_As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand._ THE SOURCE OF ELIJAH’S STRENGTH This chapter begins with the conjunction “And”: it is, therefore, an addition to what has gone before; and it is God’s addition. When we have read to the end of the previous chapter--which tells the melancholy... [ Continue Reading ]
_The word of the Lord came unto him._ THE WORD OF THE LORD We have in our theme a suggestion of the Divine guidance. The word of the Lord as a guide comes to the man of prayer. I suppose Elijah was greatly disappointed at the message which came to him. He had the heart of a soldier, and he grieved... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning._ ELIJAH LED BY RAVENS I. A morally great man in great physical need. Elijah was a morally great man. Worldly greatness is but tinselled paper. He only is great who is great in thoughts and noble purposes. Elijah was such: a greater could... [ Continue Reading ]
_Arise, get thee to Zarephath._ ORDERED TO ZAREPHATH A friend of mine, spending a few days in the neighbourhood of our English lakes, came upon the most beautiful shrubs he had ever seen. Arrested by their extraordinary luxuriance, he inquired the cause; and learnt that it was due to a judicious sy... [ Continue Reading ]
_Make me thereof a little cake first._ FAITH TESTED First, take the narrative in its literal sense; then, examine the truths which are suggested by it; and finally, note its mystical import. I. Literal sense. 1. Here is a test of faith: “Make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me,... [ Continue Reading ]
_She went and did according to the saying of Elijah._ MODERN LIBERALITY, AND THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH I. The treatment he received was verily the manifestation of the woman’s mind towards god himself. Were it otherwise, it would be hard to point out anything in which we could be pronounced as doing... [ Continue Reading ]
_The barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail._ THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BARREL In the midst of wrath God remembers mercy. Divine love is rendered conspicuous when it shines in the midst of judgments. Fair is that lone star which smiles through the rifts of the thunder-clouds; bright... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it came to pass after these things._ THE TEST OF THE HOME-LIFE Many a man might bear himself as a hero and saint in the solitudes of Cherith, or on the heights of Carmel, and yet wretchedly fail in the home-life of Zarephath. It is one thing to commune with God in the solitudes of nature, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_I know that thou art a man of God._ ELIJAH 1. From whom does the testimonial come? “I know.” These are the words of the heathen villager, a poor widow, living in an out-of-the-way place, probably as ignorant as she was poor. Possibly she had heard nothing of the controversy about Baal, and knew n... [ Continue Reading ]