The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-09-09

Elijah'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 ns:i245). SO
confident was the prophet that at the
arising OF "A little cloud. he hastily
summoned the feastlng 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
as: 4Gl so that he was able 70 outrun
the kings horses to the entrance -
Jezreel There he Is met by a me-
senger OF the wicked queen Gs:2D
Who had been the protector and pro
WIDER OF the slain prophets Getting
his eyes on 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 a juniper tree ". -.
!. The Discouraged Prophet w.
90 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 20 us all for II Is 80 true 10
life. At Carmel. Elijah controlled the
king In his palace at Jezreel. Jezebel
soon shattered his good resolutions.
I ~ he had any We must recall that
IL was her prophets Elijah had de-
stroyed There Is a suggestion in tho
fact that Elijah did not enter her
presence Gs:i6). Yonder in the vii.
derness. his Gethsemane. 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
rushes"
No one who has ever heard the ora.
torio Elijah" sung will ever forget
the bitter agony OF 1t Is enough"
The prophet who alone had been ex-
allied TO the heights was alone capable
20 sounding such q depth OF human
despair. The sources OF his discour-
agement we're his physical condition.
[ his loneliness. inactivity. mental reac-
tion and a feeling that his cause was
lost
I Gods first remedy was 20 feed his
fainting servant and then give him a
task 10 perform. viz. a journey TO
Mount Horeb Mount OF Cod for God
loved him just as truly now as pre-
viously M Carmel. In this new
strength Elijah went forty days" ~
s: Pet. 2:2D.
u. The Encouraging God. w. s-i3.
Gods second remedy was TO give
| Elijah his word though this time II
suggested reproof What doest thou
here" Elijah is out OF place In re-
ply he begins 10 rehearse his loyalty
TO God. and how bad the others we're
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 a backslidden servant. II is true
that there was great apostasy in Israel
but the prophet was far from being
/ the only true servant remaining tSee
| 1884,; 20;l3 1885. IL. 22.Sl. This
IL a favorite way the Evil one has for
/ paralyzing our efforts. There Is no
evidence but that the 1000 we're 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
I 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 a wind which rent
the mountains" type OF Elijah's past
activity. This was not Gods chief
power nor method The mighty wiRS
which destroys is as nothing cd
/ pared TO the silent forces which cr6
| ate.
~. The Result. w t4-ts- As a SOW
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
10 avoid Israel and go TO Damascus
and 'anoint"-set apart for special
seryice-liazael ". III. who was to
be the instrument OF furnishing 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
typify.
In this connection w. 17) those are
strange words. shall Elisha STAY"
To fully understand them we must be
familiar with that prophets life and
work, also with that accomplished by
Jehu. tsee II Kings 1923. "a; Hos.
SIS. 6: lisa. 1i:6)
Elijah's third task was 10 appoint
his successor and surely no harder
task ever comes 10 any OF us than to