Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-01-19

GOLDEN TEXT waited patiently for
the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and
heard my cry.-Ps. 40:1.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Ezek. 2:1-1;
Acts 16:6-10; 181-11.
PRIMARY TOPIC-God Sends an Angel
to Help Elijah
JUNIOR TOPIC-God Strengthens Eli
jah.s
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Jehovah's Champion Encouraged.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Finding and Finishing Our Task
This lesson story proves Elijah to
have been a man of like passions as
we are GAS. SID.
1. EIijah's Flight wv. 1-14). Upon
Mount Carmel, he told his wife all
that Elijah had done-that even all
her prophets had been hewn to pieces
by the sword. This so enraged her
that she sent message Of death to
Elijah, who seems to have been walt
ing at the gate (vv 1, p. This was
clearly a bluff on JezebePs part.
Though Elijah had courageously
stood before the king and the priests
of Baal, he now covered before this
woman and fled for his life. He seems
to have failed at his strongest point
l. Elijah under the juniper tree
wv. 80. 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 % 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 eliminated
on Mount Carmel. Such nervous re-
action is to be expected. (2) Gods
tender treatment wv. SD. (a) He
gave him sleep ". 81. "He giveth
His beloved Sleep (Psa. 127 ~. (b)
He sent an angel to cook Elijah's
meal wv 6, ~. The angel of the Lord
is usually understood to be the sec
ond member Of the Holy Trinity. IT
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 wv $40.
(1) Gods interview with Elijah in
the cave wv. 9, 10Y. (a) Gods ques-
ton w. 81. "What doest thou here,
Elijah?' This was a singing 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.
How blessed to know that "a Cod
forsaking saint is not a God-forsaken
saint!" (b) Elijah's answer (v. 10Y.
Elijah tried to vindicate himself by
asserting his jealous loyalty to~God-
that in spite of all this the people
had not only rejected his message
and dishonored God, but had sought
to destroy him. (2) Gods interview
with Elijah on the Mount wv 11-14)
While standing before the Lord on
the mount, God caused a 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 gentleness
and love.
II. Elijah's Return wv. 1919
Though Elijah had erred, God
brought him 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 a high mission. God
is fine psychologist. He took Elijah
out of himself by giving him 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
a threefold ministry:
1. To anoint Hazael king over Syria
". 15).
2 To anoint Jehu king over Israel
". 16).
8. To anoint Elisha as his own sue
cessor wv. 1920.
Time RIGHTLY Employed