl the only true servant remaining. (Se' 1874; 20:13; 22:35, Al; 22:8). Thi is a favorite way the Evil One has fo paralyzing our efforts. There is n' | evidence but that the 1000 were al
 brave, certainly at that moment mor' | so, than Elijah. God then continued his treatment by giving the prophe vision of himself and of his meth ods for advancing his kingdom 4 series of symbols made the trutl palmer and more impressive thar words alone could possibly hay, done. Leaving the protecting cav' Elijah first met wind which "ren the mountains" type of Elijah's pas
 activity. This was not Gods chic power nor method. The mighty wint | which destroys is as nothing com pared to the silent forces which ere ate.
 III. The Result, w 14-18 As soy ereign remedy God now sets befor, Elijah three definite tasks to perform | Elijah still speaks of his faithfulnesl as though the success of The Caus, depended upon him. The man wht assumes that attitude in the work O Gods kingdom will like Elijah, soor be set aside. Elijah's first task wa.