Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-01-19


GOLDEN TEXT waited patiently for
the Lord; and he inclined unto me. and
heard my cry.-Ps. 40:l.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Ezek. 21-7;
Acts l6:6.l0; 1S:l-11.
PRIMARY TOPIC-God Sends an Angel
to Help Elijah.
JUNIOR TOPIC-God Strengthens ELL
1ah.
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 nre (Jas. SID.
/. EliIah's Flight (vv. 1-14). Upon
Ahab's return from the excitement on
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 a message Of death to
Elijah, Who seems to have been walt
ing at the gate wv. 1, p. This was
clearly bluff on Jezebel's 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. 3-7. The juniper tree was a
shrub of the desert which afforded
shelter and protection to travellers
from the burning sun bS day and the
cold wind by night. C) His request
". ~. This was that he might die.
This was, no doubt, q 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. 5-O. (a) He
gave him SLEEP ". 81. "He giveth
His beloved sleep" (Psa. 1879. (b)
He sent an angel to cook Elijah's
meal wv. 6, y. The angel Of the LTd
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 OF the proper time again gave him
! food. Though Elijah wanted to die,
God had something better for him,
for In tater day He met him with
the chariot Of the Lord" and took
him to heaven untouched by death.
2. Elijah at Horeb wv. S-14). God
had kind Y mintstered 10 His dlscour'
aged prsrhet so that he would be In
a fit ccf.dition to receive the needed
instruction and correction. Elijah had
erred In running away from his field
of ministry.
u) Gods interview with Elijah in
the cave wv. o. 10Y. (a) Gods ques'
ton ". 81. "What doest thou here
Eliiah?" This was 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 God
forsaking saint Is not GOd-fprsaken
saintw (b) Elijah's answer ". 1O).
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 dlshonored God. but had sought
to destroy him. (2) Gods interview
with Elijah on the Mount wv. 11-1G.
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, hut 1t lacked In gentleness
and love. This object lesson in the
ways Of Gods working Is needed
message for this age, which Is so Won
derfully characterized by noise and
| clamor The world Is not taken for
Christ" by the feshly energy and en-
thuSiasm of conventions and commit
tees, but by the quiet hearts who go
forth proclaimng Gods Word In the
energy Of the Holy Spirit.
II. EIjah's Return (vv. 1918.
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
ard then sent on high mission. God
is n fine psychologist. He took Elijah
oat 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 10 others.
BEFORE God would come in His chariot
TO take Elijah home, He set him upon
threefold ministry:
/. To anoint Hazael king over Syria
| (v. 15).
.. To anoint Jehu king over Israel
". 1G).
2 To anoint Elisha as his own suc-