The Book of first kings

Chapter 19

[1] And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
[2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
[3] And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

1) Threat (Vs 1-3)

King Ahab reports to Queen Jezebel all that had been done on the mountain

Elijah was fed by raven, from meal barrel, raised dead boy, fire fell on bull, Baals priests defeated

Elijah, by the hand of God had exposed the lie of Baal worship and had displayed the glory of the Lord God

Queen Jezebel probably saw the fire fall on Mt Carmel and knew of the new rain and thought Baal had won

Upon this news from King Ahab she does not respond in repentance

Rather she sought to discredit Elijah and his God and vows to kill the man of God in 24 hours

· Percy Ray and the cloud over the lake

Upon hearing the words of the queen Elijah responds by tucking his tail & running away over 100 mi Beersheba

Elijah, that great man of courage, had defeated 450 prophets of Baal is now running scared, threatened

Moses, the meekest man on the face of the earth, spoke bitter words, smote the rock rather than speak to it

Abraham, the great man of faith, lied about his relationship with his wife

Job, that great man of patience grew impatient with the Lord........ Why?

Elijah saw the people bow to the Lord, thinking court & country would repent was frustrated

He saw the wrong things (Vs 3 when he saw that)......Peter did, 10 of the 12 spies did

He sought the wrong things (Vs3 went for his life).....Mk 8:36-38, Mt 16:24

He said the wrong things (Vs 4 I’m not better)..........

[4] But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
[5] And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
[6] And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
[7] And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
[8] And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
[9] And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
[10] And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

2) Terror (Vs 4-10)

Elijah had left his servant at Beersheba and went a days journey farther away

Into the wilderness he went and sat under a juniper tree and requested that he might die

(Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are (James 5:17)

The might man of prayer, prayed that it rain not for 3 ½ yrs and prayed it’d rain again and it did

Now he prays that he might die (First time he prayed for himself)

Became distressed and depressed

“It is enough”- I can’t do this anymore

Going thru traumatic, stressful, exhausting, emotionally demanding ministry

“I’m not better than my fathers”- who told him he was? Lifted somewhat in pride, believed his own press

He thinks his work has failed

Needing rest and refreshment, the Lord let him rest and sent the angel of the Lord, to touch him

The Grace of His Presence- Not a rebuke just a tender gentle touch (Ps 103:4, Heb 4:15 & Heb 13:5)

The Grace of His Provision- Instead of judgment the Lord gave grace (Arise and eat)

Cake baken on the coals and cruse of water at his head

Lord provided by ravens before, from a meal barrel, now the angel of the Lord is pers. providing)

Elijah going his own way...God still met his needs (Rom 2:4 – the Lord is good)

The Grace of His Patience- God did not write him off, God still has a plan Jer 29:11)

Watch Elijah he sat up and ate and laid back down in his depression

No repentance for the past, no gratitude for the present, no burden for the future

The Angel of the Lord, the second time, touched him and said “Arise and eat because the journey is too great”

Elijah arose and ate and went 40 days and 40 night in the strength of Gods provision to Mt Horeb 200mi

Elijah came to a cave and lodged there

The Lord spoke “what doest thou here Elijah?” (Ill. Here) The Lord was with him!

The Lord also wants Elijah to know that he was not called to a cave but to prophesy to a nation

Elijah vents his frustrations “I have faithfully served you and now look at the danger I am in”

“I alone am left”- He felt isolated, but this was not an accurate statement (see vs 18)

If Elijah is the last one alive, should he not live on to preach to the lost world?

In his fear, discouragement, distress and depression he became irrational and unreasonable

[11] And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
[12] And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
[13] And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
[14] And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

3) Tasks (Vs 11-21)

A. Demonstration (11-14)

The Lord said “Go and stand before the Lord”.........AND The Lord passed by

A great wind- broke the rocks in pc and rent the mtn---- but the Lord was not in the wind

An earthquake- shook the mtn....but the Lord was not in the earthquake

A fire..........feeling heat, warmth, burning..........but the Lord was not in the fire

Then a still small voice *Ill: Gods call on my life*

“Not by power, nor by might, but by my spirit saith the Lord”

Maybe Elijah thought a dramatic display of mighty power would turn a nation

Maybe Elijah thought a stirring of Gods judgment would change a nations heart

But power and judgment usually does not change hearts, but God speaking to the heart will work!

[15] And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
[16] And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
[17] And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
[18] Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

B. Details (15-18)

Elijah wrapped his face in his mantle.......... a sign of reverence, a sign of conviction

Then Elijah went back to the mouth of the cave

There God spoke again to Elijah asking him as he had before “What doest thou here, Elijah?”

Elijah answered as he did before

The Lord gave Elijah a new assignment, a new commission

* Go to Damascus and anoint Hazael king over Syria

* You are to anoint Jehu to be King over Israel....even though Ahab is currently on throne

* You will anoint Elisha to be prophet in thy room.....your new companion, friend

When this is done, justice will ultimately be fulfilled

Those that escape Hazael will Jehu slay and those that escape Jehu will Elisha slay

Yet, the Lord gives more encouragement

The Lord has 7000 that have not bowed to Baal

* Remember Elijah had said 3 times he was alone (18:22, 19:10, 19:14)

The ministry bears more fruit than we think, the still small voice will work

[19] So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
[20] And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
[21] And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

C. Display (19-21)

Elijah found Elisha first. Elisha was plowing and Elijah came a laid his mantle on him

He was called as he was working

Elisha left the oxen and said “let me say goodbye and I will follow thee”

Elijah says “go back again, for what have I done to thee?”

Elijah did not call but God did and it your decision ..............make your calling and election sure

Elisha went back and took a yoke of oxen (he had 12 yoke) slew them, boiled them & gave to the people

He destroyed the tools of his trade to follow the Lord

He must have taken a loss to do so............ 12 yoke of oxen a considerable estate and left it

He left friend, family & went after Elijah (as God had called him to do)

He knew that even though he took a loss yet God would be the more

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