Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-19
Sunday School Lesson

king and his court. for his confidence
in Gods protection left no room In
his heart for the fear of any man:
He became for a time the master OF
the nation. He risked everything
upon the test by fire. He challenged
the followers Of Baal to q unique con-
test that would prove beyond cues
ton the supremacy OF Jehovah. Wni!e
the challenge was issued to Bars fol-
lowers, 1t was an appeal for the peo-
critical methods of religious life. The
contest between the priests of BaaI
and Elijah upon Mount Carmel Is one
of the most dramatic scenes In human
history The strange contrasts the
intense competition, the failure and
the victory Of Elijah. with the ter
rible punishment browning all. gives
US a picture OF epic sublimity that IL
unsurpassed In romance or literature
The wonderful triumph of the prophet
Of Jehovah appeared to be 80 great
that he thought he could claim that
he had won the allegiance of tho ma
tion for God in one day. He concen-
trated all his powers in an EFFORT to
destroy Baalism and win the country
for the worship and work of the Lord
struggle upon Mount Carmel, the
brave prophet once more broke down.
He could not stand the strain any
longer and in his dependency asked
to die.
None knew better than Jehovah
and then carried the prophet to Horeb.
that he might give to His servant
true estimate of his work. He had
been too confident of himself at Car
mel. He, from sincere motives, had
ordered the priests OF Baal to be
destroyed. Violence always helps the
cause that 1t seeks to trample. so that
the blood of martyrs becomes the
seed Of the cause. When Elijah faced
the unexpected opposition from Jeze-
bel and others, without doubt 1t was
his inner man that rose against him
provide for the physical strength for
the journey to Horeb. where. amidst
the silence Of the mountain. unbroken
by the note of bird. Jehovah re-
vealed to Elijah his own stormy self
by means of the wild wind. the shak-
ing of the earth, the tumbling Of the
rocks. The man who had sought
death beneath the juniper tree was
born again by Gods revelation OF the
prophets stormy self. Elijah had
thought that his work was a failure
and that he was unfit to serve Je-
hovah. The Lord cannot make much
use of men until they have had e
similar experience.
The old Elijah died that night In
the mouth of the cave upon Mount
Horeb. The new Elijah was filled
with poise that enabled him to face
the problems OF life with more hope
In adversely and with more mercy in
prosperity. His ministry was marked
by a different character The burn
ing reformer becomes the teacher and
champion Of social justice. He recog-
nized that time had to be considered
In changing the character OF ar ma
ton. He did not depend upon, the
spectacular method to sweep. the
country into a decision to take the
Lords side. He adopted the slower
but sure method of securing q trained
force with which to destroy the
works of the enemy. He counted
upon the efficiency of the Holy Spirit.
character after his experience at
Horeb. He no longer attempted to do
the task OF reforming the nation or
doing his work alone. for he sought
in Elisha a spiritual friend. who be-
came the comrade Of his heart and
successor. He selected Jehu. who
became the founder of the fifth
In the government and become the
new ruler in place Of Ahab and
Jezebel
There is something Of the old
Elijah in the dramatic manner in
which he faces Ahab In Naboth's
vineyard. He left the seclusion Of the
School Of the Prophets to become
tice. The guilty king. whose covet-
business had caused him to commit
an offense against the religious and
statute laws Of Israel. covered once
more before the prophet. who not
only condemned him for his triple
der, but warned him of the awful pun
ishrnent that awaited him. The re-