The Carlisle independent., 1915-09-09

Elijah's great victory over the prophets of Baal which resulted in their eXterminstion is followed by most notable prayer service on the top of Mount Carmel (1S:42-451. 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 entrance of Jezreel. There he is met by a mes- senger of the wicked queen (19:2) who had been the protector and pro- wider of the slain prophets. Getting his eyes off of God and seeing only vile and wicked woman Elijah not only ran for his life out of Ahab's do- mains but also went days journey into the wilderness" to the protecting shade of a juniper tree (v. A.
 |. The Discouraged Prophet. w.
 
 we all have our periods of discourage ment and frequently despair. Chris tian's encounter with Giant Despair appeals to us all for 1t 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 it was her prophets Elijah had de- stroyed. There is a suggestion in the fact that Elijah did not enter her presence Q8:46). Wonder in the will derness, his Gethsemane, Elijah prayed vastly different sort of 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- ton and feeling that his cause was lost.
 Gods first remedy was to feed his fainting servant and then give him a task to perform, viz, a journey to Mount Horeb (Mount of God), for God 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. e-13. Gods second remedy was to give Elijah his word though this time it suggested reproof. What doest thou here?" Elijah is out of place Tn re- ply he begins to rehearse his loyalty to God, and how bad the others were and then in seeming petulance he adds, and they seek my life" T only" are the words of the selfish man and when Elijah used them he too was backslidden servant. It is true that there was great apostasy in Israel but the prophet was far from being the only true servant remaining. (See 1874; 20:13 22:35, Al; 22:8). This is favorite way the Evil One has for paralyzing our efforts. There is no evidence but that the 1000 were as brave, certainly at that moment more so, than Elijah. God then continued his treatment by giving the prophet a vision of himself and of his meth n1c !, ic Iii A series Of symbols made the truth plainer and more impressive than words alone could possibly have done. Leaving the protecting cave Elijah first met wind which rent the mountains" type of Elijah's past activity. This was not Gods chief power nor method. The mighty wind which destroys is as nothing con- pared to the silent forces which cre- ate,
 III. The Result, w 14-18. As a sov- ereign remedy God now sets before Elijah three definite tasks to perform. Elijah still speaks of his faithfulness as though the success of The Cause depended upon him. The man who assumes that attitude in the work of Gods kingdom will, like Elijah, soon be set aside. Elijah's first task was to avoid Israel and go to Damascus and "anoint"-set apart for special serVice-Hazael (v 1D, who was to be the instrument of punishing Israel. His next task was to find Jehu, the commander in chief of Ahab's army, and set him aside to be the king, not immediately but to be in training for that office.
 Elijah's work is now not that of fire and wind, but of the still small voice." To others is delegated the more spectacular tasks which these l typify.
 In this connection (v. I'D those are strange words, shall Elisha slay" | To fully understand them we must be familiar with that prophets life and work, also with that accomplished by Jehu. (See II Kings 2:23, 24; Hos. 6:5, 6; Isa. 11:6.)
 Elijah's third task was to appoint hov dnr