The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-09-10
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNlGSQBDOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER IL
ELIJAH's FLIGHT AND RETURN.
By o. e. SELLERS, Acting Director Of
the Sunday School Course of the Moody
Bible fnstitute)

LESSON TEXT7I Kings 19:s-1S. (Read
| .ntire chapter).
GOLDEN TEXT-Be still and know that
{ am God. Ps. 46:l0.
Elljah's great victory over the
prophets of Baal which resulted in
their determination is followed by
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 prophet
| (18:46) so that he was able to outrun
the kings horses to the entrance of
| Jezreel. There he is met by 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 a
vile and wicked woman Elijah not
only ran for his life out Of Ahab's do
mains but also went a days journey
| into the wilderness" to the protecting
shade Of juniper tree ". ~.
|. The Discouraged Prophet, w,
49, 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 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 suggestion in the
fact that Elijah did not enter her
presence GS:46). Yonder In the will
derness, his GethsemaDe, Elijah
prayed a vastly different sort Of
prayer than upon Mount Carmel.
Jezebel is still in power. Heathenism
is not overthrow, his efforts had been
but trying to dam Niagara with bull.
PUSHES"
No one who has even heard the ora.
torio "Elijah" sung will ever forget
the bitter agony Of ut is enough"
! The prophet who alone had been eX-
allied 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 a 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" w.
s; Pet. 2:2).
II. The Encouraging God, w. e-t3.
Gods second remedy was to give
Elijah his word though this time ii
suggested reproof. What doest thou
herer" Elijah is out of place In 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" Il
only" are the words of the selfish man
and when Elijah used them he too
was backslidden servant. 1t is true
that there was great apostasy in Israel
but the prophet was far from being
the only true servant remaining (See
1894; 20:13; 22:35, Al; 22:S). 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
vision of himself and of his meth
DDS for advancing his kingdom. A
series of symbols made the truth
palmer and more impressive than
words alone could possibly have
done. Leaving the protecting cave
Elijah first met wind which rent
the mountains" a type of Elijah's past
activity. This was not Gods chief
power nor method. The mighty wind
which destroys is as nothing COM
pared to the silent forces which ere
ate.
III. The Result, w 1918. AS SOY.
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 wiz, 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 w. ~. who was to
be the instrument Of Furnishing Israel.
His next task was to find Jehu, the
commander in chief of Ahabs 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 he still small
voice" To others is delegated the
more spectacular tasks which these
typify.