The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1915-08-26

iet gat upon n him because he careth for you
We now skip thirty to forty years
to consider the first of those great
prophets whose lives are recorded at
length. Samuel and David fought ami
mails, armies and giants, but these men
fought engagements in the moral and
spiritual realm of equal and greater
Importance. Emphasize Elijah as a
real live fesh-and-blood hero. His
work was with the northern kingdom
and he probably first met Ahab at Sa-
maria, his capital in 912 B. C. CD The
Moabite stone "a. D. 1859 is a re-
markable confirmation of the Bible
story of this period.
I. The Challenge, v. 1. The lesson
is a great illustration of faith. Sin
had again made vast inroads upon the
people (ch. 16:30-33) and this man of
| the hour" whose name means "Jeho-
yah My Strength" ID saw the condi-
| tions; CD responded to the need, and
| 60 had faith in his cause because it
| was that of Jehovah. The source of
his faith was the word Of the Lord
God Deut. 11:1S; 1920. He that
'liveth" and before whom the prophet
| stood in daily, hourly communication.
| Elijah was a man with a mission
| (Matt. 28:19) who trusted in God and
| considered it safe to obey. His power,
according to my word" was in ratio
according to his life of faith (Rom.
| 1O:17). He was also a man of prayer
James SID and showed his faith by
10 Tor 81
II. The Command, w. 27. Eijah's
faith was not audacious. He took each
step as commanded by God ". p.
There is a time for seeming retreat
| as we'll as for the spectacular charge.
Eli1ah's first place of testing was
"Cherith," a gorge to the east of the
| river Jordan. This command was con-
| trary to human reason. would it not
soon be involved in his prophesied
drought"
Again, ravens frequently feed upon
carrion, and he knew all the regula-
| lions regarding cleanness. Thus to be
secluded would prevent his observing
| the effect of the drought upon both
king and people. Still the command is
explicit. 1t was there" ". ~, and
The miracle of saving was to be
wrought under the most adverse cir
cumstances and by the most unlikely
| means $50 he went" Having faced
the peril, God hid him to preserve him,
and at the proper time God also re-
vealed him (ch. 1919. 1t was daily
| testing for Elijah at Cherith, thus to
| be fed and to see the water evaporat-
| ing, but it was time of communion
and after the brook was dry there
came new command wv. s, 81.
Ill. The Continued DeIverance, w.
| e-16. Zarephath was duke 4:26) in
| the dominions of Jezebel's father, on
| the coast of the Mediterranean sea be-
| tween Tyre and Sidon, a dangerous
| journey for Elijah through Ahab's
kingdom (ch. 1910. The word Zare-
| phath means smelling furnace" and
| it too was suffering from this same
| famine. Commanded to hide in Cherith
Elijah is told to dwell" in Zarephath
| and that a widow was to be the agent
| to supply his need. Again Elijah's
| pride had to be overcome for there
were abundant reasons for disliking
| such a journey, such an abiding place
and such a dependence upon a poor
| widow. Elijah, however, "arose and
| went" a continuance Of his life of
| obedience. He first asked for water
| and as she went he added his request
| for food. 1t was particular widow to
whom he was sent IIuke 4:25-27) and
| through her God was ready to work
| miracle of salvation on his behalf
Though about to prepare what she
thought was to be her own and her
sons last meal ". 12), yet she at once
proceeds to obey the command of the
man of God as it was conditioned upon
the word of Jehovah ". 14). God,
through his prophets, has commanded
us, given us assurance and promised
to sustain (Phil. AID, yet we hest
tate. "She went and did" the SEEM
ing impossible, but according to the
word of command, and those of cher
house did eat many days" Obedience
| saved her own, her sons and the
| prophets lives. There is sound philoso-
| ply in Prov. 11:24 which found its
complete fulfllment in Jesus who
"came not to be ministered unto but
to minister" Read carefully Prov.
3:7-1O and II Cor. 9:6-11. AS with the
Israelites in the wilderness the supply
was only from day to day ". 16) moth
ing ahead, no accumulation, yet a per-
| petual supply because based on the
word of the Lord" ". 16).
| God worked this miracle: CD to up
hold and to preserve his chosen mes
senger for his great work in Israel;
| (2) to show his loving kindness and
sustaining grace to the poor; 90 to
strengthen the faith of his prophet
| against his spectacular conflict on Mt.
| Carmel; ca to the end that he might
show Israel and all others down