The Dolores star., 1921-12-30
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Si1nadaySchool q
' Lesson '
(By REV. p. b. FITZWATER. d. D..
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright. 1922. Western Newspaper Union.
LESSON FOR JANUARY 8
ELIJAH THE TISHBITE.

LESSON TEXT Kings 17:1-2.
GOLDEN TEXT-But seek ye first the
kingdom Of God. and his Righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto
you.-Matt. 6:33.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Ex. Is: l
Kings 16:zs-a3; Matt. S:ls-34.
PRIMARY TOPIC-God Cares for Eli
jah.
JUNIOR TOPIC = Elijah. tho Brave
Prophet.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Jehovahs Champion Preserved.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Obeying the Word of Jehovah.
!. EiiJah's Message to Ahab ". ~.
This was startling message, for
Ahab had not only led Israel into
idolatry, but into a reputation of the
living God.
/. LAS the Lord God of Israel liveth."
Elijah knew the source of his message.
He knew that he represented the liv-
ing God, therefore had no fear to
come into the presence of the king in
His name.
9 Before whom 1 stand" Because
Elijah stood before God, he could
stand before Ahab. His standing"
before God indicates his constant readi-
ness to go on His errands.
3. "There shall not be dew nor rain
these years but according to my word"
This suspension of moisture continued
for three and half years Gas. 5:1T),
and was given in answer to Elijah's
prayer (Jas. SID. Drouth was pre-
dicted as the punishment for idolatry
| (Deut. IL :16. 10, and the prophet was
now applying the divine judgment.
II. Elijah's Retirement wv. 2-16).
As soon as he had delivered his
| message he retired from the kings
sight. while the penalty of the kings
sin should be visited upon the land.
| When the famine was sore in the land,
the king sought east and west, north
and south for Elijah, but God had con-
cealed him. Those who speak Gods
| message frequently seek solitude when
| the message is delivered.
l. By the brook Cherith wv. 2-T.
G) Drinking of the brook wv. 4-6).
While drinking of the literal waters
| of the brook, he was being nourished
by the Living Waters from the throne
Of God From day to day Elijahs
| faith was tested as he saw the stream
| run lower and lower as the drouth
continued. (2) Fed by the ravens
wv. 4-6). The ravens brought him
bread and flesh in the morning and
bread and flesh in the evening. Elijah
thus enjoyed two meals each day, with
water to drink. The same God who sus.
tained Elijah, still lives, and we should
trust Him for our daily bread. At
last the brook dried up because there
| was no rain In the land. The Lord then
Instructed him to move.
2. At Zarephath wv. S-16). Q) The
place ". 81. Zarephath was at the
west side of Palestine, near the Medi.
terranean sea, in Gentle territory. In
order to reach this place Elijah had
to cross the country from the Jordan
to the sea. Zarephath was only a
few miles from the home of Jezebel's
father. This, no doubt, was a trial
| to Elijah. (2) Sustained by widow
| wv 10-12). Bring little water and
morsel of bread" was the request
| which he made of the widow. This
| no doubt, was a great trial to her
| but God had touched her heart and
| stirred up faith in her. Her reply re.
veals her deep distress. (3) Elijah's
reply ". 13). This made plain to her
| that 1t was a case of mutual interest
to do as the Prophet said. 1.-The barrel
of meal shall not waste; neither shall
the cruise of oil fail" (4) The widows
| obedience ". 15). "She did according
to the sayings of Elijah, and she and
her house did eat many days" (5)
God keeps His word ". 16). May we
learn from this lesson:
l. The particularly of Gods prov
| idence. Truly sparrow shall not
| fall to the ground without our Father
By the prearrangements of God all
our needs are daily met There is no
happen SO in Gods providence The
woman of Zarephath. going out to
gather sticks to prepare the last meal
met Elijah, and is helped for two years
.. No matter how small our re.
sources, we can do something for God
If we will. The lad with the five bar.
ley loaves and the two small fishes
with the blessing of the Lord. did a
great work.
3. Our concern should be to work
for others and for God before our.
selves. We should give our all to God
and trust Him for further supply.
4. God often allows us to get down
to our very last in order to teach us
that all is from Him.
5. Gods dealing with this Gentle
woman is a foregleam of His dealing
with the Gentle nations.