1 Kings 17 - Introduction

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

YAHWEH VS. BAAL
1 Kings 17-18

Even a superficial survey of the narratives in the final Chapter s of I Kings and the opening Chapter s of 2Kings reveals that the materials here are quite different from those which thus far have been examined. The ministries of Elijah and Elisha are little more than a series of miracles. Few of their words have survived. It is for their works rather than their words that these prophets were remembered. These Chapter s certainly rank among the finest pieces of prose writing in the Old Testament. In the next sixteen Chapter s, the author focuses his attention, not upon the king, but rather upon the king's prophetic opponentsElijah, Micaiah and Elisha. It is not his purpose to relate independent anecdotes, but rather to trace the efforts of Israel's spiritual leaders to help their people emerge triumphant from a spiritual crisis precipitated by governmental policy.[406]

[406] Honor, JCBR, p. 244.

Because of the miraculous character of this section of Kings, critics have generally labeled the accounts as legendary. However, the narrative is so sober and circumstantial that, were it not for the supernatural elements, no critic would ever have thought to question its veracity. Furthermore, if there ever was a time when God needed to intervene in a mighty way in the stream of human history, it was in the time of Ahab. In that dark hour a determined effort was being made to stamp out the faith of Israel. The age demanded a messenger; the messenger must have credentials; the credentials could only be miraculous.[407] Only mighty miracles such as were performed by Elijah and Elisha could have been sufficient to counteract the influence of Jezebel and her eight hundred fifty priests and prophets. The greatest prophet is reserved for the worst age. Israel had never such an impious king as Ahab, nor such a miraculous prophet as Elijah[408] In the New Testament no prophet is mentioned and extolled so frequently as Elijah. He it was who was selected to represent that holy host of old covenant spokesmen on the Mount of Transfiguration where he, along with Moses, spoke with the Lord about His exodus (Luke 9:31).

[407] Hammond, PC, p. 380.
[408] Ibid

One cannot conclude from Elijah's silence regarding the Northern calf cult that the great prophet condoned this apostasy. Nor can it be legitimately argued that the antagonism toward calf worship arose later, long after the time of Elijah. It is best to think that Elijah was concentrating his attention on what he regarded as the greater evil and greater danger.
Chapter s 17-18 deal with the early ministry of Elijah. In this unit the author describes (1) the great drought which Elijah announced during the reign of King Ahab (chap. 17); and (2) the great contest in which Elijah engaged on Mt. Cannel (chap. 18).

REVIEW OF CHAPTER THIRTEEN

I. FACTS TO MASTER

A. Important places to identify:

1. Tishbe

5. Mt. Carmel

2. Cherith

6. Brook Kishon

3. Zarephath

7. Jezreel

4. Samaria

B. Important persons to identify in relationship to this chapter:

1. Ahab

4. Jezebel

2. a widow

5. Elijah

3. Obadiah

C. Important numbers to remember:

1. Number of times Elijah stretched out on a dead child
2. Number of prophets Obadiah hid in caves
3. Number of prophets of Baal and Asherah
4. Number of stones in the altar erected by Elijah
5. Number of pitchers of water used on Mt. Carmel
6. Number of times those pitchers were emptied over the altar
7. Number of times Elijah's servant made the trip to the summit of Mt. Carmel

D. Key words or phrases which should bring to remembrance the important events of this chapter:

1. ravens

5. caves

2. gathering sticks

6. altar

3. meal and oil

7. trench

4. upper room

8. cloud as small as a man's fist

II. QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1.

Elijah has been called the most important leader of the true worship of Yahweh since Moses and Samuel. How so?

2.

What kind of spiritual lesson is contained in the account of the miraculous increase of the widow's oil?

3.

What is the missionary implication of Elijah's trip to Zarephath? See Luke 4:26.

4.

How would you contrast the religion of Ahab and that of Elijah?

5.

What was the Carmel contest designed to demonstrate to Israel?

6.

To Elijah, undivided religious loyalty was the only policy. To what degree do modern church leaders emulate Elijah?

7.

How does Ahab's address to Elijah, Troubler of Israel, illustrate the sinner's psychology?

8.

Why is the faithfulness of Obadiah especially to be com mended? What can one say about those prophets who were hiding in the caves?

9.

What does this section reveal about the power of prayer? How many different prayers can you identify in this chapter?

10.

Why did the widow blame Elijah for the death of her child? Was the child actually dead?

11.

Why was Obadiah so fearful to relate to Ahab that he had seen Elijah?

12.

How can the massacre of the Baal prophets at the river Kishon be justified?

13.

How was Elijah able to outrun Ahab's chariot back to Jezreel from Mt. Carmel?

Lessons in Living

THE FAITH OF THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH

1 Kings 17:8-16 Luke 4:25-26

I. Her Faith was Challenged

Make me a little bread cake from it first. and afterward you may make one for yourself and your son

II. Her Faith was Put to Work

She went and did according to the saying of Elijah

III. Her Faith was Rewarded

She and her household ate for many days

Drawings by Horace Knowles from the British and Foreign Bible Society