The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1922-01-05
LESSON FOR JANUARY 8


LESSON TEXT Kings 17:l-24
GOLDEN TExT-But seek We first the
Kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and al these things shall be added unto
yON.-MGtt 6:Ss
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Ex. Is; i
KingS 1e:2s-SS; Matt 6:ls-A
PRIMARY TOPIC-GOd Cares for Eli
5ah.
JUNIOR TOPIC = Elijah, the Grave
Prophet
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
--1ehovah's Champion Preserved.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Obeying The Word Of Jehovah.
!. EIiJah's Message TO Ahab w. u.
This was a startling message. for
Ahab had not only lied Israel into
StOlatry, but into Reputation of the
living God.
4. AS the Lord God of Israel Iiveth."
MliJah 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.
2. Before whom / stand" Because
MlJah 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
Tor three and a half years (Jas. SID,
and was given ia answer to Biiah's
prayer GAS. SID. DrOukh was pre-
dicted as the punishment for idolatry
.(Deut. II :16 10, and the prophet was
now applying the divine judgment
u. 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.
!. BY the brook Cherith wv. 2-O.
I'd Drinking of the brook (vv. 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 Eliiah's
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-
tanned 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). "a 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
10 cross the country from the Jordan
20 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
<vv. 1O-12). Bring little water and
q mOrsel of bread" was the request
which he made OF the widow. This
no doubt, was a great trial to her.
nut God had touched her heart and
stirred up faith in her. Her reply re-
veais her deep distress. (S) EIijah's
Teply ". 1S). This made plain to her
that 1t WAS case OF mutual interest
40 do as the Prophet said. The barrel
OF meal shall not waste; neither shall
4he cruise of oil fail" az The widows
obedience ". 15). "She did according
10 the sayings of Elijah, and she and
her house did eat many days" 90
Sod keeps His word ". 49,. 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
cur needs are daily met There is no
Aappen 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.
2. No matter how small our re.
sources we can do something for God
II 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
10 our very last in order TO teach US
that all rs from Him..
g. Gods dealing with this Gentle
woman is a foregleam Of His dealing
with the Gentle nations.