Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1922-01-17
LESSON FOR JANUARY e
ELlJAH.s rlleHr AND RsTvRM.

y ~ lt'st --- -. = - -
ELlJAH.s SLIGHT AND RxruRM.
/ LESSON TExT-L Kings ls:i-2i.
+ GOLDEN TMkT-1 waited patiently eor
thsi Lord: and no Inclined unto me. snA'
heard my cry.-Pa. lo:1. $
REFERENCE NATERIAI-Essk. a:l.1
Acts $3.50: 1s:1-l1.
PRIMARY T0PIC-3od Sends an Anr,a
JUNIOR ,ToPIc-ood Strengthens 'Hsi.
1ah. =,
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOPIC
rJehovah's Champion Encouraged.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Finding and Finishing Our Task. q
This lesson story proves Elijah to
have been man OF like passions as
we are (Jas. SID.
I. EliJah's Flight tvv. 1-14). Upon
Ahab's return from the excitement on
Mount Carmel, he told his wife oil
that Elijah had done-that even all
her prophets had been hewn to pieces
by the sword. This so enraged her
that she sent a message Of death to
Elijah, who seems to have been walt
Ing at the gate (vv. 1, -, This was
clearly a blum on Jezebels part.
Though Elijah had courageously
stood before the king and the priests
OF Baal. he now covered before this
woman and fed for his life. He seems
to have failed at his strongest point.
1. Elijah under. the juniper tree
(vv. 3-O. The juniper tree was a
shrub Of the desert which afforded
shelter and protection to travellers
from the. burning sun by day and the
cold wind. by night. (1) His request
". ~. This was that he might die.
This was, no doubt. a foolish thing for
him to say. but let us be as consid-
crate toward him as was God. The
encouragement, and even desponden-
cy, of Elijah was due to the nervous
strain Of about four years of unusual
service for God. which illuminated
on Mount Carmel. Such nervous re.
action is to be expected (2) Gods
tender treatment (vv. 5-7). (a) He
gave him sleep ". 81. "He. giveth
His beloved sleep" (Psa. 127 :2). (b)
He sent an angel to cook, Elijah's
meal (vv. Q, y. The angel Of the Lord
is usually understood to be the sec
ond member of the Holy Trinity. II
this be correct, then we see Jehovah
Jesus preparing food for His servant
Elijah. as He afterward did for His
discouraged disciples by Galilee (John
21 :19). God again gave him sleep,
and at the proper time again gave him
food. Though Elijah wanted to die.
God had something better for him.
for In a later day He met him with
the "chariot Of the Lord and took
him to heaven untouched by death.
2. Elijah at Horeb (vv. s-14).
tD Gods Interview with Elijah in
the caye (vv. 8. 1O).' (a) Gods ques-
tion ". 81. "What doest. thou here,
Eli1ah" This was a stinging rebuke.
though most kindly given. 1t implied
that His appointed messenger was
now far away from the field Of duty.
Elijah was not where God wanted him,
but God sought him where he was
forsaking saint Is not -forsaken
saint!" (b) Elijah's answer ". 10y.
Elijah tried to vindicate himself by
asserting his Jealous loyalty to God
that In spite OF all this the people
had mot only rejected his message
| and dishoncred God. but had sought
to destroy him. (2) Gods interview
with Elijah on the Mount (vv. 11-14).
While standing before the Lord on
the mount, God caused mighty
demonstration Of wind, earthquake
and fire to pass before him to show
unto him the nature Of the work which
he had been doing for God, and to
show him what was lacking in his
work for the fullest attainment of
success. Elijah had ABOUT him much
Of the whirlwind. earthquake and fire.
His work had been terrifying and
alarming. but 1t lacked in gertieness
and love.
70. EiiJah's Return wv. 1919.
Though Elijah had erred. God
brought Nm again into, His service.
How comforting to know that God
does not reject His servants because
Of their failures In times Of despon.
dency! He deals with them after the
motive Of their hearts. Elijah was
nourished and instructed by the Lord
and then sent on high mission. God
is fine psychologist. He took Elijah
out OF himself by giving him a new
commission. The most healing min
istry Is that of work. Many bereaved
ones have been lifted out Of them
selves by active ministry to others.
Before God would come in His chariot
to take Elijah home. He set him upon
threefold ministry:
l. To anoint Hazaei king over Syria
(Y 15).
2. To anoint Jehu king over Israel
". 16).
3. To anoint Elisha as his own sue.
| cessor (vv. 1920.