Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-09-01
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson x.-Third Quarter, For
Sept. 5, 1915
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, I Kings xviii 30
3o-Msmory vsrsss, So H-Goidsn
Text. Prov. ~, 2o-commsntary Prs-
pared BY Rev. D. N. Stsarns.

3e-Msnnory Verses, 50. H-0olden
Text, Prov. ~, 2s-comnsntary Pro-
pared BY Rev. D. N. Stsarns.
Elijah had been 50 safely hidden by
the Lord during the three years that
though Ahnb had searched for him ev-
erywhere, in ali lands, he could not be
found verse 10a. How safe are those
whom the Lord hides, and all His re
deemed are hic with Christ In God
(Col. fii, 8: Elk xxxiit. =; Isa- H. 10;
Zeph. Il. 81. As by the word OF the
Lord he was sent into hiding at Cher
ith and Sarepta, so by the same word
he Is now commanded to shew himself
to Ahab xvii, 2, 8; xviii. u. He was
indeed a man OF God. Gods represent
alive, acting only for God and in His
name. and, as in the resurrection of
the widows son he foreshadowed Him
who Is the resurrection and the life.
20 the words ''shew thyself' remind
US Of Him who after His resurrection
from the dead Showed Himself alive"
again and again during the forty days
Qohn xxi, /. 4: Acts 4, 81.
We are glad to meet Obadiah. whose
name means servant Of Jehovah"
and to see him saving the life Of and
caring for a hundred OF the Lords
prophets xviii 4. l3). As we see him
the governor Of Ahab's house we think
Of Joseph In Egypt overseer Of Potf
phar's house (Gen. xxx, 10 Good
men are often in difficult places for the
glory Of God. As Obadiah and Ahab
went each his way to search for grass
for the horses Elijah met Obadiah and
told him to tell Ahab that he was on
hand xviii, 8 IL, IA. Obadiah was
at first afraid that Elijah might again
disappear. but on being assured that
he would surely shew himself to Ahab
he went to meet Ahab and told him.
and Ahab went to meet Elijah (xviit
Is. 16,. Feariessly Elijah accused Ahae
Of forsakfng the Lord and serving Baal
and ordered him to gather all Israel
and the prophets Of Baal to Mount
Carmel, and this Ahab did. for the
word Of the Lord In the mouth Of Ell
5ah was with power (xvit. 1T-20)-
Elijah boldly demanded Of the people
to decide whether they would follow
Jehovah or Baal and not continue halt
ing between two opinions But the
people were dumb. Then he said that,
though he was but one against $50, he
~ sh.A 81
should worship the God who answered
by fire. and to this they agreed C21-24)
he gave the prophets Of Baal the FIRST
opportunity. and, following his instruc-
lions, they prepared their sacrifice and
cried unto their god from morning IN.
I'll noon. 20 BaAl. hear us-' But there
was no answer. Elijah Knocked them
and urged them to cry louder. saying
that he must be busy OF on q journey
OF perhaps asleep. SO they cried aloud,
and leaped upon the altar, and cut
themselves TIL the blood gushed out.
and kept It up TIN the time Of the
evening sacrifice But II was an In
vain. for there was no answer Of any
kind, and no unseen power regarded
their cries C2S2N-
We may Honaw why the devn miss
ed such an opfortunity TO honor his
worshippsrs, for the time WIN come
when he viii snnd ftre from heaven
Grew. XII 13). but be can do noughtwfth-
out permission from God. and he was
surely restrained this time Now con-
slider Elijah 90 be called the people to
him. repaired the altar OF the Lord and,
taking twelve stones to represent the
twelve tribes Of Israel, built an altar In
the name Of the Lord. put the wood In
order prepared the sacrifice and
drenched the whole with twelve bar.
rels Of water until the water ran about
the altar and filed the trench f30-35l.
Listen now to Elijah talking to his
God. not crying aloud nor with frenzy
or demonstration Of any kind, but
calmly, with Quietness and confidence.
Lord God Of Abraham, Of Isaac and
OF Israel let 1t be known this day that
thou art God in Israel, and that I am
thy servant, and that 1 have done all
these things at they word Hear me, o
Lord hear me. that this people may
know that Thou art the Lord God and
that Thou hast turned their heart back
again"
How the great multitude must have
listened to this simple prayer and how
1ntently they watched this lonely man
OF God, We. too. have been watching
him and listening to him talking to his