Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-19
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.
ELIJAH, THE ]

Elijah, the brave reformer entered
the public arena abruptly. He was
without question the greatest re-
ligious personality that had appeared
among the Hebrews since the days
Of Moses. the founder Of the nation.
His sudden appearance In the court
with his message of denunciation and
warning came at an hour when the
corrupt public officials opposed any
prophetic interference with the anairs
Of state. They held with some mod
ern men that it is the function Of
the minister to deal only with re-
ligious questions. In demanding that
the prophet be Indifferent to the COM
mercial and political life OF his time
they forgot that every public Ques-
ton Is a moral one and that back OF
every mora: problem there was a re-
ligious one,
Elijah appeared with dramatic sud
denness in an hour when the religion
of Israel was imperiled by the rapid
development Of idolatry supported oy
the influence Of Jezebel. whose zeal
for the faith of Baalism. which was
a debasing religion that was cor
rupting the people by Its vile rites
threatened the nations life. Eli1ah
evidently saw, RS Wellhausen has ex-
pressed it. that "Baal and Jehovah
represented, so to speak. contrast
Of principles, OF profound and ulti-
mate practical convictions. Both coulo
not he right. nor could they exist side
by side. For him there existed IN, no
with equal authority in different
spheres, but everywhere one holy and
mighty being. who revealed himself.
not in the life OF nature. but IN those
laws by which alone human society
m ls of the spirit"
When the impulsive reformer
abruptly entered Ahab's court de-
manding Of the king that idol wor-
ship be abolished and warned all OF
the danger Of perishing. as the result
by his warning an appeal to the ma
ton. Elijah, the champion OF faith,
placed his hopes for ultimate success
upon the verdict OF the people. He
the sign OF famine, that would prove
beyond question to the nation that
he was prophet Of God. The full
fillment Of his prophecy would be ac-
copied by the nation as his creden-
tials. The man who had tried to
master AHAU ny Phy Po"Sa a.
conquered by the very weapons he
had determined to use as his instru-
ments to master the nation. He suf-
fered from q nervous breakdown at
brook Cherith, although God had in
miraculous manner provided for the
prophets needs. Great souls fire.
quently have hours Of depression.
when they pass from the mountain
tops Of faith to the lowest abyss OF
unbelief God rebuked the faithless
fear and despair OF the prophet by
sending him to q heather woman to
teach him q lesson OF faith. The
prophet hated the Sidonians. It was
their idolatry that he had condemned
in Israel. She taught Elijah. as the
Lords reference would indicate. the
nearness Of God to all nations and
people. Her attitude toward the
needy prophet Is one Of the finest ex-
amples Of unselflsh faith to be found
In the Scriptures.
In due time, as result OF his in
timacy with Jehovah, Elijah came
back to Israel filled with courage.
born of an enlarged faith and fellow
ship with the Lord while sojourning
In the Sidonian widows home. AL
though there was a price upon his
head, he did not hesitate to meet the